simplicity....

I am in medical school, and of course that means NOTHING is simple. If there is one thing I have learned from island life, it is that the simple things in life are often the most valuable. To be truthful, I have never been the type to take things for granted. I always appreciate life and its virtuosity, knowing that it could all be taken away in a moments time. But I have to admit, I see myself noticing the simple pleasures of life more and more every day.

the companionship of a stray dog walking me to class
a sincere smile of a young girl, as I wave to her passing by
the smell of fresh (unpolluted) air while walking to class
the feeling of accomplishment of learning something new
an encouraging word from a friend
a fresh cup of passionfruit juice
walking.... everywhere
the sunset

When you are physically, emotionally and mentally drained, you really have to step back and relax. Let go of everything inside and just appreciate life. Appreciate all those little things that make you smile, appreciate the things that make you feel free from the stress that consumes your life. So perhaps, tomorrow, take a step back and find something that you have been overlooking, simplify something, or admire something new. And once you find one thing, find another.... and another.... it is then, that simplicity takes residence in your life and you will feel happier, healthier and overall feel like a better YOU!

99 problems but anatomy isn't one.....

anxiety, anger, humility, intimidation, confidence, despair, elation.... I never though I would experience all of these in a period of 50 days. Between tests, relationships and general fatigue, I can't believe that I am still standing at this very moment. I realized for the first time, how strong of a person I truly am. I have overcome so many obstacles to get here, and now that I am here it feels like it is an even harder battle. So far I have persevered and I feel like I owe that to a few special things: my ipod, my desktop picture of Mr. Bentley, my family in VT, my friends here, my macbook , my pooh bear, and my deodorant. You can laugh, but seriously, I have realize how it is the little things along with the hard work and determination within, that can get you through even the toughest of times. I just completed week six, three tests down, 4 more and a final to go. In the past few weeks I met a new friend.......





His name is baby Netter's... my anatomy bible. I am also becoming quite fond of Mr. Lippincott, although he has been hiding out for a few weeks. My life is medical school right now, I eat, sleep and breath course work and I barely have enough time to devote to this blog. But at the end of the day how do I feel? Happy, excited, anxious knowing that I am one day closer to pursing my dream. Each day I am astonished as to how much information I have learned, and I look forward to the next day, and the next day and the next after that. WIth everything in my life being turned upside down, I am content knowing that I am here..... I made it.... I am making it... and I have determination to succeed. I am holding it together because...... I WANT THIS.

I see dead people....

It has been a few days since the mini and life is still pretty crazy over here in Jurassic Park!

First thing is first......the mini. Leaving the mini I actually felt okay. I knew I didn't bomb the test, and actually I though I did pretty well. The worst part about the entire thing was waiting 4 days to get my grade!!! I did pretty well! Of course I feel that I could have done more studying , but over all, I feel like I was well prepared.

So that was Monday, and I had zero time to recuperate. Friday was my histology lab exam. And once again I think I did okay, but the grades haven't come out yet. Just to top off the two weeks they decide to throw in a gross anatomy practical next Thursday. This is when they tag certain structures on our cadavers and we have to answer primary and secondary questions about the tagged item. You have a time restraint and cannot touch the body, and to make it worse, the cover up the rest of the body so you can't tell what area you are looking at. So basically, you must know EVERYTHING. Location, visual appearance, innervation, origin, insertion, arterial supply and of course it's function. FABULOUS RIGHT? I have spent at least 8 hours in the lab in the past two days, and I am literally seeing dead people! I shower and I think of the anastomosis of the elbow and I dream about the common flexors of the forearm, and the creepy looking hands with no skin on them! It is driving me NUTS!!!!
Lucky for us, the teacher assistants are giving us a practice practical today. So at least I practice taking the test and see where I am lacking.

As for general life here, I am content. This place isn't so bad, and really you don't have time to think about it at all. EVERYTHING I do revolves around school. I only wish I could get a bit more exercise and better food. I am going to try to find time to go for a daily run. I need to keep myself healthy and relieve some stress, because overall, this is not going to get easier, it is going to get much harder. Regarless, I say BRING IT! I am ready for it!!!

Information OVERLOAD!!!!

I can hear sirens running though my head... "WARNING WARNING.... INFORMATION OVERLOAD" I almost feel as if normal language is non existent at the moment. I just have random things running through my head! To give you an idea of the amount of information I have to know for this "mini" just take a looksie......
Histology: complete cell biology (a whole books worth), epithelia, connective tissue, cartilage and bone.
Biochemistry: biomacromolecules, carbonic acid buffer system, carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes, amino acids, proteins, RNA, DNA, transcription, translation, viruses, gene expression, chromosomal diseases, the human genome project and biotechnology.
Anatomy: the muscles, nerves, arteries, and function of the back, the pectoral region, the spinal cord, the scapular region, the arm the forearm and the hand. oh, and of course the clinical correlations if one of the above were injured.
Physiology: membrane potential, transport, osmolarity, tonicity, action potentials, blah blah blah...
Doctor Patient Society: alcoholism, spinal cord injury, cystic fibrosis, how to take a history, how to be a good doctor and acculturation.
So can you see why I am going absolutely nuts? It isn't that I feel like I don't know anything, cause I definitely do... it is just the pure fact of getting easily confused with this amount of information! I can only imagine what it will be like come the end of the semester!

But all in all, I am trying to remain calm. I am definitely not freaking out like some people who have stayed up till 5 am studying for the past three days. I have studied these subjects from day one. I am definitely no genius, and there are things that come easy to others that do not to me, but I feel like I have done the best I can. And with that being said, I am satisfied.
Tonight I am gonna take a hot shower, jump into my fresh, clean sheets and get some sleep. And as always, hope that my dreams don't turn into Erbs Palsy, aliphatic amino acids or beta pleated sheets!

Wish me luck tomorrow!

The Pits.....

Week 4 of medical school is finally complete! I actually had quite an interesting week. A lot of things started to click.... which is ultimately an awesome feeling. I had the privilege of dissecting the Axilla, or better known to you as the arm pit. I know, sound gross, but really you have no idea how many vital structures are contained within that small area. It was not only super neat, but it was an awesome learning experience. Instead of starring at a drawing on paper, I was able to three-dimensionally learn the structures in their anatomical position. Pretty awesome, so thank you "Harold" for donating your body to us. (yes, we named him)

So today, I saw two very strange sights while walking to school. There was a muskrat or something of the sort in flames on the side of the road?? WTF? Apparently he was an uninvited house guest. I walked about another half mile down the road, jamming out to my ipod when I look up and realize that I am about to walk straight into a COW! He is just chillin' the middle of the bridge that I need to cross. What the heck is a cow doing on a bridge? Shouldn't they be afraid of heights or something? haha. Anywho, it was pretty damn funny.

Well it is about 4 in the afternoon and it is time for me get busy. I am planning to spend the next few days at school, locked up so I have no distractions, and study everything I have learned since day one! We will see if all my studying every night has really paid off! Wish me luck.... cause Monday is the day of truth!