Mid-month brain defrost
this is my broken freezer defrosting. i’m sure the inside of my head looks sort of similar.
i have been trying to think of something to write about that has to do with school, but keep coming short of a full blog post. so, instead of pretending i have a coherent topic to talk about, here is a jumble of odd ‘n ends from this month so far…
- it was fun sitting back and watching the new MED 1 class unload the container. they grumbled as much as we did, but we were unloading in the high heat of summer! this winter business is for wimps. ; )
- i sort of miss of wearing scrubs. they were really comfortable! mine have been hanging in the laundry room airing out the formaldehyde smell since November.
- sitting through 4 solid hours of physio and biochem in the late afternoon is as challenging as it sounds. you should see the 3pm caffeine line-up in the cafeteria.
- when the a/c kicks off the last 3 of those 4 hours are even more impossible.
- biochemistry is okay so far, but i’m getting a few scary undergrad flashbacks. still, i can’t complain because at least i have seen the material before. that puts me ahead of almost everyone in my class.
- action potentials are my friend. i love that i studied these to death in undergrad neuroscience courses. in fact, majoring in psychology is proving to be a big bonus this term: medical ethics, psychology, and the current material in physiology, are all review.
- still haven’t hit my groove or any sort of a routine. each day sort of feels like the first day all of classes all over again. where the heck is that momentum i’ve been waiting for?
… and how is your month going? hitting all those resolutions you resolved to be resolute about? or wishing it was December and you could start all over again? i’m glad it’s not December anymore, but it sure doesn’t feel much like January.
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January 17th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I still haven’t found my groove yet either. With every new monday that rolls around I try again, but so far it’s proven fruitless :(
Your semester sounds pretty interesting, but that four hour stretch would kill me. I had two 3 hour classes last semester and it was all I could do to make it through them each week.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
“- biochemistry is okay so far… still, i can’t complain because at least i have seen the material before. that puts me ahead of almost everyone in my class.”
That is a relief? To be ahead of ‘almost everyone’ in your class? Just because you have seen it before doesn’t mean someone else might catch on and understand it just as thoroughly.
I am not sure if your classmates would appreciate you distinguishing yourself in this way! Because, therefore, they are ‘behind’ you.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Hey Jennifer, I’ve been reading your blog for a little while now.
I am also a canadian, majoring in psychology. Heh. Looking forward to possibly getting into medical school if my grades and MCAT will be sufficient at the time. If not, I will redo whatever classes I need and my MCAT.
Anyways, what I wanted to ask you – I know its a long shot – Do you have any tips for studying biochem in undergrad? I mean, I asked my TA’s, my prof, and none of them have any tips or help or anything. So, I am a bit lost at what the hell is going on. For example, for the last 4 lectures we have been talking about water and last lecture buffers. So, confused and sooo scared :(
What sucks is that I am one of those slow learners that takes my time learning concepts; ugh. My hand hurts sometimes from writing, and sometimes I just want to give up :(
Well, Good luck to you and getting back to your schedule routine!
January 18th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Try a cold wet bandana tied around your neck to combat the heat of class after the A/C has turned itself off. Something about your jugular being so close to the surface of the skin. What am I saying…you’re the pre-med student. :)
Since you asked, I’m slowly hitting my resolutions one by one:
1)
I started acupuncture – the needling that is referred to on Facebook – which is satisfying my resolution to feel less stress in 2008. It seems to be working. I handled the loss of my cell phone while on holiday in England with great aplomb.
2)
I am cooking more; something I find challenging to do when living alone. In fact I am trading cooking (and design services) for my acupuncture.
3)
I started up my Living Lightly blog again after over a year’s hiaitus: http://livinglightly.wordpress.com/. Latest entry is about the acupuncture/cooking barter arrangement. Okay I seem to be killing a lot of birds with one stone…
4)
I am resolving to take more short weekend trips in 2008 and am starting with a trip to Powell River very soon to pick up a certain ornery grey striped feline.
5)
I am resolving to tweak the things in my life that are not quite right instead of tossing them out entirely and starting from scratch. Small changes make for big changes.
Hugs to you and sending you some extra push to get your momentum going. I feel your pain.
Love,
Christina
January 18th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Andrea – what is the point of your comment? to make me feel like a competitive idiot?
the easiest response would be to say: “i’m in med school. i’m supposed to be competitive. i’ll always be at the top of my class until i get the residency i want!” but that’s not entirely true. in the Caribbean, we have the unique situation of learning Basic Sciences with a group of folks that we probably won’t be competing with for residencies. as such, we develop quite a close and healthy class dynamic and try not to leave anyone behind.
now, to waste a few minutes addressing your incorrect and illogical assumptions…
1) i didn’t say it was a “relief”. i said “i can’t complain”. i guess i am relieved i can’t complain… but that’s a lot different than what you seem to be implying. why would i be relieved that everyone else is struggling?
2) why would my classmates care if i have taken biochemistry before? we’re not curved against each other. if it really was a competition, i guess i shouldn’t be tutoring them, should i… ? i hope someone else does catch on just as thoroughly because then they can tutor ME.
3) as far as “distinguishing” myself in this way… mentioning that i’m “ahead” of the rest of my class on here isn’t new news to anyone because it was pointed out on the first day when the prof asked “who has taken a formal biochem class before?” and only 3 of us raised our hand.
i guess you haven’t been around this site long enough to realize that jumping to negative conclusions about anything between-the-lines of my posts is almost always incorrect. sorry if this response feels like an attack, but i really dislike anyone that spreads negativity. life is too freakin’ short.
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Sarah, Alex, & Christina – good to hear from you! real email responses comin’ up!