When I was 14, I discovered the magic that was Grey's Anatomy. While I was supposed to be sitting at the kitchen table finishing my algebra homework, I was watching the medical drama for the first time over my dad's shoulder. The minute I saw Dr. McDreamy pull a shard of glass out of a girl's eye, I was hooked. 

 

I finished watching that season (season 9), and then spent the whole summer binge-watching my new favorite show! I was fully engrossed in the goings-on of Seattle Grace Hospital, and I was way too invested in the romantic pairings on the show. I also had a new career goal. I wanted to become a doctor. I spent the rest of high school explaining my ambitions to every one. I also spent time in the medical career-oriented courses that my high school offered. By the end high-school, I had shadowed medical professionals at the local hospital, and I had accumulated six science credits when most of my classmates only had three or four.  In my mind, I was ready to enroll in medical school. I was not ready! 

 

During my first semester in college, I learned that medicine was not my calling. I hated studying, I hated chemistry, and I wanted out! I was bored out of my mind in my chemistry and I wasn't doing nearly well enough. I was in a "weed out" class and I was being weeded out! The problem was that I had no idea what else I wanted to do!

 

I had been dreaming about being a doctor since I was 14, and suddenly felt super lost. Thankfully at the same time that I was coming to this conclusion, I was offered an awesome internship opportunity. Rather than continuing to suffer in school, I decided to jet off to Florida to work for the mouse. Mickey Mouse that is. I was going to spend the next semester in the Disney College Program. 

 

Unfortunately, going to Florida didn't solve my problem. Rather than trying to figure out my future, I was working around the clock and spent whatever free time I had playing in the parks. My time was quickly coming to an end, and I needed to make a decision. 

 

During a conversation with my mom, we discussed my love for the entertainment industry. I told her that I would love to work in Hollywood but didn't think acting was for me. I was interested in production but didn't know much about it. I was still feeling pretty lost. This revelation didn't tell me what I needed to major in! My mother and I started doing some research and we were shocked to find a film production major at my university! I promptly filled out the major change forms. This was a gift from God!

 

A few nights later, I was having dinner with some friends when one asked "What's your dream job?" I hadn't given my dream job much thought at this point. I had been so focused on trying to pick a college major. But the answer to the question fell out of my mouth! Out of nowhere, I stated, "I thought I wanted to be Meredith Grey, but I want to be Shonda Rhimes!" 

 

This may have sounded like a pretty out-there statement, but it was true. By this time, I was a pretty die-hard fan of Grey's Anatomy fan. Unlike 14-year-old Tierney, I realized it was more than wanting to be like Meredith. It was because I was drawn to the world that Shonda Rhimes had created, and I want to do the same!