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After a 2wk hibernation I am back again. I just want to say Thank You to all my friends and family who prayed for me during my exam weeks. The support has been amazing and essential in my passing 4th semester and making it to 3rd year of medical school.Truthfully, I did not think I was going to make it due to the excruciating final exams. The night before the grades came out I had a nightmare about me failing 4th and having to go back to Dominica for another semester. In the last 2 weeks of school, ie the weeks of hell, I was drained physically and spiritually. I felt like I could not do it any longer. The nonstop learning and the very little time had me discouraged and exhausted. And after I walked out of my first set of final exam in the morning, I prepared myself for the worst.The grades did not come out for a few days since I got back home in Vancouver. My parents told me that I even looked very stressed out. My mom was worried about me becoming depressed... Pretty much I was a mess for a few days. Then the email came with the grades. I did not hesitate to open up the file to face the truth. If it was pain I was going to receive, I wanted it to be fast. Then there it was - my grades in black and the MPS in red. I quickly skimmed my grades and scrolled down to check the MPS. My heart was pounding and my head was hurting. When I went through the last subject without a fail, I ran to my dad and screamed 'I passed!' Then, to my surprise, I cried for a good 10min (what a whimp huh? i must have been really scared).Anyway, Michigan will be my next stop. But for now I need to start studying for Comp that's coming up quickly. All the paper work and doctor's visits are getting in the way though. But it is great to be home - my family, my Miho, awesome food, no sweating!, and my bed...Can't believe I have to leave again soon...
Quick update on my part...Mini 3 is over - difficult exam, as usual I guess. I need to really put my game face on for Micro. Our final will be next Thursday with two exams spread out in the morning and the afternoon. How exciting is that... 2 exams in one day! Gives us a taste of what the Step is going to feel like. You won't be hearing from me for the next few days as I study my behind off for my final. Wish me luck! And I will re-surface after I finish my second year of medical school :)All the best to everyone! Remember - have faith and believe in yourself because you CAN!!
So... I have a case of otitis externa! Exciting yet not really. Started to worsen yesterday and the alarm went off in my head. I dragged by lazy butt to the school clinic today and got some ear drops with antibiotics. Very interesting experience - I don't even remember the last time I had an ear infection. It probably was when I was super young. I can barely hear from my right ear right now - feels so strange. When this started last night I took the tuning fork and did a Weber and Rinne test on myself hahaha it was grand! I feel like everything I learned about the hearing test was just so clear all of a sudden! Love it when light bulbs go off when I am suffering...ICM practicals finished this morning and the grades came out. I did very well, just as the entire class did. Our average was 86%. The faculties say that every 4th semester ICM practical is usually a grade booster - thank goodness!!! I really needed it. Back to hardcore studying!! Two more weeks till I am home :)
Just sitting here reviewing Path right now.. reading about Fuch's dystrophy in the cornea. The thunder is loud outside. I am still not used to it, shuddering a little every time it roars. But my good friend Kathy kept me company on Skype, her being all the way across the water in Australia. I miss my friends back home. But I guess we are all on our way going somewhere doing something. The strongest bond in our hearts is what keeps us together.Yesterday I had my ICM practical in the AM. Bright and early at 0800hr. It was not as scary as I thought it was gonna be. However, that was only my feeling... and often feelings could be off. So we shall wait for the grades. Meanwhile, I have started packing up some of my stuff and organizing things that I am and am not taking. I can somewhat feel the "I am going back to civilization!!" excitement now.. although faint due to the upcoming exams.Anyway back to ICM practical. We had 4 rooms and I got 1 scenario (where patient has a complaint) and 3 task rooms. It was kinda fun actually - almost like playing a game, a mind game. Yes, those evil mind games... I misdiagnosed my Harvey (oops) but everything else went smoothly in the CVS exam. I feel that the secondaries went well too. Hopefully I made decent grades in that room!Alright, Skyping my lovely mother right now and Miho. Good night everyone! Tomorrow will be a good day :)
Can't believe I have to leave again in 5 days. Time flies, just like I do every so often. I wonder if I will ever get used to this floating life style - I always thought I was more of a 'settling down' type of person. Traveling so much with luggage just isn't my thing (ie. the act of being on the road or in air). Anyhow, it is good to be home. I finally started getting my fitness back. All I can say is oh my goodness! I think the island sucked out my soul and fitness entirely haha. When I stepped back into these running shoes attempting to connect with my marathon fitness again, I thought for a second that my bones were going to fall apart. But it was not as bad as I anticipated :) All is good now and I feel great! Who knows how long this 'fit' feeling will last with school starting soon again...
I have spent most of my time at home since I got back, with my parents and my awesome Egyptian prince Miho. Also trying to study for the Comp. It is difficult to motivate myself but I must keep pushing. I hope my friends in Vancouver forgive me for not going out this break. Half of my things got re-packed again tonite. This time there are a lot of fall/winter clothes, preparing for the cold cold weather. Secretly, I hate that thought. I am from Canada, yes... but from Vancouver NOT Toronto haha. I have always been spoiled with good climate, so visiting Michigan will be interesting.
I finally had all my paperwork done for 5th semester and had them faxed. My titers and boosters are done as well. I just hope crossing the US border will be smooth (fingers and toes crossed) as I heard that for some Canadian students there had been problems previously. Oh I certainly don't need any of that ;)
