I am an active applicant in this cycle (2019) and have experienced a sinusoidal emotional response to the process. There are days when I feel super-confident in my abilities and other days when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head. I am a 40-year-old, married, mother of two daughters. To say I am a non-traditional medical school applicant is an understatement. Much of the published pre-medical advice does not resonate with my circumstances, so I am open to receiving insight, support, and encouragement from others who have blazed this trail before me. While acceptance or rejection by a medical school admissions committee will not define me, at this point in my life I strongly feel *failure* is not an option. I know I can make a difference in the lives of others by improving their healthcare experiences, but never before have I felt so vulnerable and approval-seeking in my life. I've always stood on my own two feet, but right now I need the admissions committee to believe in me the way I believe in myself.