Back from reality

So I've been a little absent online lately. Oops. What have I been up to? Umm, let's see.... research, shadowing a peds oncologist, watching TV with the temp roommate/ playing with her puppy, and reading... Lots and lots of reading.

That being said: Review Time!!!

I started reading this book on Spring Break and got close to finishing it (70 pages or so).... but then school started again. Now that its summer I officially had time to finish it! I loved the book while I was reading it! However, the end left me unsettled.... it wasn't a cohesive ending. I mean, it made realistic sense, but still. All in all, I recommend it. Grade: A-.

Here's another book that I've started before... specifically, my mom got it out of the library the week before medical school started. So, I only read it until then and then handed it back to my mom. However, I've been wanting to re-read/finish it since then. Dr. Groopman did a wonderful job of framing common errors through narratives. It was an easy read and one that I got through fast. I recommend this book (as does my mentor) to any one planning on going into medicine or any one dealing with the medical system. Grade: A

I cannot rate this one yet... just wanted to put it up there as the book I'm now reading. I started it today and am already over 25% done with it. Hmm.... once I'm done I'll give a little review.

THIS WEEKEND!

1.) Red Bull Air Races. Can you say EXCITING! Hopefully we'll be able to see some of it from our apartment... if not we might be making a trip to Canada (Detroit tickets are sold out, but a hop over the bridge never hurt anyone... eh?)

2.) My brother is GRADUATING!!! Umm, this may sound bad... but I seriously cannot believe that he's made it to this point. Firstly, when did he grow up?! Secondly, how did he manage that?! Just kidding... CONGRATS BRO! I'll be there routing you on as you cross that stage and get that diploma!

A-MAZING

**WARNING: Religious post, if you don't want it... just leave it.**

Last year I had a student, who we will call T. T was one of the national students: read Buddhist student at a Christian school. But T was not like most of the national students, and I witnessed this first hand through one of the weekly assignments I had my students do.

The assignment was a nature journal. Now before you go accusing me of being a tree hugger, the assignment was set based on the concept of "general revelation". General revelation is how God shows his love through nature and creation, as apposed to special revelation as seen through the Bible and Jesus. The reason I set the assignment was because nature is one of the ways that I center and reconnect with God. However, I know that as a student I had many a hard time finding time to just sit in nature and observe. The assignment was to spend 30 minutes observing nature, or some aspect of nature.

But back to T and how he intersected with the assignment. From the first week T started the assignment he started experiencing God... I don't know how else to explain it. Every week T kept doing excellent work on observing nature, but also adding reflections that pulled it all back to God. To be honest, at times I felt his faith was stronger than mine. And this is when he was still searching, and I was the Christian.

Over the year I had many conversations will another teacher about T, the other teacher being his religious education teacher. He told me how T had a voracious appetite for the word: On top of being one of the all-star students, he was using all his free time (which would have been minimal based on the quality of his homework) to read the Bible.

Since I've returned home I've had some updates on T, one including the information that his mom, spurred on my T's hunger for the word, had started reading the Bible herself.

But the most amazing email came a few weeks ago when I found out that T had accepted Christ as his Savior. Yesterday I got an email saying the T was elected student body President for the upcoming school year.

"Schools Out for the Summer"

I think I forgot to mention this: But I'm done with first year!

That's right... I'm an M2!

And its official, I just got the last set of my grades back.... I've passed everything!
I've been done since Thursday. Thursday and Friday night were full of partying and celebrating. I spent Saturday and Sunday at home getting in some much needed family time.

So, summer is in full swing. But this summer is completely different from all my other summers. It's the first one that I am fully booked. We're talking every weekday from now until the Friday before Year 2 officially starts.

I started research today: funny story, I finished entering all the data that they had for me today (on top of learning a new database system). So, tomorrow I have to go find more data. Well... not exactly, I have to pick up the data from the doctor at CHM.

As soon as I get all the data entered its onto doing bench work, which is what I really want to do!

Research is bookending my summer, in the middle is going to be my super awesome externship... which I'm super excited for!!!! I love pediatrics and cannot wait to get in the hospital and doing something!

I'm also really excited to get to know people outside of the confines of the classroom. Plans are already in the works. :)

It's going to be crazy busy, but the summer should be crazy fun... hopefully.

That being said: WELCOME TO THE LAST SUMMER OF MY LIFE!

Let Me See You Do the Cupid Shuffle

I thought it was pretty self-explanatory... but apparently not. Do people really find this difficult? Cause they might need more than dance help.



Highlights:

1. Before you try this at home you must stretch and warm up.
2. The 1/2 time walking through
3. "GUARANTEED RESULTS" flashing up multiple times (3 to be exact)
4. The fact they even found this necessary

And just for kicks... here's the music video.



In all honesty though... one of my favorite songs at this time.

"A Stroke of Genius"

Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist, talks about the effect of a stroke and how it changed her view of living. Amazingly powerful. (It's about 18 minutes, but a must watch)

Dear Pre-meds

Dear Pre-meds,

It is great that you have decided that you want to become a doctor.... Myself not yet being there, and only in my first year, have a few remarks (please note, I'm not trying to be cynical, just blunt):

1. You are not in medical school, therefore you are not going to school to become a doctor. You are in school to get an undergraduate degree so you can in the future go to school to be a doctor.

2. On that note, you are not yet in the medical field. In my honest opinion, you aren't really in the medical field until at least the 3rd year of medical school, if not until after you obtain the M.D. after your name. The only exception to this is if you are going to medical school after working as a CNA or RN.

3. Do not assume that just because you dream of going to medical school that you will in fact end up there right after undergrad, if at all. From personal experience and those of some of my friends (who had amazing GPAs, extra-curriculars, and MCAT scores).... it's a crap shoot. You're lucky to get an interview, let alone get in.

So please STOP..... Until you are in medical school and actually know all that it entails, you do not get to pretend to be a medical student. Live it up while you can.... before med school eats your social life. This will also prevent all those actually in medical school from instantly despising you.

Sincerely,
Kt


P.S. 40 year old entrepreneur lady... do not take the advice of 18 year olds for how to "sell yourself".... After overhearing their advice, it's nothing that you wouldn't hear from any high schooler, let alone a college drop out whose biggest ambition in life is to be a manager at some crappy retail store.

Two Down, Two to Go

Welp, finished another exam (probably the easiest one of the year). It was the clinical skills assessment, which means: how to take a history. I think it went well, but we'll see later.

Monday is the big neuro exam and Thursday is the one and only genetics exam. To say I'm starting to freak would be an understatement.... staying up late for the next week and crashing next weekend is the only option.

Until next time I leave you with the brain topography study aid I made.. So basic in comparison to what I actually need to know.

2 Weeks and 3 Exams

Well.... just got back from what was potentially the worse weekend to go camping, that turned out to be rather fun. Our class had a camping trip about an hour away.... and by class I mean 4 of us (needless to say, my class is made up of all gunners who don't know what it means not to be inside studying).

We headed up Friday, in the rain, and set up camp (luckily not in the rain, but on wet ground). And then hung out by the fire. In between the downpours on Saturday we managed to get some studying in.... but still needing to bust my butt this week for the upcoming tests.

There is a clinical skills (read... how to take a patient history 101) test on Thursday, which shouldn't be too bad and neuro next week (which is again making me sick with anxiety). Then we have a full week before our last exam of first year, which is genetics (and the only one that i really have a hard time studying for... just can't make my mind do it for some reason).

That being said... time to retreat to the books. I leave you with one of the funniest cars I've seen in awhile....

Happy May Day!!

I don't know why, but I've always liked this holiday! It just seems so cheery and fun! A glimmer of what will soon be coming: summer vacay and fun all the time.

Countdown to the gloriousness that will be summer: 14 days, 4 hours, and 30 minutes!