Meet Jessica Manzella of Reinventing the Runway

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Manzella.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born and raised in Illinois, home for me is in a small suburb about an hour south of Chicago. Since day one, I have always dreamed of becoming a doctor. In 2014, I received my bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Throughout my undergraduate studies, I followed what most pre-meds would consider being a unique path. Passion and inspiration have always been the two most impactful factors when it came to shaping my future. As an incoming freshman, I made the bold decision to complete my degree with a major in music while following a pre-medical academic track. I have been practicing and performing as a classical clarinet player since I was in 6th grade. From an early age, my passion for music allowed me to understand what it meant to have dedication. Through my leadership roles in the music department at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I worked to instill the confidence and dedication that brought on my own personal accomplishments in my peers.

Following graduation, I began working full time for Brighton Collectibles and studying for my Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). During my time with Brighton is when I started my Instagram page ‘Reinventing the Runway’. It gave me a creative outlet to begin sharing the brand as well as growing my social network.

After a really long and hard application season, I am happy to say that I am currently enrolled in the Medical Education Readiness Program in Miramar, Flordia. Following completion of this program, I will be matriculating in Fall of 2018 to Ross University School of Medicine.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have definitely been some struggles along the way! Which is exactly the reason why I love sharing my story. There is a lot of stress and pressure that goes into applying for medical school. Every inch of your application is scrutinized, and you are competing against thousands of people for a very limited number of spots. I’m a very nervous test taker, so when it came to taking my MCAT my performance was definitely not reflective of my preparation and intellectual ability. On my page, I value the importance of transparency which is why I share with my followers constantly my statistics throughout this process. It’s been incredible the community that I have reached as a result.

The Medical Education Readiness Program that I am in now is what gave me my shot at becoming a doctor! It’s a 15-week program that is meant to strengthen your basic sciences and stands as working proof that we are all more than just a standardized test score.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Reinventing the Runway is a platform to share my journey through medical school, as well as to guide students who are currently applying or preparing for medical school through the process. Talent and expression become less personal, but equally rewarding when you find ways to apply it to the community. Whether it is musical, academic, or athletic, talent is a gift worth sharing. My passion for medicine has made me a more confident leader and taught me how applying creativity can have a positive impact on inspiring my surrounding community. I found so much comfort in the Instagram community as I was applying and prepping for medical school, that I really wanted to give back and help as many people as possible.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, my mom always insisted we try everything so we knew where our passions were the strongest. I played softball and volleyball, loved to help out in the kitchen, and never missed a band practice. I was always a little bit shy, crazy dedicated to whatever I set my heart out to accomplish, and was definitely a major bookworm when it came to school!

Contact Info:

• Email: reinventingtherunway@gmail.com
• Instagram: @reinventingtherunway

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