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. :) :)