2nd year completed! (from 6/09)

Finally, I’m done with the second year of med school (YEAH!!!!), a year that seemed to drag on forever and a day. I must admit, the classes were a lot more enjoyable, and I was able to better balance free time with study time. For some reason, however, the last couple months of it took forrrrrever, probably since I could actually see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I just wanted to run as fast as I could toward it. Hey, at least I made it, free of any head pounding or threats to link up all the pages of my pathophysiology text, wrap it around my neck and hang from it. I did have my share of trials and “what the hell did I do that for?” moments (most of them not actually related to school); however, all in all it was a smooth, painless experience, though I must admit that simply the relief of having this part of school over does lend itself to some relative amnesia regarding aforementioned trials. Trials make the victory so much sweeter, doesn’t it? Well, if it doesn’t, I’ll never know. What’s done is done. Let’s just agree that it does and be happier knowing that life will be sweeter in the long run because of it.
I won’t consider the first half of school truly over until I’ve successfully taken my first licensing exam. This is probably the most important test I will take during my medical prep., which means that over the summer I’ll be studying my ass off (you know, that’s such a misleading saying, because I can tell you from recent experience that your ass never shrinks in proportion to the amount of study time you put in). At least this is now on my own time, and I won’t have to answer to anyone for skipping class (not that that EVER happened to me).
I’m also working through the summer as a nurse, gleaning as much as I can from the medical aspect of the job and making some connections. I enjoy being a nurse, and have so much respect for the job and the people who do it, but there’s this underlying satisfaction knowing I’ll be able to diagnose and treat patients on a different level once I’m done with school. After my exam is over, I’ll begin the 72 weeks of clinical training which will lead me to the end of another chapter……the completion of my MD degree. Until then, I have to stay focused on the task at hand, and enjoy the fact that I made it this far, on that road, and came through it relatively unscathed……and almost completely normal.

Let’s get this next chapter started, shall we?

One year down (from 4/08)

It's hard to believe that I've completed my first year of med school.......no crying, no banging my head on the walls.....no tearing my hair out. In fact, I'm absolutely lovin' it! It did take half the year, however, to find that balance between doing well in classes and taking time for myself in order to remain sane and healthy (yes, I understand that "sane" is a relative term). I've learned that biochem is not the end of the world (unless enzymes that require lipoic acid as a cofactor are inhibited by arsenic.....that could be bad), that classmates are valuable sources of information (and alcohol.....no, actually we don't drink in med school), and that getting less than 100% on a test doesn't mean I not gonna be a good practitioner.

I can't imagine now even questioning whether I should take this step to become a physician. It's so easy to get settled in the life we live and not reach for the goals we set for ourselves. Ten years ago, almost to this day, I was playing for the USA Rugby Team at the '98 World Cup in Amsterdam. It was by playing at this level that I knew I could reach my goal of getting through med school. Although obstacles seemed to appear one after the other, the determination to actualize this dream never left me. Now I can practically see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. And it seems to be coming with a beautiful sandy beach! Yeah, now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Now get out there and live your dream!!!!

Crazy Adventure (from 8/07)

I'm off to a new adventure…..one that involves going to med school for the next 4 years. Now, why in the hell would I, at this point my life, decide to take on such an endeavor when I have a perfectly fine job, or two of them, and am surrounded by wonderful friends and family, who are the most amazing people I know, to take off with some crazy notion that going to school for the next 4 years would be most beneficial to both myself and those around me?

Well, for one thing, I'm smart…..very much so. I love learning about medicine and disease and how it impacts the lives of people. As a matter of fact, I would rather read a book on medical physiology than do just about anything else. I believe I will be an excellent doc mainly for the fact that I am passionate about medicine and have a great amount of compassion for people. Working as an RN and professor has certainly been rewarding, and I will continue to do this as much as possible as I make my way through the next 4 years. Nursing is a great profession, and I'm glad to be a part of it; however, I look forward to enhancing both my skills and knowledge. The really cool part about being a physician is that I will have a greater impact on helping people help themselves, as well as the mental challenge of diagnosis, and in some cases, surgery (hey, just cuz I can't sew for shit now, doesn't mean I'll leave a huge scar later….HAAAA!)

AND….why not??? Why not go on this crazy adventure to become better at what I love to do? It is one of the most amazing privileges to be someone's physician, a privilege that I look forward to, and one that I certainly won't take lightly. I have nothin' to lose! I'm already used to working crazy hours. As most of my friends know, I have more energy in a day than most people have in a week, which will totally be put to good use during AND after med school. I have the amazing support and encouragement of my friends and family. What else do I need?

All in all, at the end of the day, I need to feel proud of what I do, and feel like I accomplish something every time I go to work. I feel this as an RN, and even as a biology/nursing professor. Going back to school will give me the freedom to have an even greater impact on the lives of people around me, and that alone is worth the time and effort of embarking on this next great adventure.