Word of the Day: Sticktoitiveness

(It should be noted that I'm wearing surgical gloves as I type this...teehee!)

Today's word of the day is brought to you by Dr. Basson, our guest lecturer this morning for the surgical interest group. He was describing how we could best prepare ourselves to match in a surgical residency, that we needed a lot of gumption and stick-to-it-iveness. Also honors surgical grades, a decent USMLE score, AOA membership, and letters of recommendation from clinicians who have actually worked with us.

A few of my classmates thought he was being rather pessimistic, but I thought it was a healthy, realistic approach. The first step to getting the residency you want is getting the interview, and he said that one one really cares if you're a wonderful person at that point. They want to know if you have the guns to stick it through. They want to know if you can handle a rigorous course load and come out somewhat on top. They want to know if you can be a leader among your peers and work well enough with real doctors that they also think you can handle it. It was also nice to hear this so early in the year, as it will be a constant reminder of why I'm doing what I do every day. I need to do well in biochemistry so I can do well on the USMLE so I can get the residency I want so I can be the type of doctor I want to be, surgical or otherwise.

Tomorrow is my first anatomy lab. I'm pretty geeked. We had a tour of it yesterday, and it reminded me a lot of the Body Worlds exhibits I've been to, except you get to touch them.

Back to studying!

When did this happen?!

Apparently I'm an adult now. While I did not go to bed on time, I woke up EARLY, packed a healthy and nutritious lunch, got to class EARLY, and have my assignments already done for the week. Thank goodness for my magic calendar!!!!

....I'm going to go right out and say this is the calm before the storm.

But really, things are going well so far. Ironically, I enjoy our biochemistry professor the most, even though it's typically been one of my most dreaded subjects. Maybe third time's the charm? (Or maybe having a professor who actually enjoys TEACHING instead of just doing his own research makes the difference...who would have thunk?)

White Coat Ceremony

Today was my official white coat ceremony. It's a seemingly silly thing, walking across the stage with coat draped on hand, only to hand it to someone else to have them awkwardly assist you putting it on, but it was actually very rewarding. Each hand I shook was a promise to help, each clap and cheer from my family was an affirmation that I am on the right path. Even more rewarding was seeing my fellow classmates walk across the stage and receive their white jackets. From house right, we were civilians. We could have been at any sort of formal event. But the minute we strode over to the center of the stage, you realized: we are becoming DOCTORS. After I attached my Humanism in Medicine and Michigan State Medical Society pins to my lapel, I realized that I am no longer just me. I am my family, and my classmates, and my school, and the medical community at large. I am a part of something so much bigger than I think I ever realized, and I cannot wait to begin.

Orientation in Summary

1) We're the touchy-feely medical school. Be proud of it. Give hugs. Share notes.
2) Ask for help.
3) Don't spend more money than you have to.
4) Ask for help.
5) Professionalism has many facets, like respecting different cultures and not wearing slutty skirts.
6) There are many resources to help you through medical school if you ask for them.
7) Free food and pens are not to be taken lightly.
8) Sleep when you can, eat when you can, study when you can.
9) Don't be a jerk.
10) Ask for help.

The First Day (of the rest of my life)

I am in the right place.

I have had so much confusion, and doubt, and depression during the past year that I was despairing ever finding "my place". Not only have I found my place, I have found my people.

My orientation group, Team Betadine bonded at lunch over our mutual love of Qdoba, and how Rapunzel from Tangled is the best latest Disney princess because "she's kind of like a doctor...I mean, she heals people, right?" A guy in my group noticed my necklace from Brazil, and we've already made plans to get CHM to send us to Brazil for charity work...during the World Cup. A quick meeting with our counseling staff revealed how many of us have dealt with fear, depression, and stress, and how many people have a shared love of music, sports, and animals. Every hand I shook introduced me to a new colleague, one that I believe will have my back for the next four years.

(There's also nothing like racing up and down six flights of stairs multiple times to try to piece together an inflatable skeleton and laughing to the point of collapse to really cement the bond.)

I received my white coat today. While the official ceremony isn't until next week, I had literal chills when I put it on.

This is me.
This is my life.
I am going to be a doctor.
I am in the right place.