First of all, it has been over a month since my last post. Needless to say, school has been keeping me busy. Thankfully, I was able to go home last week for a few days to see my family and some friends. It was good to be there, but I was glad to be back. More proof that this is where I'm supposed to be. Now to catch everyone up on what has been going on...
We have all heard it a hundred times (or more): You are your own worst critic. Well, it has certainly proved true for me. Many times I've thought that I may not be cut out for medical school, but no there is no more room for doubt.
My first Medical Gross Anatomy (MGA) written exam was August 20 and the first lab practical was the next Monday (August 23). I was really confident in the written exam and knew I performed well. The lab pracitcal, on the other hand, proved more of a challenge for me. Ironically, lab is what carried me through my first semester of Anatomy & Physiology at Guilford. Here, where we get to study cadavers, it is a completely different ballgame. I was in the lab multiple days every week trying to learn every aspect of the upper limb and chest...muscles, functions, attachments, nerve roots, nerves (including the brachial plexus), arteries, veins, x-rays, bones, models...you get the idea. Keep in mind we also have 12 cadavers, and all of them will be tagged on the lab practical; therefore, if you stay only on the cadaver your lab group is assigned, you will probably not do as well on the lab practical.
Well, God blessed the hours I put into studying. I made a pretty high A on the written exam and a mid-B on the lab practical. I was pleased, but wanted to do better on the lab practical.
The goal for the next exam: do just as well as I did on the first one.
The goal for the next lab practical: do as well on it as on the written.
Section 2 (lower limb) of lecture and lab were not as in depth as the first section. There is just not as much detail on the lower limb as there is on the upper limb, probably because it does not involve the brachial plexus. We were told this is the section to rack up points on the lab practical and written exam because exam 4 might kick our butts...
So the studying cycle began again. A little studying every day (even if only for half an hour). Attempting to get enough sleep every night. Go to lab as much as possible. Still leave time for yourself to wind down...and not stress out. (Pretty much, school is more than just learning curricula. It's learning how to successfully and healthily live life.) I finally got back into running, which is pretty exciting for me. And I made the 6-hour drive home to visit family and friends for a little over 4 full days. Then I returned to DCOM...and you know what happened...
More studying...
The second lab practical was last Friday (September 10), and I was well prepared for it. We don't have our scores back, but I believe I did better on it than on the first one.
We had our MGA written exam today...and I only missed one question!
*Do a little happy dance!* :)
It is pretty clear that I can do this. God has put me here for a reason, and He is continuing to help me and prove to me that I can do this. I will do this. I can't really explain how excited I am to be on this journey...and to be succeeding. God is so good. He deserves all the praise! That's what it boils down to.
Well, I have rambled some, but I wanted to share my experiences and excitement! Next thing on the list, Genetics exam on Wednesday! Let's do this!!
Oh...and some of my friends and I are participating in the Navy SEAL race on October 2. Basically, we get to run through lots of mud and go over and through obstacles. I'm so ready for that!! And a little over a month after that is MedWar. I'll explain what that is later (it includes more mud and obstacles, but it's medically related). Just in case I forget to explain MedWar, the website is www.medwar.org. Check it out!!
Now it's time for a shower and lunch, then I'm off to class!! Guess what I'm doing after that...
Studying. Yep. But I'm loving it.
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 37:3-5
