It's now less than a week until my next midterms and I am already tired! Uh oh... I can feel my eyes getting sleepy right now as I'm typing. I'll try to put in some more time tonight but I think that the battle is about lost for me. I really want to push myself to act like the exam is Saturday or so - just so I really push to get through material. Doing well on this mini will really leave me feeling comfortable for the final stretch so I hope it works out.
I've been so tempted to go home tonight at 7pm, then 9pm, etc. I'm trying to stay as late as I can but I think my body knows that my mind is just evaporated. I've gotten a good amount done but I need to make sure I retain it. I'll probably have to find some way to quiz myself. We'll see how it goes. Anyhoo, I'm sure tomorrow will be productive as well. As for now, I'm gonna put in my last bit of work before I finally get to shut my eyes and dream of home.
Goodnight! * Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............*
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
New Season of Increase
Waking up this morning and motivation was low. I blame it all on being drained. Why can't this be over? Why can't I just get back home to my family and friends? Why can't I just have a break?
Every Sunday I turn on the television hoping to catch part of Joel Osteen's sermon for the week and today it was about following in God's footsteps leads to new seasons of increase. Believing in Him, knowing that my life has been set with all the trials set in place for a reason and to be ever mindful to that fact and give praise for the good and the bad that come to pass because in the end it is meant to make you stronger. Acknowledging and trusting in His plan and living your life to be as best an example of God's word leads to these blessings. While I have my times of complaining, I am so grateful to have made it through all of this. I have never been though anything so hard in my life but I know that my opportunity to come here was just the beginning of my "new season of increase".
I have really came back to something I lost a while back. Before my grandmother passed away, she really brought be back to the church and gave me a whole new perspective of how to look at worship. I fell in love with it! It wasn't like those mornings where you had to be draggggged out of bed at the crack of dawn to get all dressed up all just to fall asleep during mass. The place we went to was all about songs and preaching - really bringing home things in scripture to apply in your own life. I couldn't wait to get out of bed and go to, not to the usual 45 minute, but 2 hour service! After she passed away, I just didn't want to have to go back to that place. I didn't want to see all of the people who knew her and the memory just makes me sad, even now. I never went back but the feelings I had about worship went dormant inside.
After listening to Osteen's sermons - they really hit home. I've been thinking to myself how badly I want to come home and really forgotten about my season of increase that is coming. I have passed all semesters and moved right along when I thought I might struggle, I have friends and family who have supported me all along the way, gotten engaged to a man who has always been such a big and wonderful part of my life, bypassing Miami and coming to Michigan for 5th semester, have people willing to help me secure rotations close to home (which by the way - yet another blessing - a beautiful new home!)... SO MUCH has happened over these past 16 months. I feel sometimes like I have missed out on things back home but really my life has never changed so much in such a short period of time. It is really amazing and a wonder. The person who left nearly 16 months ago is not the same person coming home in December.
I truly feel through my belief and relationship with God that He has blessed me with a new season of increase - there is no other explaination. I feel like I have been forgetting this. I walk around exhausted, which is understandable, but I forget how much I have to look forward to! Finally moving back home (3 months sooner than expected!), planning my wedding and just setting my life back up in Michigan. I am just feeling so bummish feeling like "Ugh, 46 more days..." when I should be like "WOW, only 46 days!!!!". Think about it, total on this island I have had to spend 475 days. Out of that today is my 429th day on the island! Somehow 46 days seems so small this way.
All in all, while I know I might still grumble about my time left here - I just have to keep reminding myself to keep pushing for 46 more days. 46 more days and I will be flying home to my new season of increase and life will never be the same. Praise God :)!
...to my Grandma (or as she said, my sister in Christ), I miss your company and guidance everyday...
Every Sunday I turn on the television hoping to catch part of Joel Osteen's sermon for the week and today it was about following in God's footsteps leads to new seasons of increase. Believing in Him, knowing that my life has been set with all the trials set in place for a reason and to be ever mindful to that fact and give praise for the good and the bad that come to pass because in the end it is meant to make you stronger. Acknowledging and trusting in His plan and living your life to be as best an example of God's word leads to these blessings. While I have my times of complaining, I am so grateful to have made it through all of this. I have never been though anything so hard in my life but I know that my opportunity to come here was just the beginning of my "new season of increase".
I have really came back to something I lost a while back. Before my grandmother passed away, she really brought be back to the church and gave me a whole new perspective of how to look at worship. I fell in love with it! It wasn't like those mornings where you had to be draggggged out of bed at the crack of dawn to get all dressed up all just to fall asleep during mass. The place we went to was all about songs and preaching - really bringing home things in scripture to apply in your own life. I couldn't wait to get out of bed and go to, not to the usual 45 minute, but 2 hour service! After she passed away, I just didn't want to have to go back to that place. I didn't want to see all of the people who knew her and the memory just makes me sad, even now. I never went back but the feelings I had about worship went dormant inside.
After listening to Osteen's sermons - they really hit home. I've been thinking to myself how badly I want to come home and really forgotten about my season of increase that is coming. I have passed all semesters and moved right along when I thought I might struggle, I have friends and family who have supported me all along the way, gotten engaged to a man who has always been such a big and wonderful part of my life, bypassing Miami and coming to Michigan for 5th semester, have people willing to help me secure rotations close to home (which by the way - yet another blessing - a beautiful new home!)... SO MUCH has happened over these past 16 months. I feel sometimes like I have missed out on things back home but really my life has never changed so much in such a short period of time. It is really amazing and a wonder. The person who left nearly 16 months ago is not the same person coming home in December.
I truly feel through my belief and relationship with God that He has blessed me with a new season of increase - there is no other explaination. I feel like I have been forgetting this. I walk around exhausted, which is understandable, but I forget how much I have to look forward to! Finally moving back home (3 months sooner than expected!), planning my wedding and just setting my life back up in Michigan. I am just feeling so bummish feeling like "Ugh, 46 more days..." when I should be like "WOW, only 46 days!!!!". Think about it, total on this island I have had to spend 475 days. Out of that today is my 429th day on the island! Somehow 46 days seems so small this way.
All in all, while I know I might still grumble about my time left here - I just have to keep reminding myself to keep pushing for 46 more days. 46 more days and I will be flying home to my new season of increase and life will never be the same. Praise God :)!
...to my Grandma (or as she said, my sister in Christ), I miss your company and guidance everyday...
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Senioritis
Yes people, it's official. I have senioritis. Being that there are four semester's down here in Dominica, I am now a senior on the island - and like both high school and college, senioritis is in full swing. I am so anxious to get home but still have another 47 days to go before I get my final plane ride out of here. It isn't like I am slacking, I am working as hard as I can. There are times, however, when I just want to go out to Fusion and stay out all night or go home with some snacks and vino and park it in front of my tv for 12 hours straight.
Alas, now it is turning into crunch time and my next midterms are looming ahead. Of course. No rest for Jessica, as usual. I used to thrive on this - all my hard work pushing me to want to do more and get ahead. Now? I'm passing everything so I just want OUT. There's a good attitude! I think it is the attitude of most though. As long as I am passing everything, I have a guaraunteed ticket out of here. I am going to keep working hard but some days (like today) I just want someone in the same mindset as me and just knock off a few hours early tonight to go hang out. No such luck among my classmates tonight. So I guess I will just follow suit and keep working...
ZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzz..... OKKK! I'm awake, I'm awake! Back to the books...
Alas, now it is turning into crunch time and my next midterms are looming ahead. Of course. No rest for Jessica, as usual. I used to thrive on this - all my hard work pushing me to want to do more and get ahead. Now? I'm passing everything so I just want OUT. There's a good attitude! I think it is the attitude of most though. As long as I am passing everything, I have a guaraunteed ticket out of here. I am going to keep working hard but some days (like today) I just want someone in the same mindset as me and just knock off a few hours early tonight to go hang out. No such luck among my classmates tonight. So I guess I will just follow suit and keep working...
ZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzz..... OKKK! I'm awake, I'm awake! Back to the books...
Friday, October 26, 2007
Time's chippin' away!
Class for today is nearly over and I am glad. Finally, I have time to study. This week I have been leaving early nearly everyday because I have had to get up early to do clinicals but it's all over now. No more Stan sessions (simulated patient) and no more hospital rotations! The semester is starting to wrap up (or so I'd like to think).
My mom and step-dad are coming down to the island 2 weeks from tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited! I am dying to see anyone from home without the help of a webcam. I really think that my not coming home this semester after mini #1 really hurt me mentally. It was just so hard after coming back my second and third semester to not come back home. I stayed here the 4 months for my first semester so I know I can do it again. Actually, it is almost over so I'm sure of it - haha. But seeing my family will be wonderful. Unfortunately, they will only be here for 2 days which is such a tease but nearly one month after they come - I will be going back home - FOR GOOD. Nothing special planned really just some nice time together and catching up. I decided not to attend the 4th semester banquet. It is partly because my folks will be arriving that day but also - I really just don't feel like going. Yeah... so that is settled.
My countdowns are just getting ridiculous. I have my countdown to home (48 days) my countdown for lecture hours (after today 49 hours) and constantly updating my Facebook and AIM profile as well. I think out of the whole class I have to be one of the people who wants to leave here most. So much is waiting for me back home and I need to get there now more than ever. I hope to God I never take things back home for granted again because this island has showed me how much they mean to me. I am planning on setting up a little study area in the house so I have a place to quietly study away from distractions and just keep all my work organized. I can't wait to set it up! My mom is worried that I will be like I was on vacation and not be as productive as I would like to be. I can see that, but really know that it will not be like that. Studying is a huge part of my life now and it isn't like high school studying, college studying - but studying to pass my COMP exam that I have to take in January and my first of three medical board exams coming up in June. I'm very excited to begin working towards that in a more focused way!
Not too far now - just a matter of a little over a month and it is all over. Hard to believe and I am sure it will be filled with emotion when it really sinks in! I can't say that "I did it!" yet but I can definitely see the finish line! :)
My mom and step-dad are coming down to the island 2 weeks from tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited! I am dying to see anyone from home without the help of a webcam. I really think that my not coming home this semester after mini #1 really hurt me mentally. It was just so hard after coming back my second and third semester to not come back home. I stayed here the 4 months for my first semester so I know I can do it again. Actually, it is almost over so I'm sure of it - haha. But seeing my family will be wonderful. Unfortunately, they will only be here for 2 days which is such a tease but nearly one month after they come - I will be going back home - FOR GOOD. Nothing special planned really just some nice time together and catching up. I decided not to attend the 4th semester banquet. It is partly because my folks will be arriving that day but also - I really just don't feel like going. Yeah... so that is settled.
My countdowns are just getting ridiculous. I have my countdown to home (48 days) my countdown for lecture hours (after today 49 hours) and constantly updating my Facebook and AIM profile as well. I think out of the whole class I have to be one of the people who wants to leave here most. So much is waiting for me back home and I need to get there now more than ever. I hope to God I never take things back home for granted again because this island has showed me how much they mean to me. I am planning on setting up a little study area in the house so I have a place to quietly study away from distractions and just keep all my work organized. I can't wait to set it up! My mom is worried that I will be like I was on vacation and not be as productive as I would like to be. I can see that, but really know that it will not be like that. Studying is a huge part of my life now and it isn't like high school studying, college studying - but studying to pass my COMP exam that I have to take in January and my first of three medical board exams coming up in June. I'm very excited to begin working towards that in a more focused way!
Not too far now - just a matter of a little over a month and it is all over. Hard to believe and I am sure it will be filled with emotion when it really sinks in! I can't say that "I did it!" yet but I can definitely see the finish line! :)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Last Hospital Day in Dominica!
Another hospital day over with and my last one! I never really wrote about my previous visit but while I learned a bit - it really didn't compare to today's rotation! This time I had my
anesthesiology rotation. It was great! We were in surgery for about 4 hours in the morning for a partial gastrectomy. The patient had an adenocarcinoma of her LES (cancer of the sphincter between her esophagus and her stomach). Overall, not a good prognosis but in a flash procedures were underway. All together in one case, I saw an epidural, intubation, surgery (obviously), central line, drainage tube and chest tubes all performed.
As soon as the operation started - man - did that surgeon go to town. It all seemed SO rough the way he was doing everything. The point of the surgery was to resect the portion of the stomach (cardia) along with the tumor. All of a sudden we see a spleen go flying - what? why? Don't ask me! We all just looked at each other trying to figure it out. He also cut through nearly the entire greater curvature of the stomach... The best I can come up with is that I noticed the surgeon had to cut out the spleen because of the short gastric arteries that led up to the stomach - and this could have let to a more massive bleed? I feel dumb for not knowing but it's good trivia for me to think of after I write this blog. She did have a large loss of blood, nearly 2 liters I was told. But for a woman of her age, she handled it very well. I hope good things for her. I know when she wakes up she will be in an extraordinary amount of pain. She will require a long recovery and need much extra care.
Working with the anethesiologist was great although we all were bouncing back and forth from the surgeons to anethesiologists the whole time - trying to catch a glimpse of everything. I really enjoyed it but still do not consider either in my future. What bothers me most? The patients are unconscious! I think I feel that I bring alot of my personable qualities to this profession and that I would be wasting them if I spent it in a lab or with patients that I couldn't even speak to and in that way make an impact. I know that is ONE THING I want for myself in my practice.
I did learn alot today however and I think it gave me the kick in the butt I needed to start plowing away at my books... So - here we go! :)
anesthesiology rotation. It was great! We were in surgery for about 4 hours in the morning for a partial gastrectomy. The patient had an adenocarcinoma of her LES (cancer of the sphincter between her esophagus and her stomach). Overall, not a good prognosis but in a flash procedures were underway. All together in one case, I saw an epidural, intubation, surgery (obviously), central line, drainage tube and chest tubes all performed.
As soon as the operation started - man - did that surgeon go to town. It all seemed SO rough the way he was doing everything. The point of the surgery was to resect the portion of the stomach (cardia) along with the tumor. All of a sudden we see a spleen go flying - what? why? Don't ask me! We all just looked at each other trying to figure it out. He also cut through nearly the entire greater curvature of the stomach... The best I can come up with is that I noticed the surgeon had to cut out the spleen because of the short gastric arteries that led up to the stomach - and this could have let to a more massive bleed? I feel dumb for not knowing but it's good trivia for me to think of after I write this blog. She did have a large loss of blood, nearly 2 liters I was told. But for a woman of her age, she handled it very well. I hope good things for her. I know when she wakes up she will be in an extraordinary amount of pain. She will require a long recovery and need much extra care.
Working with the anethesiologist was great although we all were bouncing back and forth from the surgeons to anethesiologists the whole time - trying to catch a glimpse of everything. I really enjoyed it but still do not consider either in my future. What bothers me most? The patients are unconscious! I think I feel that I bring alot of my personable qualities to this profession and that I would be wasting them if I spent it in a lab or with patients that I couldn't even speak to and in that way make an impact. I know that is ONE THING I want for myself in my practice.
I did learn alot today however and I think it gave me the kick in the butt I needed to start plowing away at my books... So - here we go! :)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
This one goes out to my fans!
After this blogger talking about enabling my "cookies" (in which immediate hunger followed) - and again, internet constantly goes out 30 mins after I get back to my apartment and the blogging has halted again. After going to the bookstore - I found out I have a mini fan-club!!! :D HI EVERYONE!
After hearing that it is time to update, I put in a little effort into fixing "my cookies" (still have no idea) but the genius that I am has fixed it! So HA!
So.... Where to continue from... Well, I got mini #1 back and I passed everything with flying colors. Well, maybe like half-staff? Haha, no I did alright. Everytime I take an exam I tell myself that I will be happy if I just pass - but it somehow always turns into - ahhhh, I wish I had done better. Ah well, another chance is around the corner - mini #2. Yes, I have paused on blogging so much that it is just about that time again. I am taking it a week from Monday and then I'm really on the downhill to getting off this Rock! It's crazy how time flies.
Besides school things are SO busy. Honor Council is keeping me busy with a couple things which is pretty time consuming. The foundation is going FABULOUS - except for the stupid customs agents in Dominica still holding onto our equipment!!! We found out we don't have to pay the $3,000EC to get it to us (ridiculous - it's a donation!!!) but we will have to pay for storage fee. Fine. I say whatever - can't be more than $500EC... I hope. I am so thrilled though because there are wonderful students interested in taking RFDH over after most of us leave! I am so happy that I found passionate people that I know will do a fantastic job.
As I have probably said before, sometimes I look back this time last year to see what I was doing. It makes me laugh. The pre-reading, 5am wake up calls, the giant physio book that only a master's student would read - yep, all me. I just can't believe it is nearly time for me to move on from the island and start building my life back up at home. So much has changed. I came here an eager, freshly graduated college student leaving behind friends, family and a boyfriend and am coming home an exhausted, 3rd year (nearly) medical student coming back home to my family and finace!!!
I must say, that is a nice transition. Of course, there is all that personal growth and all, haha. That's a big one that I overlooked. I can now say that I am quite the independant person. I remember telling my mom that once when I was in college. She flat out told me that I wasn't - which was so true. Yes, I lived on my own in college but still pretty much had gotten everything I needed from my parents (thanks again for the millionth time!!! :D). I know that anything that I have to deal with from now on will be nothing compared to some of the things I have went through here.
Will I miss it? Of course now I am so busy with EVERYTHING I'd love to say heck no - but I might sigh and admit that a part of me will... somehow haha. So, on that note, I better get back to studying - I have hospital tomorrow all day, so I will write sometime after and let you know how it went! I love hospital days!!!
Hugs to all and to those in my fan club (don't worry I'll stop calling it that) leave a message and kick my butt if I am slackin' on this! :)
Take care.
After hearing that it is time to update, I put in a little effort into fixing "my cookies" (still have no idea) but the genius that I am has fixed it! So HA!
So.... Where to continue from... Well, I got mini #1 back and I passed everything with flying colors. Well, maybe like half-staff? Haha, no I did alright. Everytime I take an exam I tell myself that I will be happy if I just pass - but it somehow always turns into - ahhhh, I wish I had done better. Ah well, another chance is around the corner - mini #2. Yes, I have paused on blogging so much that it is just about that time again. I am taking it a week from Monday and then I'm really on the downhill to getting off this Rock! It's crazy how time flies.
Besides school things are SO busy. Honor Council is keeping me busy with a couple things which is pretty time consuming. The foundation is going FABULOUS - except for the stupid customs agents in Dominica still holding onto our equipment!!! We found out we don't have to pay the $3,000EC to get it to us (ridiculous - it's a donation!!!) but we will have to pay for storage fee. Fine. I say whatever - can't be more than $500EC... I hope. I am so thrilled though because there are wonderful students interested in taking RFDH over after most of us leave! I am so happy that I found passionate people that I know will do a fantastic job.
As I have probably said before, sometimes I look back this time last year to see what I was doing. It makes me laugh. The pre-reading, 5am wake up calls, the giant physio book that only a master's student would read - yep, all me. I just can't believe it is nearly time for me to move on from the island and start building my life back up at home. So much has changed. I came here an eager, freshly graduated college student leaving behind friends, family and a boyfriend and am coming home an exhausted, 3rd year (nearly) medical student coming back home to my family and finace!!!
I must say, that is a nice transition. Of course, there is all that personal growth and all, haha. That's a big one that I overlooked. I can now say that I am quite the independant person. I remember telling my mom that once when I was in college. She flat out told me that I wasn't - which was so true. Yes, I lived on my own in college but still pretty much had gotten everything I needed from my parents (thanks again for the millionth time!!! :D). I know that anything that I have to deal with from now on will be nothing compared to some of the things I have went through here.
Will I miss it? Of course now I am so busy with EVERYTHING I'd love to say heck no - but I might sigh and admit that a part of me will... somehow haha. So, on that note, I better get back to studying - I have hospital tomorrow all day, so I will write sometime after and let you know how it went! I love hospital days!!!
Hugs to all and to those in my fan club (don't worry I'll stop calling it that) leave a message and kick my butt if I am slackin' on this! :)
Take care.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Will I be ready for my upcoming clinicals?
My LAST first mini is over... wow. Never again!!! After the exam, I just couldn't help to think that now it is downhill - the first mini is just about at the half-way point in the semester (odd I know) but next week is week 8 of 12. Then exams and done! The mini I think went well - I know I worked hard so I hope it pays off.
So as you all know, I am going home to Michigan for my 5th and hopefully the rest of my clinical education before I can finally receive my M.D. degree. Knowing my clinicals are coming up - it is quite nerveracking! I know it will be 2 years of pimping, along with some self-doubt, times of pride and also disappointment as well. We have learned so much in my near two years that it makes me wonder how much I have retained! I know I have retained alot. With my classes now, so much is being integrated together. For all those that don't believe - biochem DOES return haha. Of course, I'm sure alot of preceptors ask about such details but I would still like to be able to recall them. I'm just so excited to put all I have learned to use and be that person where the others on rounds say "She's the one that always seems to know the answer." I hope that is me.
A week or two ago there was a small private session for our Harvey (patient simulator for cardiorespiratory systems based on different anatomical abnormalities of the heart). After we got into it, I just looked around the room. It was two other girls, myself and three different professors. It was the three professors on one side and us three students on the other. It just hit me and stuck with me that they were passing down their knowledge to us just like one day we will do to others. Just felt like we were that "new generation" of medicine and gave me a bit of excitement.
Even after that I met a great professor who taught us our breast, pelvic and head/neck exams. Dr. K had such a huge knowledge base, could break everything down so easy a chimp could understand and made us feel like medicine was not some impossible task but gave an enjoyable and simplistic approach to it all. After we had him teach us for two hours, we all wanted to know his story - how he got to be a successful doctor that so many people I am sure adore. Another professor who also has been so helpful and wonderful teacher, has taught me on and off for my two years. She comes across as so confident, intelligent and like Dr. K - just a wonderful and personable individual! Who would have guessed it but both of them were gradutes of Ross graduate. I don't know why it surprised me. I know Ross is a great school but it just for some reason took me by surprise. It made me hope that someday people would want to know more about me and my story someday too. I know I will have alot of them to tell!
I am now mere months away from my rotational years and actually - less than that! We do them in 5th semester and even overnight on-call shifts too. So scary but exciting! Before I start I have to take the COMP exam. This exam is taken by all out-going 4th semesters which they must pass in order to register for the Step 1 exam. I will be home to study for this and I will be flying down for my exam (which I have to take in Miami) January 17th. Then it is back to Michigan to begin taking everything from my 1st and 2nd years and applying it to my patients (or my residents' patients that I have to do the scut on, haha). Will I be ready? I hope so. I hope I can be someone patients want to come see and students that actually look forward to my teachings. Until then, keeping the nose to the grindstone so I can get my butt out of the classroom and in the hospitals helping people - where I belong.
So as you all know, I am going home to Michigan for my 5th and hopefully the rest of my clinical education before I can finally receive my M.D. degree. Knowing my clinicals are coming up - it is quite nerveracking! I know it will be 2 years of pimping, along with some self-doubt, times of pride and also disappointment as well. We have learned so much in my near two years that it makes me wonder how much I have retained! I know I have retained alot. With my classes now, so much is being integrated together. For all those that don't believe - biochem DOES return haha. Of course, I'm sure alot of preceptors ask about such details but I would still like to be able to recall them. I'm just so excited to put all I have learned to use and be that person where the others on rounds say "She's the one that always seems to know the answer." I hope that is me.
A week or two ago there was a small private session for our Harvey (patient simulator for cardiorespiratory systems based on different anatomical abnormalities of the heart). After we got into it, I just looked around the room. It was two other girls, myself and three different professors. It was the three professors on one side and us three students on the other. It just hit me and stuck with me that they were passing down their knowledge to us just like one day we will do to others. Just felt like we were that "new generation" of medicine and gave me a bit of excitement.
Even after that I met a great professor who taught us our breast, pelvic and head/neck exams. Dr. K had such a huge knowledge base, could break everything down so easy a chimp could understand and made us feel like medicine was not some impossible task but gave an enjoyable and simplistic approach to it all. After we had him teach us for two hours, we all wanted to know his story - how he got to be a successful doctor that so many people I am sure adore. Another professor who also has been so helpful and wonderful teacher, has taught me on and off for my two years. She comes across as so confident, intelligent and like Dr. K - just a wonderful and personable individual! Who would have guessed it but both of them were gradutes of Ross graduate. I don't know why it surprised me. I know Ross is a great school but it just for some reason took me by surprise. It made me hope that someday people would want to know more about me and my story someday too. I know I will have alot of them to tell!
I am now mere months away from my rotational years and actually - less than that! We do them in 5th semester and even overnight on-call shifts too. So scary but exciting! Before I start I have to take the COMP exam. This exam is taken by all out-going 4th semesters which they must pass in order to register for the Step 1 exam. I will be home to study for this and I will be flying down for my exam (which I have to take in Miami) January 17th. Then it is back to Michigan to begin taking everything from my 1st and 2nd years and applying it to my patients (or my residents' patients that I have to do the scut on, haha). Will I be ready? I hope so. I hope I can be someone patients want to come see and students that actually look forward to my teachings. Until then, keeping the nose to the grindstone so I can get my butt out of the classroom and in the hospitals helping people - where I belong.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
4th is well underway!
Why hello hello! Look at who's internet was back to acting up *raising hand*! Yes, on campus there it's hard to get on my blogsite and at my apartment - well, internet hasn't worked in my room in a while - ah Dominica! I am plugged into the internet in my kitchen which we just got plugs for so yay!
Anyway, trying to figure out where I left off! Semester 4 is amazing - I absolutely love it. I am just finishing up week 5 right now (well our mini is on Monday and the week beforehand we have lectures on material that will be on mini two, so I will have to catch up!). Again, our first mini is this coming Monday and I couldn't be more excited! It is my LAST first mini!!!! We have learned so much so far this semester it is unreal.
I have had a habit since I haven't been able to blog to look way back when to my first days on the island last year. How time flies! I can't believe it is almost time to leave. It is like the science summer camp that has finally come to an end! I am sitting at about 2.5 month now until I will be leaving Dominica and moving onto my 5th semester. Ross does 5th semester here on the island or in Miami, FL. BUT - recently they have approved a site in Michigan for 5th semester!!!! Well... slow down, no. It isn't approved until May 2008 when I will be already done with 5th... boo. BUT WAIT! Then they thought they might try to set up a cohort of 10 people in my class to go for a "trial run" this upcoming February (which I was pushing and pushing for) - and they APPROVED IT! Guess who was on the list of 10 to go - yours truly, that's right!!!!
I'M COMING HOME!!! NEVER TO LEAVE MICHIGAN AGAIN!
I can't wait to come back home and spend MORE than 2 weeks in the new house. I haven't ever lived in there that long before! As I told Tony (from my last post my newww finace!), "We will finally be together long enough to be able to get on each other's nerves!" I can't wait to be back with him, friends and family! What fate though! Out of ALL the places in the US, they picked Michigan and out of ALL the students they picked me! I thank God so much for this blessing. We prayed and prayed for it and He has come through more than I ever hoped for!
So that is the big news lately - the lastest buzz. I know the blogs lagged but you really didn't miss much - studying, studying, working on my organizations and OH YEA - studying, haha. There are so many things I want to talk about that I feel like I have bottled up waiting to say but it will have to wait! I have a mini in 4 days after all!!!
Back to studying for now but I'll be back :D!
With love, Jess
Anyway, trying to figure out where I left off! Semester 4 is amazing - I absolutely love it. I am just finishing up week 5 right now (well our mini is on Monday and the week beforehand we have lectures on material that will be on mini two, so I will have to catch up!). Again, our first mini is this coming Monday and I couldn't be more excited! It is my LAST first mini!!!! We have learned so much so far this semester it is unreal.
I have had a habit since I haven't been able to blog to look way back when to my first days on the island last year. How time flies! I can't believe it is almost time to leave. It is like the science summer camp that has finally come to an end! I am sitting at about 2.5 month now until I will be leaving Dominica and moving onto my 5th semester. Ross does 5th semester here on the island or in Miami, FL. BUT - recently they have approved a site in Michigan for 5th semester!!!! Well... slow down, no. It isn't approved until May 2008 when I will be already done with 5th... boo. BUT WAIT! Then they thought they might try to set up a cohort of 10 people in my class to go for a "trial run" this upcoming February (which I was pushing and pushing for) - and they APPROVED IT! Guess who was on the list of 10 to go - yours truly, that's right!!!!
I'M COMING HOME!!! NEVER TO LEAVE MICHIGAN AGAIN!
I can't wait to come back home and spend MORE than 2 weeks in the new house. I haven't ever lived in there that long before! As I told Tony (from my last post my newww finace!), "We will finally be together long enough to be able to get on each other's nerves!" I can't wait to be back with him, friends and family! What fate though! Out of ALL the places in the US, they picked Michigan and out of ALL the students they picked me! I thank God so much for this blessing. We prayed and prayed for it and He has come through more than I ever hoped for!
So that is the big news lately - the lastest buzz. I know the blogs lagged but you really didn't miss much - studying, studying, working on my organizations and OH YEA - studying, haha. There are so many things I want to talk about that I feel like I have bottled up waiting to say but it will have to wait! I have a mini in 4 days after all!!!
Back to studying for now but I'll be back :D!
With love, Jess
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