FCEP’s medical student council is off to a busy start this year. The first big event that drew aspiring emergency medicine physicians together was FCEP’s annual meeting and conference, Symposium by the Sea. It was a weekend for all to enjoy great conversation about the rapidly evolving future of emergency medicine. The medical student council was responsible for hosting the annual Medical Student Forum at SBS. Sixteen of Florida’s emergency medicine residency programs were represented at the panel, where medical students from around the state had the opportunity to inquire about upcoming application cycles directly from programs of their interest. As the field is becoming increasingly more competitive, students are all too aware of the stress that comes with the preparation and application for residency, and the forum served as an outlet to identify some of the unknown. Whether it was a program discussing application logistics or hearing stories of interview faux pas, the overall message students took away from the forum was: the power of grit. In all aspects of life, whether you’re at the student or physician level, there will always be obstacles. Regardless of the challenge each of us are facing, whether it be completing an exhausting shift, overcoming a poor score or missing out on family and friends to tirelessly care for patients, the courage to continuously show up each day is vital and a testament to the passionate people in emergency medicine, and was a reinforced message at the Medical Student Forum. Throughout the weekend, students were showcasing their hard work at the Case Presentation Competition and Research Poster Abstract presentations, as well as engaging in SonoRace and SimWARS. These events relied on many volunteers, residents and students to be successful. A congratulations is in order for Linh Nguyen from Florida State University, who won the Best Medical Student Abstract with her presentation on the “Aeromedical Rapid Sequence Intubation Using the King Vision Laryngoscope.” Leena Owen, OMS-IV and Jaqui Johnson, OMS-III from Nova Southeastern University also presented their research on the cost of gun violence in Florida’s emergency rooms. “(Participating in this competition) gave us a great chance to talk to more people and receive constructive comments from faculty and residents alike,” Johnson stated. “We look forward to incorporating some of the thoughts and suggestions in the future.” This serves as a small sample of the important topics students are tackling in the realm of emergency medicine, and Symposium by the Sea continues to serve as the perfect format to bring great minds together! ■