There is no question that I will be receiving a phone call from my Mother within minutes after posting this blog. There are two things I've learned from my parents: always always always always always write thank you notes, and that I'm a poor time-manager/habitual-overcommitter (in fact, I've been reminded of both of these quite a bit recently). As this semester gears up, I've certainly affirmed the latter. I can see my Mother's eyes rolling now...When I signed up for this whole "med school thing," I thought it would be totally different from undergrad because I would only be committed to one thing: this whole "med school thing." I wouldn't have to worry about swimming nine times a week, leadership training, or lifting and staying in shape. I wouldn't have to register for classes, or worry about missing days for travel meets. All I would have to do is go to school.
False.
I think it all goes back to the Pass/Fail system that makes us more "well-rounded" in our first year. Next year, I won't be able to get away with half this stuff. But if you can pass all your classes first year and do research/community service/whatever your heart desires, then why not? More power to you, right? You get that "P" on your report card, and the rest is gravy (or icing on the resume cake). All the second years say do what you can now, because in second year, everything counts: grades, pathophysiology, and the infamous Step 1 exam. So here are a few of the things that are keeping me up at night.
Health Policy Interest Group - obviously I can't be a true Swendiman unless I start a brand new student organization. HPIG has been going strong, but sending out the weekly newsletter, scheduling meetings, and working on our spring medical malpractice panel has added a bit of extra stress to the diet. The goal is to hit the ground running so next year the new leadership can take the reins and build on this year's successes. Fortunately, next year I will not be president and will definitely not being running the newsletters. That's a whole lot of free time that will open up big time next year.
EMS - Starts next week in Durham County. 12 hours a week, hopefully on Friday nights!
Finding Summer Work - not a huge time consumer, but something that itches at me during the late hours of the night. I have a couple meetings lined up for possible policy work, but until I find something firm, this will grate at me. Hopefully, I will be doing something in the area of comparative effectiveness research, but as time wanes, I'll take anything (anything but back making coffee, that is).
Traveling - the days where I can just pick up and leave for the summer are over. So now I have to plan way in advance even to take a week off. This year, Kelly, Clo, Ronnie and I are heading to Peru for Spring Break 2010, Inca Trail style. Unfortunately this takes a ton of planning because you have to buy the permits for the trek months ahead. This would be a huge life failure without the help of my travel agent, Gregor. Fortunately, once all our flights are scheduled and permits are bought, Kelly will take control of the trip and smooth out all the details - lodging, food, daily activities, etc. After this weekend I'll be able to sit back and relax, and then I won't have to worry about a thing during our eight days in Latin America.
Exercise - I can't go without this; I just turn into a fat, soft, hot mess. Alan and I have continued our running, with a 7 mile long run coming up next. Somehow I also got signed up for an intramural med school basketball league, but I'm hoping the combination of my running and go-go-gadget arms will get me through the season unscathed.
Busy work - there are many "little" things that continuously pop up in my inbox. Next year's FAFSA is due March 1st, I should apply for a bunch of scholarship opportunities, and don't forget that the 5 Star Nerve music video has to be finished by the beginning of April (haven't even started on this one; we'll get rolling after the first test). Evaluations of lecturers are required surveys, and I am always out of groceries for some reason. If I could get rid of any of these "time-consumers" it would be this last category. I'll be putting out ads on Craigslist for a personal assistant in the next few days.
School - class, wait what? Test #1 on Tuesday. I think the Nervous System makes me nervous (is that sympathetic? I don't know).
This list doesn't even include the fact that at some point in the next couple years I will have to work out my MD/MPP deal with Duke or some other institution, and I have to take the GRE this summer. My social life is completely non-existent at this point and I haven't been to church in a couple months. Ahhhh.
Get me through this test, get me through this test, GET ME THROUGH THIS TEST!
No comments:
Post a Comment