Back to Reality

The past few weeks have been nothing short of memorable. I've been to Peru and Bolivia, co-authored a music video with almost 3,000 hits on YouTube, waged a truly epic war with bed bugs, and survived my first bachelor party in Las Vegas. And that is why this post comes so many days late. I had very limited access to internet in the Aria (pictured left), unless I wanted to pay a pretty penny to check my email. I had to send messages via Adam Schauer's BlackBerry, but that isn't very convenient for serious computing. Nevertheless, I am alive. I slept 14 hours last night, after the 4 day Vegas excursion and our first Immunology test early yesterday morning. Despite the debauchery that went down Thursday through Sunday, not only did I pass the preliminary exam of Block IV, but it was one of my better tests of the year.

I've learned a lot so far in my first year (more than just all that medical stuff). First off, I have discovered that I am totally unmotivated by the pass/fail system, although it has benefited me greatly, allowing me to succeed in many other extra curricular endeavors. Knowing that I only have to "pass" an exam has led me to make a music video, start up EMS again, host dinners and gathers, head to Vegas, and schedule everything and anything my little heart desires. But, I have learned how to learn the material. I purchased "First Aid's Guide to Step 1," and it has provided me with the most efficient studying I have ever done. Without going to or retrospective listening to lectures (the second-years told us that Block 4 classes were a wasted of time), I have thoroughly enjoyed scribbling notes and copying extra material into the outline of this book. (I'm going to do this for BioChem and some Physiology over the summer - shocking I know). And it has been the most efficient technique I have learned so far. This is even one of the study tips that experts give for acing the Step 1 Exam. Too bad it took me this long to get on the ball...

Now it is April, so almost one third of 2010 has already passed. Time flies too fast. But much has been accomplished, much of which is on my New Year's Resolutions list. Here's what I've done so far:

2. Actually diagnose somebody with something - I diagnosed a new Type I diabetic over Community Week. Thirsty all the time, polyuria, weight loss. All the symptoms fit. Tests were run and my preceptor agreed!

8. Make a YouTube video that gets over 1,000,000 hits - check this one off for sure. It'll never make a million but I'll take 3,000 in the first week.

11. Sit in the front row of the Carolina/Duke game - courtesy of Margaret Twomey, Clodagh and I were able to get tickets in section 127. Not the front row but damn close. And I thought I'd never go to another Duke game again... thanks Meg!

13. Get on track with some health policy research - looks like I'll be working at the Sheps Center here at UNC this summer. Topic unknown, but I will definitely be helping with many projects and networking. Finally some research I'm actually interested in.

15. Have "Med School Prom" be everything that real Prom should have been - it was unreal. Just read my blog entitled "Meg Twomey and the Pouch of Importance."

22. Change my bed sheets more often - I brought back some bed bugs from Peru. So instead of paying 600 dollars for a service, I decided to wage all out war on my room. Triple the insecticide doses, allergenic covers for my box spring and bed, room sprays, vacuuming, and hot water/dryer treatments to all comforters and sheets. So yes, I change my bed sheets more often.

That's 6 down and 20 to go! Right on track to passing :)