Welcome to the M Zeroes....

The luncheon was fun yesterday. My trip to Jackson overall was a stressful one, everything just seemed to go wrong... then I got to the luncheon and the 11:00-1:00 sign that was posted in the lobby thoroughly freaked me out. Turns out they reserved the first hour for catering, so we really weren't late.

The first few minutes were sort of awkward... no one wanted to talk... then Dr. C acknowledged this fact and we all laughed a bit and started opening up. In some ways, it's just like starting college where you don't know anyone. In other ways, it's completely different. For one thing, college is a mix of fun and study, where med school is such an investment. Of course we'll find ways to have fun along the way but when you get a bunch of pre-meds together who've been in competition for years and suddenly try to get them to be friends, I suppose it takes a little time :)

By the end, we had made a core group of 4 at our table that talked quite a bit. It's going to make orientation MUCH easier having met a significant number of people and actually getting to know a few. K and I are going to meet up this summer and spend a little time together before all hell breaks loose August 4th :) J was there, which was nice because I did know him a bit before. I also met D, who is very cool as well.

Just from what I saw yesterday, I think our class is going to mesh really well. We got some valuable info at the luncheon:
-financial aid should arrive anytime in the next few weeks
-buddy list will come out the end of may and the m1's that were there were really really excited about us coming in and assure us that they'll be a great resource
-more orientation info and student affairs info will come in the first part of June.

I had an overwhelming day where I was a little more freaked out and less excited... but today it's flipped around again :)

Getting involved...

Sometimes I feel as though I'm missing out because I'm not yet in the Jackson area. Ms. Kim sends emails all the time with things to do... and I'd love to be a part. This job stuff is for the birds!

I'm so glad I'll be able to make it up for the luncheon. Praying the financial aid stuff gets here in the next few days, I'd like to be able to bring it all back Tuesday in case I have questions (I could run by and talk to them about it). This will probably be my last trip to Jackson before move-in, unless something necessary comes up. Of course it'll be a lot easier to get up there when the 8-5 is over.

Headed to the coast this weekend for a short family time. Dad and I are just gonna ride together. I'll be back on Sunday, but I'll have to miss church. I bet my Sunday school class is wondering where I am...

As far as work goes, my last day is May 29th. I have three award ceremonies to cover this year that will each give me a little comp time.. but next Tuesday is my last planned day off.

101 days to go. Ready or not... It's getting closer and closer.

Blueberry cheesecake..

Blueberry cheesecake from the Pastry Garden made my Monday fabulous. It was also a very late lunch, so it made the rest of the day go by quickly.

Don't want to go to class tonight - only three weeks left. Tonight's supposed to be the final night of presentations, then we have the final, then a final night that's supposed to be for individual papers/presentations. She said something about us having a take home final though, so we'll see.

I can't believe I'm three weeks away from being done with classes at Carey for good. I'm starting to miss the place already.

Six months ago...

Six months ago, I was accepted to medical school. What a blessed, happy, exhilarating (yet sleepless) day that was.

Less than four months from now, classes will begin. Sometimes it feels like it's been forever, sometimes I wonder where the time went. Everyday seems to rush by a little faster.

Parts of me are beyond ready (110 days!), and parts of me, I worry, never will be. I'm just grateful that God and I are in this together - and He will carry me through the anxiety.

I'm really excited about catching up with some people at the luncheon. Everyone better be there!

Incoming student luncheon

So, we're having this incoming student luncheon thing on April 28th. I'm really hoping I can make arrangements to go - seems like it will be fun (plus it's always good to meet people). This is the closest thing to a "second look" that we have, and although I don't need a "second look", I haven't been up in a while - might be nice :)

We'll see how that comes together. For now, it's back to the drudgery of work. Ordered Lipincott's so that I can start doing some reading for biochem as it will probably be my most hated subject.

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter weekend. I'm actually going to skip class tonight (first time of the trimester). Didn't get much sleep last night due to the bad weather, and we have four class presentations scheduled for tonight, which means it will last til ten. I just don't have a ten oclock evening in me!

Layout

New layout. Not exactly what I was looking for, but it's different.

Specialty Test...

Cause all the cool kids are doing it...


1 pediatrics 47
2 physical med & rehabilitation 45
3 rheumatology45
4 hematology 45
5 dermatology43
6 colon & rectal surgery 43
7 family practice 43
8 anesthesiology 42
9 med oncology42
10 radiation oncology41
11aerospace med41
12 psychiatry 40
13 preventive med40
14 occupational med 40
15 ophthalmology 40
16obstetrics/gynecology 40
17 emergency med40
18 gastroenterology 40
19 endocrinology 39
20 infectious disease 39

Pretty good. Peds is #1 by a couple of points, not surprising. #3, #4, #6, #18, #19, #20 all are good, if they are peds subspecialties. I've thought about #9 and #10 as well (as pediatric subspecialties)

Of this list I have no real interest in family med/preventative , phys rehab, opht., or Emergency.

The only thing outside of peds would be #16, OB/Gyn.

Ask me again in 3 years :)

Moore's Anatomy...

I've begun my journey of pre-studying into an unknown world. Let's face it, most of Moore's page by page seems to be Latin, German, or any other language I don't know at this point. It's sort of frightening. At the same time, I've been surprised at how much I've picked up in a short time and feel as though this whole med school thing might work out after all :).

As of now, my opinion is that Moore's BlueBoxes >>>> any other page of the book. Blue boxes are amazing!

I'll keep reading, and keep absorbing about 0.0001%. I figure that's one ten-thousandth more than I knew before. And maybe, just maybe, I'll recognize something I hear on the first day.

Scholarships, continued...

I got word yesterday that I was selected to receive one of our local hospital's scholarships for the upcoming fall semester. Every dollar saved is a dollar I don't have to pay back, so this was a God send!

It's been a good weekend. Lazy and refreshing. I needed the break. It's a short week due to the upcoming holidays.

Church this morning started off an amazing Holy Week. I pray you are all blessed as we approach Easter. :)

Only 120 days til orientation!!

Time for an overdue update...

It's been quite a while since I updated. Nothing much is going on, but I figured I should at least check in.

My ear buds, mouse, external hard drive, travel charger, and USB drive have all arrived...my laptop is sitting at the FedEx store. Dad has to go fetch it, they wouldn't leave it without a signature. This was an exciting, first big med-school purchase.

I can't believe April is already here. 124 days until orientation. The White Coat Ceremony will be August 6th from 6-8pm (posted on the UMC calendar).