Med School Tests = Stress

Today is the first day I've had in 4 weeks that didn't involve studying - or the thought of all the studying I need to do.The last 7 days were spent studying or in class. My days have consisted of getting up between 6:45-7:15a, being in class from 8-10. Lab is another 3.5 hours but alternates between morning and afternoon. THEN! we med students find time for another 6-8 hours of studying... just enough time for dinner and a few bathroom breaks - then another few hours of studying... sleep, repeat.
Thus has been my life.
Test day: wow. 9 am the written part of the test starts... we have a good group of people in our class. there was no one stressing so badly they were mean. people were outside the test laughing and talking- just giving each other a hard time and really just laughing and destressing before the start of the test. The test itself was a bunch of questions that have a little story of a patient- and you have to figure out what's wrong with it. It's just so amazing to finally be learning about the things that are RELEVANT to what I want! They gave us the answers immediately - and I only missed a few- leaving me in the high 80's. BUT they average that test with the one that follows it... the Lab Practical! We go down to the lab- where all the bodies are- and the teachers have tagged things, have arrows pointed at CT scans, Xrays, different muscles etc... and we get one minute at each station. one minute to figure out what the answer is! I'm not sure how I did on that one yet :) Get grades back in a week. ay ay ay.
I have really enjoyed getting to know people more and more. For this first course- Anatomy- we're each assigned to a tank. One tank represents one body that five people work on. So I've been on a team of 5 people for 4 weeks - and they're such great people. I first grew close to Anthony- we had a special project to do together and we bonded immediately. Such a nice person, down to earth guy, and my favorite characteristic- he's in it to win it- here to be a doctors. Lauren - another tank mate - has been an amazing friend to me in the first few weeks- we've had a little trouble studying together- because we LOVE to talk to each other, which is an awful thing the week before the test :) and yet a great thing too.Next we have Glen - Glen got his masters in Anatomy - and has been an immensely valuable resource. Top it off- he's also a great guy. He's familiar with the course and the instructors- so he took time out of his weekends/evenings to hold reviews for the rest of the class... how nice is that? Last year, someone set his car on far (they thought it was someone else's car) so we, as a TTU family, took a collection to help him get a new car... I've been really impressed with the quality of people here - which is such a big turn around from how I felt the first week. As Lani and I discussed- there will always be those people in any program who are there for the wrong reasons or who are just more immature than you... it's just so nice to finally be meeting people who are strong, smart, mature, and kind. Really makes me happy.
Last by not least, Raheel. He's the youngest of our group and it shows. I think he's still trying to find himself a little. He's a good guy though- just needs a little more time and he'll come into his own.
As I said earlier- I have dinner nights at my place... my two most frequent eaters are two of my favorite people here - Sunny and Kelechi! They're just fun, laid back, strong and intelligent guys who are here for the right reasons, have great personalities, and really make my day. There are so many more people I want to introduce but - I've got real life things to do now :) hahah! laundry... cleaning... all the stuff I've been putting off in order to study before the test!
Basically, I'm loving it. late night study sessions, learning REAL stuff, meeting new people... I'm loving it all.

Now, I'm going to go vacuum. :) :)

Crazy Updates...

So much has happened since my last post... I'll try to think through everything- but no guarantees.

First and the most obvious, I got into medical school. I am officially a first year medical student at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. It's the beginning of week three... I have a test in two weeks... and I'm still loving it. Everyone else is freaking out- which makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong- but I can't help but be overwhelmingly overjoyed that I'm at this place in life.

I had this life lesson of sorts come to me this weekend. I want to hang on to this feeling for as long as possible. If anyone sees me forgetting this, please remind me.
Moving to Lubbock has been such an exhilarating experience. I went from having a professional career with the best friends anyone could have, family so close, basically a pattern of living that created what was in essence my life. I loved my job, my boss, my experiences. I was happy. Finding out I got into medical school was one of the most exciting and traumatic (for Traci and Lani, at least) events thus far. When I got the call from Linda Prado in admissions, I immediately started crying (which made my work people think someone was dying). It has been both the start and end of two of the best lives I could possible live.
So now, almost two months from that call, I've changed cities, started a professional degree, moved away from the people I love, become so busy that if I don't have 12+ hour days I feel I'm doing something wrong... I've literally turned my life upside down. I had three weeks to change everything I've had for 3 years... and it's been such a great transition.

It's amazing to know that you can make a complete change like that- you can turn your world upside down - and still be happy, supported, successful. I've taken a path - a good path- that my life could easily have gone down and shredded it in exchange for an equally as wonderful life. I just want to remember throughout the duration of my life that I'm never stuck somewhere... never backed into a corner- you can always change, and you'll be strong and happy. It's just liberating to know that is always an option. You don't have to fall into a rut, live unhappy or apathetic. Have the audacity to change everything and you can make life so wonderful.
Just one of those rambling thoughts.

So lubbock's not bad actually- good thai food, no traffic - and I mean like NO traffic. There's even an area of town that reminds me of Austin. I miss Rugger and the cats are bored without the dogs to pester. I'm a coffee shop frequenter right now (still need to buy my wireless router) so I'm loving coffee and dehydrated.

School is intensive. Class starts at 8 am every morning. We have alternating days of AM and PM labs so sometimes school is 8-12, sometimes 8-930, then 1-4... but I'm pretty much studying the rest of the day now anyways. Anatomy. Cadaver lab. We watched this video where people who had donated their body to the school of medicine gave interviews about why they chose to do it... it definitely grounds you in the idea that this is not just another lab, that you're learning about the human body on a person with family and personality and a life... really brings it home. My person died from a cardiopulmonary attack... I am in charge of the heart dissection and I just can't help but think about how I'll have the very organ that killed this person in my hands- and how for me it's a perfect metaphor for what being a doctor means to me... how people will be bringing their fears, vulnerabilities, and questions to us and it will be up to us... it will be in our hands... to know how to help people. It's a lot of responsibility that I take very seriously. I hope I never lose that.

I've started a Sunday night dinner party- I've made a few good friends here and I'm loving this dinner thing... everyone comes over and brings the side stuff... so far I've made spinach chicken parmesan, chicken and vegetable curry, and last night was turkey and spinach lasagna (which went over so well, people were coming up to me today asking me where their invite to dinner is... crap!). So i think I might be in over my head! We'll see what happens. I'm loving my group of friends- right now there's Sunny, the comedian; Kelechi, best dressed (by far) who tries to keep us on track but... eh; Raheel, the goofball kid who will eventually grow up... I think; Ashley, the sweetheart who brings up THE most random news stories; and Stephen, the witty, kind guy. I think I'll keep them all. Hopefully I'll add to them as well :) Shamini never comes to dinner but she's still wonderful (but if she came -hint, hint- she'd have sooooo much fun!).

Our first test is coming up so I'm definitely stepping up my studying... which leads to more updating of blogs because- you have to have a distraction, right?? So, back to it for now.

My life is a string of updates.

1. My raise was a fiasco- didn't get it till December. But Gordon put a raise on my raise to make up for it. I'm a baller now.
2. I bought a new car- so not so much of a baller anymore. that didn't last long. 2007 Honda CR-V. LOVE IT. Her name is T-Rex, but I call her Rexie.
3. Still haven't heard from med school yet but- I've got about 2-3 more weeks before the final news hits. Match day is Feb 1st- so I could potentially still hear after that... I hate the waiting. I still have a really good feeling- I can literally see myself packing up and going to TTU. I know I'll be a great doctor. I know this is the right path- I can feel it in my bones :) I'm just excited to have started this journey!
4. My new years resolutions are awesome this year and I really feel like it's going to work out. I have three main ones...
i. Go Sailing and Learn to Sail- I consider those two inextricably linked.
ii. Get in Shape- I have a variety of things going with people- including the 100 day challenge for UTD staff (Lani is our team lead... activity #1 together= pole dancing lessons... so fun!) and running with Ruth- we're going to sign up for some 5Ks etc... can't wait :)
iii. Start the path to become the person I want to be. I've started looking into philanthropic organizations that I'd like to join along with potential volunteer opportunities or even commities or councils I could be on. I'd love to join the City Council, but I'm going to wait until I find out about med school- don't want to have to drop out on my first term :) Basically- i'm starting at the bottom, with daily/menial habits, and working my way to the top- with career goals, extracurricular activities, and the way I present myself to others- and revamping. Can't wait to see what the end goal of this year is.
If anyone knows of any Dallas-based Womens or Philanthropic organizations in the Dallas area... I'd love to at least hear/read about it :)

Oh and - does anyone know if pole dancing can make you look like this? You know- it could happen... ;)