Part III: Year One in Pictures

This is my last post capturing my first year of medical school! I just spent time reading my last two posts about first year and it's been so humbling to reflect on this past year. It's sometimes so surreal that I'm here- one step closer to (hopefully) being where I want to be.

The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind. I've had a friend visit, my mom and stepdad visited, and I started orientation at the DOC. Though informational, the orientation was boring at times, but today was actually pretty fun! We worked with correctional officers through about 8 or 9 acted out scenarios on what we could possibly encounter while working at the jail (ex., two inmates are caught in the shower together, how do you proceed?). As medical staff, I don't think the scenarios will ever apply directly to me, but it was still eye-opening to learn and see what these officers do and expect on a daily basis. I've gained so much respect for the profession! I'm really looking forward to rotating through the jail. Many medical students don't have the opportunity to work in that environment, so I feel grateful I will have the opportunity. I don't think it will be a good fit for me in the future, but you never know!

Anyway, below are my last few months in first year! It basically consisted of:

1. Lots of studying and sleeping in the library:

I don't drink coffee, so my go-to are green tea lattes from Starbucks

I mastered the 15 minute power nap in med-school; this was almost a must. 

Admiring their artistry once I woke up from my nap. 

2. The end of our Scandal watching dinners!

This was right after we watched the season finale of Scandal 

3. Finding sanity in between having 1-2 exams EVERY week! I was convinced that the last two months of school, they were trying to make us crazy!  

Christina Perri concert! SO amazing, I love her music and voice.  Don't worry, I DID NOT make the same mistake twice (remember what I said about the BSB concert?). I studied REALLY hard the weeks prior to make sure that I could attend this concert for the evening. 

Walks around my apartment complex as a mental break! 

You know, just straightening her hair while studying. Sometimes, one must multi-task to have fun at night. 

 4. The lasts!

Last OSCE in first year! 

Last lecture of first year!!!

Last late night/ early morning study session (at IHOP) before our GI final!! 

So there you have it, my first year of med school summed up in three posts. These posts by far did not capture every event, feeling, or attitude from first year, but for me, I know that I will love looking back and reflecting on my time.

Second year will definitely be harder and more time consuming than first, but I am truly hoping to be able to write a post at least every couple of weeks.

Hope y'all enjoyed reading! :)

xoxo

Part II: Year One in Pictures

Can you believe it's already the second of August!?! I'm pretty sure it was just June! Wow- summer break is over in T-9 days! I should have 16 more days, but recently found out that our orientation (the D.C. site only) got pushed up a week. No big deal, I'm ready, no, I will be ready in 9 days to start second year strong. Enough with the small talk, this post will be a continuation of my first year in pictures. Ready, set, here ya go! I think I left off right before Thanksgiving.

November 2013: Thanksgiving Day! This is a genuine smile! I had just finished NMSK B (and passed!).  From here on out, med school didn't get easier, but I sure got better! 

Thanksgiving day: Delicious thanksgiving preparation by Pauline! Puts me to shame. I was trying so hard to think what I brought to the thanksgiving dinner, then I remembered: ingredients for S'mores. I know...shame. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't cook- I don't know how. I'm pretty sure I've only made a meal for a total of 4-5 people in my life and that's probably because they forced me. I have this strange fear of cooking for others. 

December 2013: This was the start of Cardio-pulmonary I (CPI): Lana and I are in anatomy lab preparing to  dissect a pig heart. SN: we learned so much in CP I, including how to read normal and abnormal EKGs. Yesterday, while I was in clinic conducting some research, one of the attendings handed me a patient's EKG and asked: "what's wrong with this patient." Me: "uhhh...well, I see a peaked wave...." I stared at her blankly and thought, shit, which wave is that? T? but why don't I really see PQRS...maybe it's P? Either way, what does a peaked P or T wave mean....mind blank...I remember nothing. I have lots of studying to do people! 

December 2013: SALSA DANCING! There was this Lebanese restaurant that had salsa lessons on Friday nights, so we went 3-4 times during the year on an "off" weekend. SO much fun...I basically can be a professional salsa dancer now  still suck at salsa dancing. 

December 2013: Secret Santa between me and ma' girls! 

December 25th, 2013: CHRISTMAS DAY! I was so excited to see my babies! 

December 25th, 2013: Jordan and Aayden enjoying the new iPad. 

December 2013: My other babies! We are just a hot mess. 

January 1st, 2014: ringing in the New Year with friends! Krystle (girl on the far left) is actually visiting me and another friend this weekend! 

January 12th, 2013: Lana's birthday dinner! I think she looks so beautiful in this pic. This was such an epic night! We started off at a REALLY fancy French restaurant and then even fancier wine bar. 

Danced the night away at a club. 

Ended the night on my bathroom floor. I call that success. 

This picture is incredibly random, but it deserves a post. This is February, so I had been in school for about 7 months and this was my 5th water bottle! I know, it's not normal for someone to lose water bottles as much as I did. It basically became a running joke. HOWEVER, I did not lose this one because pretty much at least 1/3 of my class knew what my water bottle looked like so if I left it anywhere, it was always returned. :) I am happy to report that I am still a proud owner of this water bottle! 

February 2014: Med school prom! I'm sad I didn't get more pictures from this night.  

February 2014: Day after the med school prom. We decided to participate in a 5K (the color run). It was so much fun, I would definitely do one again! 

March/April 2014: Umm.....I think this was in our Renal course, I had been studying ALL weekend and this is how I felt...crazy.

March 2014: My acting debut. Our Women's Health group put on a production of the Vagina Monologues in order to raise funds for a women's domestic violence center. I was honored to be a part of it.  I performed the part: "The Little Coochie Snorcher that Could." I barely remember my performance because I was SO incredibly nervous the entire time! 

Spring Break 2014: The Grand Canyon. This was such a wonderful trip, with some of the most beautifully spirited group of women. Beginning in the second semester, I started to journal. A friend of mine captured this picture of me eating lunch, journaling, and taking in my blessings. It was a big moment of reflection. I had completed more than 1/2 of my first semester and after this break, I would be entering the final stretch of first year. I realized how much I had changed and grown, but more so, realized how much I will continue to change and grow- hopefully for the better.

I will stop here. Krystle, Sami, and I will be going to a baseball game tonight! I'm really excited to spend more time with these ladies and enjoy the last bit of my summer. Hope you enjoyed reading.

xoxo