Finally

I finally passed a Microbiology exam. I go into the exams every time feeling like I understand the material. I never feel like I know everything, there is too much information to learn everything for 9 exams in one day. However, I do feel like I know enough to at the very least pass. It has been very frustrating, but finally, I have passed my micro exam.

This week is going to be full of studying as next week is a full week of exams. Then, provided I pass all of my courses this block, I get a week long break!!! I cannot wait, and I definitely need this break.

At the end of the break is our White Coat Ceremony, another very exciting moment my medical school career.

Well, for now I need to get back to studying because I am determined to pass all of my courses, and am trying to do much better than passing.



P.S. There are baby sheep, baby cows, and baby horses in the pastures now! I have tried to get pictures, but they keep moving the babies due to problems with the fencing. I tried to go this evening, but it was too dark to get good pictures. Hopefully, I will have new pictures soon!

Week 7

I had a lot of trouble concentrating this week. I was very worried about Micro, and spending most of my time on it instead of spreading time to everything. This weekend, however, has been very productive. Friday night I studied all of the courses that did not have many lectures or I felt would be quick to get throug. Yesterday, Jessica and Sierra came over to study Pharm and Micro. We spent most of the time from 10 AM to 4:30 PM studying Micro (took a break for lunch and later a quick walk down by the pastures). Then we started studying Pharm until about 6:30 PM when Raj came over to study Biochemistry.
This morning, I finished reviewing Ethics and Pharm then I went to church at Blacksburg Christian Fellowship. It was a much needed break and I absolutely loved the service. I just have to see what types of things they have for me to plug into and I might have found my new church home!
When I got home, I had a quick lunch, and finished up Biochemistry. After Biochem, I went for a run/walk down through the pastures again. I love running there! I cannot wait until my endurance builds up in this higher altitude. I am running further every time, but I still have a long way to go to get even where I was over the last few years in Raleigh (which was not far or fast). On my run today I saw some hunger donkey, birds playing leap frog, and some tuckered out sheep. :-) I have reviewed Nutrition again, and I am about to look at Micro one more time. I think I have everything covered, and I am ready to go ace Micro! :)

Hopefully, these exams will all go well!

Week 6

Well, I put a lot more time into studying for the exam this past weekend, and there was improvement in several courses. However, there were still some courses that I did not do very well in, and one in particular that needs vast improvement. I have spent time this week talking to the professors in this course about advice for studying for their course. Hopefully, these techniques will prove successful on the next exam.

The block is half over. It is hard to believe that in a few weeks we will be having our White Coat Ceremony.

This weekend, Morgan came to visit!! :) It was great to have her here, but unfortunately it meant I did not get much studying done, and it would have been a great studying weekend. Oh well, I definitely needed friend time and I was great to spend it with Morgan!

We went to the movies, and to Jefferson National Forest and walked around the pond. We had plans to go to Roanoke, but we never went, it was a nasty, raining weekend, so we decided just to stay in Blacksburg instead. I did show her all of my "backyard" animals! :)

Weeks 4 and 5

Well, last week I found out that I did not do as well as I hoped on several of my first medical school exams. The first round is over, and tomorrow is the second round of exams. I have been studying almost non-stop since I got my grades back, hoping to do much better on these exams. Tomorrow is the Block 1 Pathology Final Exam, and we have five other exams. The good thing is....we are done by noon!!!

This weekend I studied a lot with Brittany. It was really good to have another human being in the room whlie studying. For the most part, we were very productive while together, though we did of course get off on some interesting tangents. Yesterday we went to Jefferson National Forest and studied outside for a little while. It was very nice to get out, and quite relaxing.

Today, I finished going through my notes around 5:15 P.M. and went out for a run through the pastures. I have no idea how far I went, but I turned around when I saw a hawk fly away with a very large mouse....at that point I figured I was too far out in the country for today, though it was absolutely beautiful! I even met Eeyore (or some of his family) while out on my run this evening!

It has been a very relaxing evening. I am glad to have the time to give my brain a rest before the exams tomorrow. I only pray that I have learned enough and do well on the exams.

Thank you Lord, for your beautiful, amazing creations in nature and the intricacies of life. The more I learn and the more I see, the more you become real to me!!

I cannot wait for Thursday, September 24! Morgan is coming to Blacksburg, and we are going to have tons of fun!!! I miss Morgan so much, I cannot wait to see her.

Week Three

It has been a long week. I have been studying non-stop since Friday, Aug 28. My first medical school test is tomorrow and I have been trying to prepare for that and catch up with studying from the previous two weeks of school. Even though I probably should have been studying some more, I drove down to Wilmington for my family reunion this weekend. It was great to be able to see everyone, even though it was only for a few hours (with a round trip 12 hours driving time).

Saturday night, my parents and I stayed at a house of some family friends who were out of town at their own family reunion. I did get a little bit of studying done, and my mom helped me come up with some songs to memorize the CYP 450 inhibitors, inducers, and some other Red Flag drugs. The songs are to the tunes of London Bridge, Gilligan's Island, and Green Acres, respectively.

I drove back to Blacksburg Sunday night and memorized the songs on the way back. So at least it was a productive drive!

This evening, after I finished studying, I took a walk along Plantation Road and took pictures of all the animals in “my backyard.” I love living next to all these animals and seeing the horses and sheep every time I leave and return to my apartment. It makes me happy early in the morning or when I have had a bad day to pass the sheep and say hello. Here are a few pictures that I took along my walk.

This sheep walked over from the middle of the field and came to pose for me. When I was done, I thanked her, she baaaed and walked away again. :)

Well, tomorrow is my first test and it is 7 hours long. We have approximately 50 minutes per section with a 10 min break in between each. It is on the computer and we have a white board for any notes that we may need to take. In these respects, it is supposed to be very similar to boards. We will be having these tests every two weeks from now on. It is supposed to prepare us for boards by building endurance or something like that.

Well, hopefully I have done enough to prepare for this first exam. I am nervous, but ready. I will be very happy at 3 pm tomorrow afternoon because the first exam will be over.