I didn't choose the sidenotelife. The sidenotelife chose me.

Every once in a while I feel the need to update my about page. So here's the latest iteration. Hope you enjoy. 

I didn't choose the sidenotelife.
The sidenotelife chose me. 

My name is Ken, and there are two things you should know about me: 

1- I want to change the world.

2- I don't have a middle name, but I always wished it started with E, so my initials could be KEN. 

I'm a student in Charleston, SC pursuing an MD/PhD at the Medical University of South Carolina. As soon as I graduate, I'm planning to submit my job application for med school czar or medical-analyst at Grantland. Haven't decided yet.

Sidenote unofficially started five years ago when I spent a summer working in Yellowstone/Grand Teton. That summer I had an epic email chain with my friend Amulya Iyer. We talked everything from girlfriends, olympics, premed life, to the meaning of life. One night that summer I had a crystallizing moment. I was sitting under the one-of-a-kind Wyoming night sky, drinking beer and thinking about the meaning of life, and I decided I had to spend the rest of my life doing this. 

Sidenote officially started July 10, 2010 when I moved out to Portland, OR. Where young people go to retire. I spent my days as a lab tech at Oregon Health & Science University, and weekends surrounded by hipsters and coffee shops. Naturally, it was the right time for sidenote  

Before all that I went to a small liberal arts college in Ohio, Kenyon College. I officially studied the sciences of Molecular Biology and Math, but I unofficially studied the art of talking life while drinking beers. I loved Kenyon. 

So what is "sidenote?" Sidenote is about the idea that you don't choose your passions, your passions choose you. And when you figure out what that passion is, you have a responsibility to work hard. 

My passion is to think, and figure out a better world. Specifically, I'm passionate about medicine and medical education, but I'm open to bs-philosophizing about anything. When I look out to our world, it's not pretty. Wars, bullies, abuse, divorce, racism. If this is what the world is supposed to be, I will be disappointed. In my head, I feel like the world was supposed to look a different way. I like to refer to this better world as 'the other side.'

Sidenote is my attempt to spend my days doing what I love - thinking about how to bring the other side to real life. 

If you are reading this blog for the first time, please start with the first post 'in the beginning...' or the artist's statement 'we don't believe you. you need more people.'

see you on the other side,

from ken

enjoy sidenote in 140 characters or less @kensidenotelife