MADISON, Wis. -- For a handful of University of Wisconsin-Madison students, Thursday morning was a very stressful day.

It's referred to as "Match Day" -- the day when graduates at the UW School of Medicine find out where they've been matched for their residency. As exciting and nerve-wracking as the day is, it's also a surreal day for one particular graduate.

Vincent Laurence isn't a typical medical student. One of his biggest passions is gardening -- mainly because he said he loves working with his hands. However, it's not his only passion.

"Gardening, woodworking, carpentry," said Laurence, as he listed off some of his former careers.

The jobs of beekeeper, chicken farmer and magazine editor can be added as well.

But, within the last few years, Laurence started to look ahead and question his future.

"I kind of had a midlife crisis," Laurence said. "I was thinking, 'Is this all there is? Is this all I'm going to do on this planet?'"

That so-called midlife crisis brought Laurence to the UW School of Medicine.

"Being a doctor just seemed like a way that I could do something really positive, and be working with my hands," Laurence said.

From carpenter to gardener to chicken farmer, Laurence decided to move on to reconstructive plastic surgery.

On Thursday, he got the news he was dreaming of. In front of his fellow classmates, Laurence unsealed an envelope revealing that he would serve his six-year residency at the University of California-Irvine. The placement was his first choice. As he read the incredible news, his classmates were ecstatic.

"I feel like the little train that could or something," Laurence said. "Everybody was pulling for me, being the old guy in the class."

The "old guy" is 49 years old.

Despite being the oldest in his class, he said he just wants to make a difference and work with his hands -- just like he does in his garden.

"It just made sense for me to bring it all together," Laurence said.

Some of his classmates said they're proud of Laurence's accomplishment and they're looking forward to following his career.