We hear from PA students constantly. We almost never hear from the people living with them.

Kina is married to a current PA student, and this conversation is a side of the process I don't think gets enough air. The decision to go isn't just the applicant's decision. Someone else's income changes. Someone else picks up more at home. Someone else spends a lot of evenings alone while their person is at the library.

She's generous about it and also honest about how hard parts of it have been. Her biggest advice is about communication - talking through expectations before school starts instead of discovering them during finals week.

If you have a partner and you're applying, listen to this one with them.

What we talk about:

• Making the decision to apply as a couple
• How household roles shift during PA school
• The financial side from the partner's view
• Communicating expectations before it starts
• Handling the stretches when your person is unavailable
• What support actually looks like day to day

Resources:

Pre-PA counseling: https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/pre-pa-counseling

Free application timeline: https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-application-timeline

PA Program Map: https://www.thepaplatform.com/pa-platform-map

Free personal statement worksheet: https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-personal-statement-worksheet-download

Mentioned in this episode:

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Today's episode is a little different.

I'm not talking to a PA or a PA student, but I'm talking to someone who's seen the process from the outside and has a really interesting perspective.

Welcome to the Pre PA Club podcast.

If you want to learn how to become a physician assistant, you're in the right place.

I'm your host, Savannah Perry.

Let's get to it.

Hey, welcome to the Prepa Club podcast.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

I can't believe that it is almost December.

This is wild.

But I am so happy to have you listening and hopefully this podcast has shed some light on things, given you some type of direction, hopefully encouragement.

But if it has, I would love for you to leave us a review on itunes.

And now the podcast.

If you've listened on itunes but love everywhere else it is available, I think pretty much anywhere else.

So Spotify, the Google Play store and some other places.

So if there's anywhere else you'd love to see the podcast, please please let me know.

Today's episode is something I'm very excited about and we'll jump in in a second.

I've got a few things to share with you, but you you may remember from a while back, I interviewed someone who was about to start PA school.

His name was Sean and he was a non traditional applicant.

He had moved from Texas to North Carolina to start PA school.

He switched from being a teacher, quit his job, did everything required to get accepted, kind of made some big life changes to achieve his goals.

One thing that I've been asked about a lot is how do people spend families and spouses deal with these types of decisions.

So if you go back and listen to that episode, Sean was so sweet talking about his wife that I, she was the first person I thought of.

So I reached out to them and she very, very graciously agreed to come on the podcast and share her experience as a spouse.

Going through the process of someone deciding to become a pa, quitting their job, making big changes, moving a long way from home, and actually starting starting PA school.

So, not to mention, she is the most positive and encouraging and sweetest person ever and I feel like we'd kind of be friends in real life.

But I hope you guys enjoy this episode and I'll include her Instagram in the description if you want to go follow her or reach out to her and feel free to send this episode to your friends and family who may not understand exactly what you're going through and how intense it is.

Alright, so before we jump into talking with Kina.

I wanted to share.

Next week is Black Friday and at the PA platform and personally we love Black Friday.

So of course I had to do some deals.

So we will have the PA school interview course which is at prepacourses.com it will be half off again.

I've had some people asking for that from the launch when we kind of opened it up and in I guess August.

And so for 24 hours you can get the course for 50% off.

And then we will of course have our $100 mock interviews.

That's the cheapest we ever make them and you can't use any coupon codes, but you can get a mock interview for 100 bucks.

If that's something that you are planning on needing in the future, you do not have to schedule it when you purchase it.

So just, just know that that is something.

It's kind of.

We'll give you instructions on how to schedule from there, but you can hold on to it if that's something you think you're going to be needing.

But I'm not for sure if they're having specials, but they usually do.

So make sure you're also following MyPA Resource and PA School Prep.

So My PA Resource is an editing service that is only for PA or pre pas who want their personal statement edited for PA School.

And then you can also check out PA School Prep, which is an online course to prepare you in anatomy, physiology and med terms to make sure that you are on the right track and prepared for PA School once you start.

And for all of these websites, including the PA platform, you can use the code futurepa for a discount on any services.

Alright, let's jump in to talking to Kina and I think you all are going to love her just as much as I did.

Well, so my name is Kyna Childress and I am the lovely wife of Sean and I feel like he is.

It's crazy where we are like, I'm gonna try not to cry throughout this just because I am an emotional person and I'm not even a PA student.

But it has been just crazy.

So I basically, I've known Sean for gosh, he went to elementary school together.

Together and dated throughout.

Well, really weren't officially dating until high school if you really count that.

But all throughout he was just new.

He didn't, he didn't know what he wanted to do in high school.

He was just like baseball, sports, friends, living, you know, life.

And I was like, I want to go get her.

You know, I want to do this.

And so he ended up, like, just going to college to play baseball, and then kind of like went back and forth with what he wanted to do and then decided, okay, well, I'll coach and teach on the side.

Obviously, it was like coaching first and then teaching, and then he ended up loving it.

But then there was part of him that.

And I know this is really cliche to say when you're the wife of someone and you say, you know, he could do anything, but he really could.

I felt like he could do really well in this and he could do really well in this.

And.

And he had talks of.

My sister at the time was an emt, like pharmaceutical sales, basically, and he was picking her brain about that.

And he did physical therapy during college when he was working.

And it's like just a tech there and kind of was interested in that route, but didn't really pursue.

Like, he'd get books about, like, what to do or where to start.

But then kind of a, like, you know what?

I'm good with coaching and all this.

And then decided, long story short, he kind of put it in my ear and I knew.

And so the day that he decided fast forward to I want to do PA school, I was like, okay.

And he was like, but when I do this, like, we could be moving.

And we had lived in Texas all of our lives, like most of our families, that DFW area in Texas.

And I was like, are you okay?

You know, and then I kind of like would lose sleep that night thinking about it, but was very supportive and said all those things have been kind of like worrying in my head because at the time we had kids.

But I knew, like, he really, really wanted to do it.

And so I was just supporting him.

And he bought your books.

That's how I knew about you.

Because he was like, talking about all that stuff and ended up just again as the wife support that.

But was that brought a lot of changes and real quick and real fast.

But then at the same time felt like such a long period of time of figuring out where.

But yeah, then fast forward to.

And I'm sure I'm skipping so much, but.

But yeah, he is just.

It's so crazy to see, like, if I reflect back about how many.

How much to sleep, he would lose just the idea of it, like, where to start.

And from me, I was just very supportive of.

Okay.

And really had to reflect because at the time I was, you know, all my family's there too.

We had kids.

It wasn't Nolan, our son was already in school.

So I was like, oh, man, why couldn't he be decided, you know, this before Nolan started school?

Because it would be so much easier.

And.

And then once he did get accepted, then we had, you know, we already had our second child, which she didn't really know.

But at the same time, I was like, oh, but our family's here.

And it was.

It was hard.

I mean, I. I will say I wasn't on the stress side of him having to study and the application process and all that, but where it hit me as a wife was I'm, like, so stable with my job and our family.

And then I had to really think about how I was affected by it because I was so much like, okay, you got this, you know, like, I support you.

You can do it.

You can do it.

And then when I lay there, I was like, wait a second, like, what am I going to do?

Like, I have to find a new job.

I have to, like, tell our son, like, we're moving.

And it was just very hard.

But, you know, fast forward, here we are, and we're doing great.

Awesome.

Well, he's what, a month?

Two months in.

I'm sorry, he's like two months into school now.

Yeah.

July.

Okay.

Yeah, End of July.

Okay.

It's going fast, but I mean, but at the same time, the day seemed very long.

I'm sure.

But yes.

And it's so funny just being on this side of it, because, I mean, I'm sure it's just crazy.

I don't even know.

There's so many things that we could talk about.

But.

Well, okay, so from his decision to where you said, you know, the day that he was like, oh, this is it, from that point to now, how long has that time period?

Oh, my God.

I remember the idea of it.

Oh, gosh.

So I remember he ended up getting accepted into his school.

It was November, so like a year from almost a year from today.

But the idea of it was two years prior to that, quitting the job, you know, like, okay, I'm gonna be full time student because I have to get all this, this and this and this and this.

And so it was a lot of, oh, my gosh.

I'm just like, all that's coming back to me just thinking about it, like, one in.

I'm a teacher.

So off of a teacher salary, which is nothing with two children at the time, to the teacher salary that we had.

Had and being gone, and then not even just that, but then also opening up.

Okay, well, when I am going to apply this is just an idea.

So here's two years worth of maybe something coming.

And then he was like, I want you to know I'm applying everywhere, not just here in Texas, you know, and so then that was a whole other thing.

So it's been a long time.

Yeah, it takes a while.

So you're.

You're very supportive.

But, I mean, when he first came to you, I know it's that you said you kind of answered this question, but you said the doubts kind of started to come slowly.

Just more about life logistics, really, which I think as women, we tend to think about those things a little bit more about.

You know, there's a lot involved with this.

Where did those.

How did you stay supportive or at least show him support when you had those worries kind of going on on your own?

Yeah, that's a great question.

So I honestly just had to literally really think about how stressful he.

Like, how stressed, how excited he was because he decided, okay, I'm gonna do this.

I'm tired of seeing saying, what if, what if, what if?

So once he realized he was going to do it, I also had to think to myself, like, okay, if he's doing this, how stressful for him to make this huge decision and then make this decision and then know I might fail.

Like, right.

So for me to put myself in his shoes, I'm thinking, okay, he's deciding, you know, obviously, to.

To your husband.

When it's your husband who's supposed to be this, you know, supporting with the salary and, you know, all of that.

I'm sure that that was tough for him to step back and say, okay, my wife is going to be the one with an income while I'm going back to school.

We also.

With having children, he really did use that, too, as like, you know, this is setting a really great example for Nolan.

You know, like, you might want to do this in life and then change your mind.

Like, even though he's in first grade, he really is really proud.

He's like, my dad's going back to school.

My dad's going back to school.

I think that's awesome.

Yeah, it's really, really cool.

He actually went to school with him the other day because I had a teacher work day, so he went with daddy to school.

He was like, I went to college.

But he just to be supportive.

It really was for me to realize how stressful it was for him to make that decision, and that no matter what, I had to put on not a front, but had to really act tough and in ways That I really didn't.

Wasn't always easy.

I had a really great friends at work or really great friends at work.

Family was there.

But I knew if I showed any type of doubt or wasn't strong, then that would only break him down because I knew.

I mean, he would stay up late, wasn't like, okay, write on papers like what classes I still need or what grade I need for this and my gpa and would tag all the books about like, okay, the statistics for this acceptance is here, and this is where I fit.

I mean, just that piece of.

It was stressful on top of finishing up this class and finishing up this.

So I knew that I was like, just be supportive.

Make coffee for them.

You know, motivational quotes or whichever.

Can I help?

And there wasn't really anything I could help other than just whether it was just a rub on the back and, okay, I'm here if you need me, you know, And I don't know.

I'm just a superhero.

That's awesome.

I mean, that's a great attitude to have.

I can say when my husband went through medical school and when they have to apply to residency, you know, those doubts for me started creeping in of like, I may have to move, I may have to quit my job.

And I mean, there were times where I wanted to be like, don't do this to me.

But ultimately we had to do what was best for him at the time, which meant putting, you know, my.

My comfort possibly aside.

And luckily we didn't have to move.

But, you know, I had those same kind of thoughts.

And it was not.

Not the most fun few months, but we made it.

Yeah.

So was anyone else Doubtful.

I mean, I think besides a spouse, like, any, like, family or people who were just like, you're crazy.

Yes, that is another.

That's a great question.

That is another reason why I tend to say that I'm a very positive person.

And in these instances, it brings out, like, these situations, I guess it just shines.

But I will say, as much as family can be positive, great and supportive, there are a lot of family members who can be like, are you sure?

Especially because it wasn't just PA school and, you know, it's not like it's everywhere.

So what?

We actually kept it a secret for a while.

Like, it.

Obviously you told.

You know, you told me first this idea and trying to get my feelers out for it, even though he kind of made his mind up.

Obviously if I didn't feel right, he wouldn't have done it.

But I was just Very honest, and was like, okay, good.

Like, I was waiting for this day to come.

I knew from, you know, back in high school that you were talented in all areas, that you're a motivator, and if you say you're gonna do one thing, you're gonna do it, and I think that's great.

So we actually didn't tell our family for a very long time.

And it kind of like this secret, which is kind of fun and thrilling.

And then finally, when the idea.

When he started applying, we tell, like, a few close friends and.

And.

Or a few close family members, and a few of them would be like, oh, great.

You know, what is a P.A.

You know, or, oh, as a doctor.

Oh, that's hard.

You know, and it's so funny because we talk all the time about how most people in life have this, like, negative thought.

I mean, even if you don't really feel like you are, you have that.

You do.

I mean, I don't know if it's.

Obviously, he's learning the psychology.

I think we're about to get in the psychology.

Easier for somebody to just think negatively, right?

You know, Anyway, we did.

I had some really close family members who would say, like, what if you don't get in?

And that in itself, I kid you not.

Savannah was like, a motivator for both me and him.

Like, wait, what did they say?

Like, what if.

You know, instead of that, oh, well, good job.

Like, you know, like, how awesome is it that you're going to decide, you know, after having this family, that you're.

Going to do it?

No, most people are doubtful of it, and I think that we treated that as like a. Nope, you're going to go, you're going to do this.

Like, we're going to do things.

And we're like, bam, you got in.

You know, And I don't know, we just turn that mindset into a motivator, and that would, like, keep them up later.

Like, I'm going to do this.

I'm going to prove people wrong, you know, and use it in the right ways.

But, yeah, a lot of people especially, well, you know, if you don't get into school here in Texas, you know, are you gonna.

Are you gonna still do it?

It's like, yeah, we are.

And we were just like, it's exciting, you know, you never know.

Life's too short.

But, yeah, I will say that is a huge thing that kept.

You could easily.

And most people, you know, you have family that say that, and you're like, okay, well, maybe not.

Maybe Not.

But, nope.

We took it as this is a sign for us to do it or for Sean and our family.

And so proud of them.

Because that was really hard.

I mean, there were.

There were days we'd walk away from family get togethers and come back and be like, well, that's not what we thought they would say.

You know, like, we would have thought they would have been more supportive, you know, but.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Most people don't understand how intense the processes either.

And so I think it's hard for them to really grasp why.

Like, I mean, there's a lot of hard work that goes into getting that acceptance.

So what you guys know?

Yeah.

All right.

So I remember Sean saying that during the interview process, you were also very supportive that he had some kind of faraway interviews.

Did y' all go with him?

What was Yalls plan for kind of handling all of that?

Yeah, well, you know, it's so good.

He.

He did a really great job.

So there was one interview that was actually in Pennsylvania.

That's the one that he talked about.

Oh, my God.

And Savannah, when he told me, he was like, oh.

Because, you know, every time he would get a rejection, you know, somewhere, and that was like.

I was like, okay, that's one school.

You know, think about your book.

You know, it's one school.

Like, it's one person.

Like, keep going, Keep going.

Or, you know, what?

Can we.

You know, whatever.

Well, finally, whenever he would get an interview, we got one up in Pennsylvania, and Percy told me, and I was like, oh, my gosh.

I was like, okay, that's awesome.

All right, well, we're not going to be Steelers fans anyway, being from Texas.

But when we went, I was like, okay.

Trying to get my mind right.

Like, okay, I want to experience winter and this and that.

And being.

Having a family setting, that's huge.

And I know that's one of the things that a lot of people are curious about is I was like, okay, well, how can we build this up for our kids?

And when we were traveling or when we were looking, luckily, with the Internet, you can kind of see, you know, schools, obviously, being a teacher, too.

You know what, you want your kid to go to a good school?

So we look in, you know, just on the Internet about places around and.

And where we'd want to live.

And that, to me, was huge, because even though you weren't sure, you still had to start thinking about that.

And so we would look online, and this is mostly Sean, too.

So, again, I don't know how he could deal with all this stress, and then, okay, let's figure this out for our family.

But we would look at school systems and houses on top of before he would interview.

So that way.

And then he would plan.

When he traveled, I did not interact.

Okay.

He would Travel.

He would FaceTime, luckily.

But he would, like, FaceTime, like, the surrounding areas and, like, drive around and would.

When he flew out, he would make sure, like, it wouldn't be just, like, for a fat interview and then fly back.

It would be, I'm gonna stay for a little bit and drive around, because if we are gonna live here, this is going to be important, too.

And so he did that for his interview there and then for his interview.

Interview whenever he was here where we were.

We are now in North Carolina.

Yeah, that was my one rule for my husband was, please don't take me anywhere cold.

I'm from Georgia, and I don't know if I can make it.

So let's not do that.

I never seen that.

But okay.

So once he got the acceptance at Campbell, what were your initial emotions mean?

You, like, scared, nervous, excited.

I immediately cried.

Like, I couldn't even stand up.

I don't feel like I actually remember exactly where I was when I read the text, because I was teaching.

I was in PE at the time, and I got a text, and he had, like, sent, like, a pretty.

It was like, a gif, I guess.

And it was supposed to be.

Well, most people would read it and go, oh.

But I was like, is he seeing this for.

And then I put it together, and I was like, oh, my gosh.

And so I literally broke down happy tears because my first thing was like, I. I remember saying to my assistant at the time, I'm so proud of him.

Oh, my gosh.

Because he did.

I mean, he.

I don't even know how he was functioning.

I really don't.

I mean, the.

The sleep deprivation he had, the stress, the.

The guilt.

Because he knew.

Yes.

He was always like, I feel so selfish because this affects everyone, not just me, and how he would appreciate how supportive we could be.

But just knew.

And I knew there was so much stress going on.

So, like, my only.

My initial thought was not, oh, my gosh.

Family leaving, family leaving Texas, leaving this job, leaving all of my friends, leaving my son's friends.

But it was more so, like, yes, he did it.

Like, it kind of just.

It was like it fell into place.

Like, all of those worries that I told you about that I would lay there and realize, like, this is a big deal.

It was like, this is it, like, I'm excited.

Bring it.

You know, and we celebrated, and it was like, then that's when we slowly started telling family after.

And some of them were like, what?

You're what?

Because we didn't tell everybody the process.

Because Sean truly felt like, you know, he didn't want any more of that negativity.

He didn't want any more of the doubts or to change his mindset when we felt we were at such a good place.

But, yeah, just that when he got accepted, it was like, hallelujah.

Oh, my gosh.

I cannot believe.

Yeah.

So then y' all moved from.

Well, first he had his little chemistry issue, right?

Yes.

Like, I'm accepted.

I gotta finish this.

Yeah.

So to anyone who didn't listen to his episode, he essentially had to complete organic chemistry in two weeks, three weeks.

I mean, it was something ridiculous.

Online.

Were, like, on our dining table forever.

And they were like, toys for our kids.

That's awesome.

They are never put away.

They're gonna be so smart.

That's awesome.

Okay, so then you could kind of actually relax.

And it was official.

So what?

Like, what does that transition look like?

I've never moved across the country.

I've never had to do that.

No.

Oh, my gosh.

It all happens so quickly.

I feel like you don't realize how much stuff you have when you have kids and you're packing.

Because we.

We have.

We have experience moving from one house to another within, you know, 45 hour from 1 location to another.

But to move from Texas to North Carolina was.

Let's just say we were.

We made two move.

Well, basically two moves.

Because we.

We were like, okay, back in November, when the idea of this happened, we're like, we got to sell our house because we had.

We had bought a home and built this beautiful home, which is another stressor for both of us and that guilt for Sean, because we built this home and we had this guilt of these memories, and we chose this, and we chose that.

So that's.

That's important because that is a internal.

Oh, my gosh, am I making this, you know, right decision?

But we sold the house and then moved into with my parents because they're like, well, if we're going to move, why are we gonna, you know, buy another home?

Let's move in.

And the thought of, if we are gonna move somewhere far, let's just spend a little bit more time closer to family who might not be there very soon.

So we were living there, moved our stuff, had to deal with storage, had to deal with Boxes forever.

And it's so funny because on my social media you can see I post.

I like post like my workout stuff on Instagram all the time.

And I'll put motivational quotes that I can for months.

You can see my background is just boxes everywhere.

And a lot of people at the time were wondering like, why, you know, like I put so many boxes.

But they didn't know.

And it was because we kind of knew what was coming.

Ended up like having to decide, gosh, more storage and how we're going to financially because again, one's Valerie, how we're going to decide to move this stuff.

Sean, literally, I kid you not.

Oh my gosh.

Did.

We didn't hire movers because we didn't have the.

We didn't have the money to do it.

I mean, and then honestly didn't really.

I mean it was just like, yes.

So Sean moved like all of our stuff.

So on top of all of the school stuff and all of that stress did just literally moved.

I mean, including couches from stairs to the second stairs to the bottom stairs and everything.

I don't know how I did it.

Wow.

Yeah.

We had some conversations about just ask for help.

Even though I don't think that I could have been able to help with that stuff.

But there was a lot of stress with moving stuff and then that emotional stress too.

You know, you just kind of, gosh, again, you have to kind of flip it and just know like, you're using it in the right ways.

Because there are so many people who could say again, like, are you sure you want to do this?

You know, and it is, it's tough because then you start to doubt yourself.

And there were some tears.

We had some tears for sure.

And some, okay, are we doing the right thing?

But gosh, you just really had to like the conversations are good to reflect on because it's worth it in the end.

But man, it's not easy.

I remember saying, like, if it was easy, everyone would do it, right?

Oh, true.

Yeah, very true.

So when you got to North Carolina, how soon did y' all get there before school started.

Oh, it's so quick.

Because here in North Carolina a lot of schools are year round schools.

So that's a different type of thing.

So we ended up like, for a while it was Sean and Wrigley, my daughter, living here while my son and I were finishing the school year in Texas.

Wow.

So it was a lot of divided and facetime and then flights back and forth because, you know, we didn't want to Be separated.

But Sean had that mindset too.

He knew how busy he was going to be and he knew that.

That from us going from a traditional year, traditional to year round school, our summer was going to be cut short because it was ending in June and then we would be back in school in July.

Wow.

So that was another reason why we were separated for a while.

And we knew, okay, once school starts, I'm going to begin.

So he ended up coming and setting up our house and unpacking like 98%.

The 2% was just the.

So I could be a part of setting up a home that I felt like was ours and not just walking into our stuff and got it set up over the summer.

So that way when July school started, we could still enjoy like a little bit of time and as a family.

And then school starts for all of us.

So it was a very fast.

But it was really great for him to set everything up because that's important.

You know, when you're leaving what you've known to somewhere new.

Oh my gosh, I'm trying not to cry.

It's totally fine.

Yeah, a lot, a lot of changes.

How have the kids done with it?

It's better than you think.

I mean, that was, that was honestly.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

I'm so sorry.

Just because I'm so proud.

It's hard.

And your kids, you know, in that sense, when someone's going through something like this, you think about your kids.

And he had a great school and he had great friends.

And I know that that was a big stressor for Sean because we want, you want the best for your kids.

But they actually like, Wrigley knows no better.

I mean, she's, you know, she's three, so as long as she has friends and dresses and princesses and that can be anywhere.

But my son, we just kind of.

We really had a lot of conversations with him and I think that really helped because when Sean decided to stop to quit his job and pursue this dream, we included Nolan in every dinner conversation about it for him to really truly understand.

And he was proud from.

And I think that was huge for us.

We would.

We kind of like baby stepped it because we didn't want to make him think, okay, we're not going to come here anymore.

And it was this idea, but we did tell him like, daddy's decided to go back to school.

And we, you know, totally made it to where it was kid friendly.

You know, like you, one day you're going to grow up to be a, you know, maybe A scientist, or maybe you'll work in a, you know, sales job or whichever.

But, you know, you want to do what makes you happy.

And we said, daddy really, really wants to help people and really wants to go back to school and wants to learn about medicine and taking care of people.

And Sean.

Sean and I both have conversations with him every day.

So that from that moment, he knew he was proud.

He was, like, asking questions, and we included him in that.

And then from that moment when he got accepted, Nolan was, like, pulling for it.

Went back to school and told everybody.

I mean, actually, as a matter of fact, when we hadn't told my work, he went and told his kindergarten teacher, my daddy, we're moving to North Carolina.

Oh, no.

Oh, my gosh.

I have to have a conversation with my work, because I didn't tell him, but it was actually, it was.

Turned out great just including Nolan in that so he could be proud if Sean was huge for our kids and for Sean.

And that helped a lot because it wasn't like, okay, we're moving all of a sudden.

You know, the kids are smart.

So, yeah, he's been.

He.

And he is.

He's very proud.

He's very proud of Daddy, and I think that helps him.

It does make some pressure, for sure.

Sean told me that one day because he had a big test, and you're like, okay, Daddy, you can do this.

Sean was like, oh, you know, might not want it.

Because it's a lot of pressure.

You know, you don't want to let.

No one will ask, how'd you do?

Yeah, got a report back.

That's funny.

Oh, my gosh.

That's.

That's so.

That's such a great example.

And I mean, ultimately, he's doing it for you guys.

Like, it'll be a great thing.

It's just rough for a little bit.

How.

So what has.

How have things changed since he's been in school?

Like, schedule wise or like, how much he's available?

Is it kind of what you expected or different?

You know, honestly.

Oh, my gosh, it has changed a lot, a lot.

But Sean is able.

And this is important, too, for people who, you know, it's different because in his class, there's a variety.

He.

He's actually.

He does have a lot of people in his class that are, you know, younger, have no kids, single.

Then he has some that are married.

Then he has quite a few more than we had anticipated or would think that have kids as well.

And Sean is really able to.

It includes a lot of late nights and or now he's adjusted to getting that sleep because he knows how important it is, and.

But at the same time, getting up earlier and just adjusting.

Kind of like what he did throughout the process of trying to get accepted.

So Sean has been present, and that is another thing that I'm trying not to cry on because he has literally been a daddy, but also done this.

Like, he's been present.

That's the best way to say it.

He's been present all the time, and he balances really well, and that's been him, and sometimes that's a stressor we kind of have to revisit because he does feel guilty.

There are some times where on a weekend who might have to step out throughout the whole day and.

But again, we have a conversation with Nolan, at least, you know, like, daddy's doing schoolwork, and he knows, and no one knows, but he'll either stay up after, like, he did the bath, and he does a bath Monday through Friday.

I mean, every day he does bath and is there at dinner with them unless it's, like, an exam week, and he's like, okay, I'll eat without me.

And, you know, that comes, you know, rarely, but he'll stay up late, or he gets up early and is still able to balance.

I don't know how.

I mean, I really don't.

I mean, I guess you just have to.

I mean, otherwise, then you have that guilt of not being present with your family.

But it's like, right now, I'm surrounded by, you know, nicotine and gum and T transdermal.

I don't even know.

And it's so funny because I try to help him study.

That's the thing is, too.

He'll, like, say, okay.

He'll text me throughout the day and say, okay, exam's coming up.

I really need you to find some energy, some caffeine, because you're.

You're gonna test me.

And so try to be supportive, too, with helping him learn stuff when I can, even though I really don't pronounce all this stuff right, you guys, it's so hard.

Oh, that's so funny.

So I lived at home during PA school, and my parents would help me, and, like, sometimes with their pronunciations, like, I couldn't even continue, I was like, okay, I don't know what you're saying, or you're making me laugh so hard that I just.

We got to be done.

But no, it's helpful.

It really.

It is helpful to have someone to at least try to quiz you and go through the Material and let you kind of talk it out and, you know, make sure that, you know it.

I mean, that's a really.

I mean, that's huge.

So I'm sure you're helping.

Thanks.

No, you're helping.

Was there ever, at any point, was there ever a thought of him just going to school and y' all staying in Texas?

Oh, my gosh.

You know, it's.

It's crazy because there are some people.

Some people do that.

Yeah.

Yes.

No, that would not be us now, if.

If it came down to where.

No, I can't even bend that.

I mean, I know everyone has their different views on it, and hands down, that's how they can, but we just.

That has been something that I can't imagine.

I think that I see how some people just have to.

To do that, but there was no doubt in my mind, like, there was one point he did.

Actually, some of the words did come to from him that he said something along lines of when.

When it really put into perspective.

I think this was after he got accepted.

I think he had said something, and I know that he truly, in his heart, didn't mean it, but he did say, like, well, then for the two.

Two years, you know, you can stay here, and then I'll go.

And I'm like, are you kidding me?

No way.

No, no.

I would rather be a little sad about leaving, you know, and then start over than be separated.

And.

Oh, my gosh.

And I'm so glad, honestly, because I do know that in some people's cases, that is the best for them, depending on their occupation.

But, I mean, I'm just like, no, there's.

And I feel like your support is so huge.

I mean, I think if Sean were here by himself, doing all this, and us being on the other side of it, I can't, I'm sure, like, emotionally.

Oh, my gosh.

Yeah.

So, to be honest, I don't think that would have ever been anything.

I would have never been.

No.

Traveling back and forth.

It's like, he goes.

I go, we're all.

We're in this together.

Yeah, that I. I would never be able to do it either.

But, I mean, there are people who make it work, and it's fast, it flies by, but, yeah, that wouldn't.

Wouldn't work for me either, I don't think.

Yeah.

No.

Have you been able to connect with any other, like, students, families, or have you found friends elsewhere?

No.

I mean, no, not yet.

I mean, it's so funny, because I did think about it the other day, like, Maybe I should start making some friends.

You know, it's hard.

It's like, like an adult with children.

It's hard.

It is.

It really is hard.

And I feel like with time that will happen.

I'm sure.

But right now, no, I mean, his friends are.

His friends are the people he's, you know, in class with because they see each other all the time and can relate in that sense and they have, you know, some kind of, you know, opportunities for people to kind of get together here and there.

But it is different when you do have kids.

For sure, it changes a lot.

But no, not yet.

But, you know, it's so fun.

I don't know.

It's like, I'm okay, I'm okay with it, I guess right now, but I'm sure that just takes some.

Some time.

Yeah.

My class wasn't particularly close outside of, Outside of school.

Yeah, we would do events every once in a while, but like, we weren't.

I had a few close friends in school because like you said, we were together all day, every day, but outside of school, like there wasn't.

We didn't do a bunch of get togethers.

Maybe we should have.

I don't know.

But.

Okay, so what.

Think back to, you know, when you kind of started this process.

What advice would.

Would you.

So the messages I get are people who want to go to PA school but, you know, their spouse isn't sure about it or maybe isn't on board yet or kind of what.

From your perspective, what can that person do?

Or what should they consider if their spouse or partner, whoever has decided I want to go to PA school and is starting that process.

I mean, gosh, support.

I think the conversations about it are huge.

And I mean, it really did.

When it was this idea, we talked non stop and really had to think about the big, big picture and prep for, okay, if this situation happens, or plan B here if this doesn't work or if this doesn't work, work.

And I think once, because I, I was supportive from the get go.

There was never a time where he told me and I was like, really?

It was more of.

I was kind of what.

I knew something like this was gonna happen.

Like, I knew in my gut that he was either ptpa, pa, something like that.

So he's like, okay, I'm proud of you for figuring out what do we need to do.

And I, My advice would just be, I think once I realized just by, just like, actually it was your book and there was another one is yours.

There was another one that's like a purple one.

I remember.

Okay, so that's the applicant's manual, and mine's the interview one.

Yeah.

Yes.

So, okay, so both of those were out forever and tabbed.

And he would listen.

And once I like not to say that I didn't truly listen, but once I kind of put it into perspective of, like, kind of taking a look through, I realized how stressful it was and, you know, this idea of, you know, these statistics and this and people like applying forever and ever and ever.

And I actually followed hashtag PA life and all that, too, just to kind of.

Even though I wasn't applying, but just to kind of see.

And when I realized how hard and stressful and being a parent and having, you know, this family and everything, I had to really, really step back and go, yeah, this is hard.

And emotionally, physically, every part is hard, that if I'm going to be any ounce of doubt or negative or anything, then that's not what he needs.

So I would continue to find the positive.

Continue to be, okay, well, you know, what we're living in if we go to Pennsylvania, so why not experience it, you know?

And just being open to what was ahead could have been lots of changes, but I could not.

Even if there was a doubt, I would have to keep it in and vent to someone else or, you know, share my worries with someone else, not him.

And I think that was my best thing because as much as I can be positive and say I have been supportive, I would lie to you if I didn't have doubts.

I mean, and tears.

But I would do that with other people and then bring my game face and.

And there were.

There were a few times where it went through where, you know, like, Sean would be able to read me and pull it out, and I'd cry for a minute, but then I was like, but I support you.

And he knew that I support him from the get go.

But my advice would be just the doubts and the worries.

Share it with someone else and that you trust, but always and hide it from the person who's going through the hard, which would be whoever's applying.

That's my advice.

That is such great advice.

I feel like I need to, like, hire you to come just do, like, encouraging talks to people like the support system to all prepaids ever.

But, yeah, I know.

This has been great.

Thank you so much.

Yes, thank you so much.

I'm excited because.

No, I was really looking forward to it because it really is it.

And there's so much that you could say, but I will say it is unbelievable, like how hard.

And I'm not even the one that's going through it.

So it to have stresses.

I have to say step back because Shawn does say a lot.

Like, I am going through the hard.

But you know, you're sacrificing a lot.

And I had to realize that too.

But you do.

You have to be positive.

And I'm.

It's just so.

It don't give up.

I mean, I'm so proud of him.

So proud of him and everybody who does this because gosh it hard stuff and I'm on the outside.

Yeah, well, you're.

You're invested, so it works.

But I am.

Thank you very much.

And I want to say thank you to you because when I know Sean shared it with you last time, your, Your, Your podcast, everything he would talk about, like, I think we were on a first name basis.

He was like, Savannah.

And I was like, okay, I know Savannah.

And so he would, he would.

It really would help him because does.

I mean, when you're.

When you're really curious about that stuff, your advice and your things really did help him.

And thanks for that because yeah, as much as a supportive wife can be, I don't know that stuff.

So I will say that you really did help him.

So thank you.

Oh, well, you're welcome.

We try to be supportive over here too.

Isn't she great?

So I just hope that is encouraging to everyone and just really gives you a different perspective and gives maybe your friends and family a different perspective as well.

But thank you again to Kina for that.

And I've stuck a little something in the mail to her, but feel free to reach out on Instagram, show her some love.

And also her Instagram is super encouraging, so I do encourage you to follow her there.

But I will see you guys next week.

And don't forget about those Black Friday specials.

Make sure on the newsletter if you need a reminder.

Okay, bye guys.