One test down, only four more to go.  Today's test was over the imaging that we have been studying for the past 8 weeks, or at least that is what I thought it was suppose to be over.  When it comes to images I find it rather fun to look at them, find what is abnormal/normal, and see what is going on inside the body.  However, the hard part is being able to specifically give a ddx from only the image.  I can see the giant mass in the abdomen pushing the rest of the organs around and have an idea what might be causing but can't nail down one thing.  Lets hope that my answers were close enough.


Another thing about the test that I am not used to is my attitude towards the end.  I was ready to be done.  Normally I have this feeling but can still find enough drive to go back through the questions I was iffy on.  Not today, no way.  That might be a bad sign but the way I look at it is that I just need to pass and can use the extra time studying for the knowledge based test tomorrow.  That is the massive test that has everyone stressed out, including myself.   It is hard to get used to the feeling of no matter how hard you study you can't learn it all.  Where I get nervous is hoping that I know enough.  In the end most of the time it comes down to did you get lucky and study the right things.  Tomorrow I will let you know if I studied the right things.

Technology is an amazing wonder that keeps expanding with every second that ticks by.  It opens numerous doors and makes communication easier than ever.  However, technology also has great potential to open the floodgates for misunderstanding.  Whether it is a text message, an instant message, or accidently sending an email to the wrong person.  The consequences of technology can cause hurt feelings. 

In the end it isn’t technology’s fault for drama but the operators.  I think that people now are using technology as a means of avoidance and taking the easy way out, I am guilty of doing this on occasion.  What I have learned is to never read too much into electronic messages and if there is perhaps an issue go directly to the source, skip the text middle man, pick up the phone or go face to face to sort things out.

What I haven’t figured out is how to avoid the initial feeling of upset when you first get the message before issues have been sorted out. Any ideas?

I just told myself to take a deep breath, relax, and it will all be fine.  It has come to that time in the block where it is the end of week 7, which means only one more week before week 9 rolls around.  What is special about week 9?  Well that is the week where we as students are evaluated aka test week.  This year the tests are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8-4:45 pm.  It is a time when people are stressed, overwhelmed, and excited to be finished with testing and because that means break week is next.  You can feel the anxiety and nervousness when you are around certain people.  It is like a dementor has entered the room and sucked the life out of you.

I sometimes struggle to remember that in the end it is really just a test; nothing incredibly significant that will be life changing or life altering.  It might suck to fail the test but in all reality the School of Medicine is going to everything they can to try and help you retake the test and pass.  They don't want you to fail out, bottom line.  That doesn't change the fact though that it is a stressful experience.  As my Dad always says Med School is like a marathon, you can't sprint the whole thing.  I need to be constantly reminded of that as test week quickly approaches.  

One thing that I did do this weekend was run a half marathon in St. Charles, MO.  It is a 13.1 miles jog that starts at the Riverport Amphitheater, crosses the river, and finished in historic downtown St. Charles.  It wasn't my best half, probably should have trained more than 4 weeks and around 10 miles I just was ready to be done.  The course is kind of boring too, running through fields and on highways.  However, what I am getting at with this story is that in the end I finished.  I wasn't last, I wasn't first but I challenged myself and accomplished my goal.  I think that when test week is over I will be saying the same thing (hopefully)! 

Oh but what a difference a month makes. August 1st I was arriving back in the US from Rwanda, started school on the 3rd and feel like I am still not adjusted.  It is kind of tricky to go from a place where the little things don't really matter and time is arbitrary to a society that dwells on the every detail and time is money.  As much as I learned from my time in Africa I still catch myself caught up in the US hustle and bustle.  Not that it is a bad thing but I sometimes need to take a step back and look at the big picture.