Ho-Hum

Short post this week, as I have gotten used to the monotony of studying. Honestly not much is going on. I've accepted this temporary reality. On the big whiteboard in my room I have a count down of the number of weeks until the big day... we're down to six and a half. That may seem like a long time, but only a bit ago that number read "22". But I have accepted this torture, and it will all be worth it come June.

There are two major things keeping me going. The first is Morocco / Egypt / Turkey / 2.5 weeks of pure awesomeness. Kelly, Anna, and I leave on the 11th or 12th of June for a quick African expedition. This trip is one of the best decisions I've made to date, for a number of reasons. The first is Morocco, the second is Egypt, the third is Turkey, and the forth is pure awesomeness (but in no particular order). That being said, if I was to take Step 1 in late June, that would give me six weeks of no school / pure studying. Unbearable. AWFUL. Just miserable. I already will have just a touch over three weeks, and that alone could drive me to the brink of insanity. I would rather make an entire semester absolutely miserable than ruin a chance to get out of the country with some cool people to see some cool things (especially before third year). No question. Scheduling a trip just a few days after Step 1 also has the added advantage of a final deadline. In college, I postponed the MCAT a few weeks later because I realized that I hadn't started studying yet (and then proceeded to still procrastinate). Not this year though. I've known when my deadline is, I cannot postpone it, and knowing that has made me more efficient in the months preceding.

The Washington Capitals are another big help. I haven't been able to watch all the games, but Josh and I have worn our Ovechkin jerseys to the bar to watch a couple of the games, and it has been truly wonderful. Coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win in overtime in Game 4 sealed the deal. This is our year; this is our destiny. Considering that the Redskins won't win a Superbowl until Dan Synder kicks it, DC could use a Stanley Cup to tide us over. Hockey breaks up the monotony.

The third major thing is Asheville. Have I mentioned that I can't wait until 3rd year?

Right now we are finishing up our toughest Block: Dermatology and the Musculoskeletal System. Derm was very straightforward (actually they made the midterm downright easy), but apparently the MSK final is one of the hardest exams we take in the first two years. A member of last year's class told me that two standard deviations below the mean on this exam was a 45, and my advisor told me that more people fail this block than any other block in the first two years (don't you just love rumors!). With Boards looming, I can see how it would be difficult to stay on task. However, the most wonderful part of this course is that participation is graded. In every other Block, all we had to do was show up to small group and we got a full point (one whole full point!) for coming. In this class, we are graded on participation and "quality of our presence." So a number of classmates have gone literally ape-shit. I have to answer every question; I have to be right; I look good when other people get stuff wrong; I have to make sure that the professors notice me everyday! It's wonderfully amusing (and also wonderfully obnoxious). Our last week of class is Pediatrics in Clinical Medicine, a week of 8am to 3pm learning (and one day we go to 5pm). The angst is going to be so highly spectacular; I just have to make sure to take a step back and not let it phase me. As the year goes on, the angst increases exponentially.

Welcome to the world of Type A personality disorder.