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.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The First Exam
Well, it was quite an experience taking my first medical school exam, one I am not likely to forget soon.
It was supposed to be a 7 hr long exam (from 7:45 AM - 2:38 PM), but instead it lasted until 5 PM. We began the exam decently, but less than 30 minutes into it, the server got overloaded with all the students (second years at VCOM and everyone at VT) logging in, especially to Scholar - we were taking our test on Scholar which is similar to WebCT and Blackboard. Well, we were sorting through that okay and they were going to add a little bit of time to the exam so that we could finish despite the slow page changes after every question. However, 10 minutes later we lost internet. The entire class was kicked out of the exam/and could not get back online. After we sat there for 5 - 10 minutes with no resolution for any of us, the told us to leave and come back when it was time to begin the next portion. The hope was that everything would be fixed and we would continue to take the exam on the computer.
However, an hour later, when the next section was to begin, there was still no internet. So, they quickly made paper copies of the exam and we took the test on scantrons. In some ways, I felt this was better. I like being able to write on an exam, cross out the answers I know are wrong, make notes that will still be there later if I go back to look over a question, etc. On the other hand, bubbling in all the answers is much slower and made my hand tired. :)
Right before we began the last section of the day the presented us with a choice about how to handle the first section we did not orignially finish on the computer. Either we could take it again today (on paper) or take it tomorrow. Either way it would be the same exam that some people had already talked about and others had looked up answers to, etc. Even though I had done neither, I knew I wanted to take it today, as tired as I was. I did not want to spend this evening studying again. I needed a relaxing night.
Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of my classmates agreed and we finished the exam this afternoon. Unfortunately, it was the longest portion of the exam that we had to redo making the day last an extra two hours.
The day is over, the first test is done, and even though I am not confident in how well I may or may not have done, I am very glad it is over.
It was supposed to be a 7 hr long exam (from 7:45 AM - 2:38 PM), but instead it lasted until 5 PM. We began the exam decently, but less than 30 minutes into it, the server got overloaded with all the students (second years at VCOM and everyone at VT) logging in, especially to Scholar - we were taking our test on Scholar which is similar to WebCT and Blackboard. Well, we were sorting through that okay and they were going to add a little bit of time to the exam so that we could finish despite the slow page changes after every question. However, 10 minutes later we lost internet. The entire class was kicked out of the exam/and could not get back online. After we sat there for 5 - 10 minutes with no resolution for any of us, the told us to leave and come back when it was time to begin the next portion. The hope was that everything would be fixed and we would continue to take the exam on the computer.
However, an hour later, when the next section was to begin, there was still no internet. So, they quickly made paper copies of the exam and we took the test on scantrons. In some ways, I felt this was better. I like being able to write on an exam, cross out the answers I know are wrong, make notes that will still be there later if I go back to look over a question, etc. On the other hand, bubbling in all the answers is much slower and made my hand tired. :)
Right before we began the last section of the day the presented us with a choice about how to handle the first section we did not orignially finish on the computer. Either we could take it again today (on paper) or take it tomorrow. Either way it would be the same exam that some people had already talked about and others had looked up answers to, etc. Even though I had done neither, I knew I wanted to take it today, as tired as I was. I did not want to spend this evening studying again. I needed a relaxing night.
Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of my classmates agreed and we finished the exam this afternoon. Unfortunately, it was the longest portion of the exam that we had to redo making the day last an extra two hours.
The day is over, the first test is done, and even though I am not confident in how well I may or may not have done, I am very glad it is over.
Monday, September 7, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Week Two
I cannot believe that I am finished with my second week of medical school. The volume of information is extremely high but not too difficult yet. However, I do not feel like I have been studying properly.
Friday, we had a Study Skills Workshop, which I think was very helpful. So, this weekend I have put that advice to work and it has been a very productive weekend.
To celebrate a productive weekend, I had my first cookout at the apartment. I made steak with much thanks to Grammy! It was quite delicious!
I have one week until my first exam which will be very long, and cover a lot of material considering we are taking 9 classes this block.
This week I am going to study very hard and hopefully be very productive so that I can go to my Family Reunion in Wilmington this weekend. I cannot wait to see everyone, but of course I will be missing PopPop greatly!
Friday, we had a Study Skills Workshop, which I think was very helpful. So, this weekend I have put that advice to work and it has been a very productive weekend.
To celebrate a productive weekend, I had my first cookout at the apartment. I made steak with much thanks to Grammy! It was quite delicious!
I have one week until my first exam which will be very long, and cover a lot of material considering we are taking 9 classes this block.
This week I am going to study very hard and hopefully be very productive so that I can go to my Family Reunion in Wilmington this weekend. I cannot wait to see everyone, but of course I will be missing PopPop greatly!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
First Week of Medical School!
Well, I am done with the first week of medical school and about to begin my second week! It was a great week. Just got my feet wet, thinking we will dive in deep beginning tomorrow.
The difference between studying in undergrad and studying in medical school - no free weekends. Otherwise, it seems to be pretty similar. I will see if I am actually doing the right thing on our first test coming up on September 8 - 5 hrs long or so. I am not really looking forward to that.
I did make time this weekend to go to dinner with some friends (Emily, you are an amazing cook!) and I went to the movies this afternoon (Julie & Julia). I cooked chicken for the next several days to make into different meals, and am planning on making spaghetti later this week and inviting people over. After seeing Julie & Juila, I feel like I need to get Juila Child's cook book and make some of those recipies (they looked absolutely delicious on screen!)
I have tried three churches now. Two contemporary, one traditional. I think I am going to have to go back to traditional services, I have missed it ever since leaving Wilmington.
Well, I guess I should get back to studying.
Tomorrow, 8 A.M. begins my second week of medical school!
The difference between studying in undergrad and studying in medical school - no free weekends. Otherwise, it seems to be pretty similar. I will see if I am actually doing the right thing on our first test coming up on September 8 - 5 hrs long or so. I am not really looking forward to that.
I did make time this weekend to go to dinner with some friends (Emily, you are an amazing cook!) and I went to the movies this afternoon (Julie & Julia). I cooked chicken for the next several days to make into different meals, and am planning on making spaghetti later this week and inviting people over. After seeing Julie & Juila, I feel like I need to get Juila Child's cook book and make some of those recipies (they looked absolutely delicious on screen!)
I have tried three churches now. Two contemporary, one traditional. I think I am going to have to go back to traditional services, I have missed it ever since leaving Wilmington.
Well, I guess I should get back to studying.
Tomorrow, 8 A.M. begins my second week of medical school!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tubing - One Last Day of Fun!
Today, I went to New Life Christian Fellowship, a church in downtown Blacksburg with Paul and Erin. It was a great service and the sermon was thought provoking. I really enjoyed it, but I think I want to go to a more traditional style church service.
This afternoon, I went tubing down the river with a bunch of fellow VCOMers at New River Junction. We had a good time riding along the slow paced river and banging into several rocks (the water was very shallow in areas). I think most of us got a few scratches or bruises, but for the most part we made it out in one piece. :)
There were a few very mild rapids which were fun to ride along, and at the end was a big rock where you could stop, climb, and jump off into a deep pool in the middle of the river. This was a nice area for swimming and relaxing, too. The hardest part was getting back across the river to get out at the road (the current was pretty strong at that point in the river).
Unfortunately, there are no pictures. I don't have a waterproof camera and it was too difficult to try to take it out there even in a waterproof bag. I have lots of good memories of things I wish I could have captured on camera!
I start medical school in the morning, so this is probably the last great adventure for a while. :(
This afternoon, I went tubing down the river with a bunch of fellow VCOMers at New River Junction. We had a good time riding along the slow paced river and banging into several rocks (the water was very shallow in areas). I think most of us got a few scratches or bruises, but for the most part we made it out in one piece. :)
There were a few very mild rapids which were fun to ride along, and at the end was a big rock where you could stop, climb, and jump off into a deep pool in the middle of the river. This was a nice area for swimming and relaxing, too. The hardest part was getting back across the river to get out at the road (the current was pretty strong at that point in the river).
Unfortunately, there are no pictures. I don't have a waterproof camera and it was too difficult to try to take it out there even in a waterproof bag. I have lots of good memories of things I wish I could have captured on camera!
I start medical school in the morning, so this is probably the last great adventure for a while. :(
Saturday, August 15, 2009
More Fun!
I made it through orientation and met lots of great people. I think this is going to be a wonderful year. Wednesday evening, I went to Brittany's to run through the booklist and order some of the 18 books on the list. Yesterday, I went bowling with Jenie, Caroline, and Jo! We had fun trying to make a total combined score of 400, and finally on the third game, achieved this goal!
Disclaimer: I know I am a terrible bowler, but I have lots of fun doing it. I actually made a decent score, for me, on the second game, but have no picture to prove it. :)
Today, I went to Roanoke to the Science Museum because I saw that it was free! It is right in the middle of Roanoke City Market which is awesome, too. I had lots of fun acting like a child in the Science Museum, and then I walked around the City Market and saw lots of wonderful fresh veggies and neat crafts for sale. You could definitely spend a good part of the afternoon in Market Square.
In this area, there is also a History Museum and an Art Museum. I will definitely have to go back to check these out as well.
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