Addyson Rosa went viral after sharing a video of herself celebrating her residency match with her 3-year-old daughter
Credit: Courtesy of Addyson Rosa
NEED TO KNOW
- Addyson Rosa started medical school while pregnant, gave birth during finals week and balanced raising her daughter while working and completing her degree.
- The single mom went viral after sharing her emotional Match Day moment with her 3-year-old, Amara, after learning she matched into an anesthesiology residency.
- Addyson says the milestone made every sacrifice worth it, and hopes her journey inspires other women and parents to keep pursuing their dreams.
When Addyson Rosa found out she had matched into residency, the moment felt bigger than just the next step in her medical career — it felt like proof that every sacrifice she had made as a single mom had been worth it.
Addyson, 29, who lives in Iowa City, Iowa, recently went viral after sharing a video of herself celebrating with her 3-year-old daughter, Amara, after learning she had been accepted into an anesthesiology residency program. The emotional clip quickly spread online, with over 200,000 viewers moved by the backstory behind the milestone.
"this got me real good," content creator Allison Kuch commented.
"YOU did that!!!" another user replied.
Someone else chimed in, "The fact your daughter got to watch you achieve your dreams after so much hard work is a priceless thing 🖤"
@alrosa52
I am matched!!!! (I won’t find out where until Friday). I am so incredibly lucky. I wouldn’t be here without the help of my amazing family, friends, classmates, and community. From finding out I was pregnant, to starting medical school at 20 weeks, to giving birth during finals week of first semester, to persevering through the hardest yet most rewarding years of my life, I have been uplifted, loved, and blessed. I could not be more grateful. And to my beautiful little girl, I hope you see this one day and know that you can accomplish whatever you want in this life 🩷 #matchmonday #medstudent #medschoolmatch
♬ Heartfelt Moments – Melody Silver Copper
For medical students, Match Day — which falls this year on March 20 — marks the culmination of years of work.
Through the National Resident Matching Program, fourth-year students first learn electronically if they have matched with any program. Then comes Match Day, when they learn where they will complete residency training — and often what specialty they will practice — after a long application and interview process.
“For me personally, finding out that I matched meant that all the sacrifices I’ve made to get to this point have been worth it,” Addyson, who matched with her top choice UTHealth Houston, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I’ve missed family events, spent time away from my daughter and worked throughout school to provide for us. But to know that my daughter and I have a future because of it makes everything worthwhile.”
Addyson’s path to this moment looked very different from most of her classmates’.
She had just been accepted to the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa when she learned she was pregnant.
“I remember looking down at the positive test and feeling every emotion at once,” she says. “I was shocked, scared, excited and overwhelmed. But I also remember thinking very clearly, ‘Okay. This is happening. Now it’s time to prepare.’”
Credit: Courtesy of Addyson Rosa
Although people around her questioned whether she would delay school, Addyson says the answer was never in doubt.
“For me, the ‘if’ was never a question,” she says. “I didn’t want to wait another year to start my dream, and I believed my daughter and I were going to be okay. I promised myself I wasn’t going to let anyone put doubt in my plans.”
She began medical school while pregnant — and just months later, went into labor the night before finals week.
“When I emailed my professors, they gave me the space I needed to settle into motherhood,” she recalls. “I took my finals a few days before second semester, and I started back when my daughter was only four weeks old.”
Because Amara was too young for daycare at the time, Addyson often brought her to campus, where classmates and friends helped care for the newborn between lectures and exams.
“My peers were so supportive of me, it still brings tears to my eyes,” she says. “Babysitters, classmates, friends — everyone helped. My daughter has been loved by so many people since the day she was born.”
Balancing school, parenting and work wasn’t easy. Addyson continued working part-time as a pharmacist throughout medical school while also pursuing research and global health opportunities — even bringing Amara with her on medical rotations in Kenya and Uganda.
“That second semester was the hardest time of my entire life,” she says. “I got through it by taking things day by day, leaning on my family, and asking for help when I needed it. And lots and lots of caffeine.”
Credit: Courtesy of Addyson Rosa
When it came time to learn if she would match or not, Addyson only planned to record the moment for family. But after capturing her daughter’s reaction on camera, she decided to post the clip online — never expecting what would happen next.
“I usually just take videos to share with friends and family, but her reaction was so sweet I decided to post it,” she says. “The response has been insane. I’ve never had a video get attention like that, and the amount of love and support has been incredible.”
In the caption, Addyson wrote that she hopes her daughter will watch the video one day — something she says meant everything to her.
“I hope she understands that when you have a dream, even if the path is difficult, it’s worth betting on yourself,” she says. “Life doesn’t always go the way you planned, but what matters is how you keep moving forward. And most of all, I want her to know how much I love her.”
@alrosa52
I matched my number one 😭 I am overwhelmed by the level of support I have received this week. I want to once again say I could not have done this without my incredible support system. Amara and I are so, so lucky. The Rosa girls are headed to Houston 🥹 #medschoolmatch #matchday2026
♬ Thank You, God. – Vic Lucas
Now that she has matched, Addyson says she feels a sense of relief she’s never felt before.
“I only applied to anesthesia, so I know I’m going to be an anesthesiologist,” she says. “Knowing I have a job as a doctor and can continue to provide for my daughter gives me a level of security I haven’t felt before.”
She hopes her story encourages others — especially women and single mothers — not to give up on their goals.
“Timing and circumstances are never perfect,” she says. “But there is always a way forward. Advocate for yourself, lean on your community, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”
She adds that while she’s grateful to have matched, she also thinks about the many students who don’t.
“Every year, thousands of medical students who are just as deserving don’t match,” she says. “I hope they know that doesn’t define their worth. The world needs more doctors — and whatever your dream is, you shouldn’t give up on it.”
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