CAKE!

When they ask students how we want to celebrate a Profs retirement...

Yes... chocolate cake!

I can't even function anymore

Trying to do anything after class on 8 hour class days...

I don't want to even think about doing anything.

So you said you have pain in your baby toe... Tell me more about that?

When I run out of questions for my standardized patient before my interview time is up...

Pay close attention!

In lecture after i have been playing Candy Crush for the last 20 mins...

I turn to my friend and I'm like...

Wow, i'm a great student...

I swear I'm not bitter...

As my Facebook news feed is filled daily with news of all my friends and their wonderful lives: Relationships, Engagements, Wedding planning, Wedding pictures, Pregnancies, Babies, Vacations and cute little family pics... I'm reminded of exactly what happened to everything in my life that is not closely associated with learning when I was accepted into Medical School...

What Med School has done to my social life...

If you are thinking about going to Medschool let me warn you to think long and hard about the eminent social death that is about to happen. It's quite shocking really. I have these moments when i hate that i never do anything but hang out in the library, but then i think about the job that i'am training for and most if not all of those feeling just fade away. I know that this is where I'm suppose to be, but its hard to see all my friends progressing along the major life milestones without me... I have this stark feeling of lack of accomplishment, even when i'm accomplishing something great. This is important, right? I'm doing something that is going to be worthwhile. I'm not bypassing my prime years behind a stack of very heavy books for nothing. 

But it can get frustrating... I think all those folks still in school can agree. I will never have 50 "likes" on a picture of my new stethoscope (50 likes is really easy to get on your wedding, baby or engagement pic), i can't show anyone that i now can in fact see the optic disc through the ophthalmoscope (weeeellll, most times) and no one but my classmates will ever fully understand the pure joy that i have because I got an O on the last test (That is not a typing error; I did mean O as in the letter, from the alphabet). 

Medschool is nothing of what i expecting. But this feeling is probably the most unexpected, I should feel accomplished and confident, however often times i'm just left feeling a bit left out/behind, ostracized and forgotten. Yes, I'm still in school. Yes, i'm still living off loans. Yes, i'm still single. Yes, I'm in my mid-twenties. Yes, I still spend the majority of my days in the library. But don't you forget about me, this plan for my life is not finished yet and its gonna be great, wild and full of Christ; in fact, it already is!
I'm not posting this to whine or ask for people to like by post/blog. I'm simply saying that this world (at least some of the circles that i run in) idolizes certain life achievements. But what about those of us that have left the well beaten path to peruse something a little different: A graduate degree, work overseas or something even more different. I'm not saying that you shouldn't share about your life, just give some thought to those who may be leading a little different life too. In short, even if you don't have 50 likes on Facebook and you need someone to like your photo, I will be the first like. Because if you are doing something that excites you, I'm excited too! And if you a celebrating something I want to be celebrating too!

So to all my wonderful friends out there who have exciting happenings going on in your lives, I'm so excited for you. I like it, in fact I LOVE IT! But in all your excitement, don't forget to celebrate the small things with those of us who may not have a life that is as "happen'n" as yours. P and O are exciting too, just take my word for it. ;)

Congrats and all my best!

-G

I have nothing to wear...

I think this everyday... despite the fact that not even all my clothes fit in my closet...

I think i may have a small problem with my perception of my wardrobe options.

For your own personal knowledge...

As soon as the words "as a side note" or "In my research I'm looking at..." come out of the lecturer's mouth... I'm like:

No thank you, I don't need more information, I am already in information overload here folks. I love it when the lecture adds 3 papers for use to read on our "own time" for our "own personal knowledge and enjoyment". Like i have time to even read my email, I am definitely going to make a point of reading all your research papers on a subject in which i have zero interest. 

I do miss having the time to read research papers... Recently i have definitely appreciated the point of abstracts and review articles. 

Gunners!

The folks who sit in the front row and answer EVERY QUESTION and ask at least seven more before the lecture is over...

Gunners.... They just gotta Gun!

Favorite Song

When I'm studying in the library and my favorite song comes on, I'm like....

STUDY BREAK!

Because I have no life....

When another one of my friends gets engaged or married...

Welcome to my life that never leaves the library... 

#Medschool(non)Perks

Hello Sweetie!

When I locate the small line of information in my notes that I have been trying to find for HOURS, I'm like...

Simply put... I don't know!

When People Ask Me What Kind of Doctor I'm Going to be.

Things That Make Monday Morning so Much Better...

Went you come to school Monday morning and find piles of delicious goodies in the break room.

Interviews Begin...

The M2's watching the Pre-Med interviewees come to campus...

Good luck with all your interviews folks... Knock um dead!

Medical Students Tell Stories

Swapping stories from immersion like...

Listening to folks stories from immersion is basically the best... People do the weirdest things.

Back in the Classroom

Going back to classroom learning after a week working in the Clinic.

I'm unenthused by sitting in a classroom now. Sad day. Never thought I'd say this... but can I go back to Pittsfield now?

The Feeling you get when you pass all 5 of your Exams

I would like to thanks all the little people.. and all of the big people that helped me out! I'm all smiles over here people.

Interacting with patients

Me interacting with patients after spending the last 7 years in the library...

Welcome to immersion... lol.

My EYE!

Tying to look at anything after one of your eyes had been dilated for an eye exam lesson...

GAAAAHHH This is making my head hurt!

Wait... Thats a place!

So we got our assignments for immersion today. Each student was assigned to a Dr. is some rural city in IL to shadow a physician for a week...

This was my reaction when reading my assignment.

When you have never heard of the town that you are destined to spend 3 weeks in...

 

Wait... that's a place??? Welcome to Pittsfield, IL folks. Apparently its one of the 5 best hunting towns in Illinois.  

An Open Letter of Thanks to my Undergraduate Professors.

To the Professors of my Undergraduate Education:

It has been recently brought to my attention the influence that you have had on my life. I want to extend my appreciation for all of the things which you have taught me during my time at North Central College. It would take pages to mention every one of you by name but I want to express my appreciation for the work that you devote yourself to on a daily basis. 

But first, I would like apologize...

I'm sorry that I didn't understand what it meant to study. I now have an intimate knowledge of what studying really means and the "studying" that I did in your classes was child's play in comparison. I'm sorry that I complained about learning the basics. I really was thoroughly convinced that the Henderson Hasselbalch didn't matter in life; but it does, in fact its applicable in almost everything that I have studied from drug development to adverse reactions.

I'm sorry that I only ever complained during my undergrad career and never mentioned how much you have helped me grow as a student and individual. I'm sorry that I didn't standup for you during the post exam professor bashing that often took place. I'm sorry for being angry about failed labs when I was the one who didn't read or added the reactants in the wrong order. I'm sorry for not asking questions when I was confused and wasting your time with questions that were answered in the assigned reading.

For all of this and more I am sorry but for even more I am grateful. So thank you:

Thank you for teaching me how to learn, not just spoon feeding me information. Thank you for allowing me to experience blunt and sometimes what I considered harsh correction when I was unprepared. Correction now for me is continually getting harsher and the risk of being wrong or unprepared exceedingly greater than a bad grade or a blunt confrontation. The risk is now: retaking a year of Medical School, being dismissed or even greater a patient’s life.  I have never been more grateful that you encouraged me to become a better student of science and life.  Thank you for calling me to rise to the challenge of improvement rather than becoming bitter over correction.

Thank you for seeing me as an individual with unique gifting’s and failings that have part in creating how I act as a student and person. I have seen this in the way that you always found a way to explain concepts to me in a manner I could understand, even if doing this took hours or more than one visit to your office.

Thank you for caring about me outside of the world of furthering my education; but actively making sure i was not neglecting my physical, emotional or spiritual wellbeing.

Thank you for widening my view of the world; bringing to my attention the importance and severity of public happenings and my responsibility to care for those who cannot care for themselves.

Dr. Johnston - Thank you for teaching me that jumping off desks and interpretive dance are completely appropriate ways to learn biology. You taught me that learning can be fun and very entertaining.  But wait there's more: Thank you for filling my notes with possibly the best cellular biology quote log ever made.

Dr. J - Thank you for analytically teaching me that the little things matter; because sometimes they are the difference between life and death.

Dr. Peterson - Thank you for teaching me how to do research and that ph = pka + log ([A]/[HA]).

Dr. B - Thank you for teaching me that it is possible to defy space and time: like an electron.

Dr. O'Connor - Thank you for teaching me the importance of what it means to listen and letting me pick your mind about teaching, grad school and med school. You taught me so much by example; I admire the great way you always used feedback from the students (bad or good) to make a class better.

Dr. Wilders - Thank you for teaching me what it means to be passionate and that multivariate calculus is worth going to 8am class. I loved coming to class each morning simply because i knew that you would be excited to teach me.

Dr. Horner - Thank you for teaching me to be persistent and that writing on the chalkboard make mistakes so much easier to pin point.

Dr. Visick - Thank you for teaching me how to work for a grade. All the advice and guidance that you so willingly offered me in my journey to where I am now has been invaluable; having you as an Adviser was one of the best things that happened to me during my time at NCC.

Dr. Renk - Thank you for teaching me that the authors name is important (I am still sad i missed that question on our Op Sys final). Also, Go Hawks!

Dr. St.Clair - Thank you for teaching me that professors care; every time i stepped into your office I always felt like you cared about everything that was going on in my life and not only my academic performance in your class.

I’m grateful to so many more people and in so many more ways that I could ever mention. But please know that you are a very necessary and essential part of your students’ lives and I for one am so grateful for each one of you. Thank you for all the hours of work, frustration and time that you have scarified for me and my classmates! We love and appreciate each one of you and all the diversity that you bring to our education.
-G

How I feel about my Undergrad Profs!

SO MUCH LEARNING!

That moment at the end of your four day weekend that you look at the calender and see 6 hours of class beginning at 8am the following day...

See you all after dark...

-G

Learning to be a Vampire...

We learned how to draw blood today....

How i felt when they told us we were going to learn phlebotomy and then handed us a paper to sign giving permission for other student to practice on us.

How I felt when i stuck my first patient...

How I felt when i was the first patient for my classmates... 

Such a range of emotions all in one day... I'm exhausted... Well back to the books, so many drug names to learn!

-G

I'll show you PATHOLOGY!!!

How I felt after i finally gave in and bought Pathoma.....

Take that copious amounts of Pathology... I can now learn you at super speed and High Yield form.

LOOK AT ME NOW... LOOT AT ME NOW... I'm getting knowledge!

-G

M2 Year Beginnings.

So far I've gotten as far as naming the Land --> "This Land".... They say that you come close to dying at multiple points in M2 year... I'll keep you all posted.

But in other news... Being in the Clinic doing patient interviews is fun and challenging in addition to being scary as all get out. And I think people treat you different when you are wearing a white coat, maybe someone should do a study on that.. Lol..

Well I guess i should go back to paying attention to this lecture on Group A and B streptococci infections.
Later Folks
-G

So Long M1 year...

Walking out of my last M1 final like...

Thanks so all my wonder friends, family and classmates for all your support and love. 1/4 of a doctor! Congrats to the brand spank'n new University of Illinois College of Medicine M2's. What a great Class and what a great year!

And BIG thanks to my study group that kept me even though i was prone to distractions.... This ones for you!

Grace Gets distracted at Study Group

Love you guys more than words can say and DEFINITELY more than studying.

-G

Too many Finals!

How I feel after studying nonstop and taking 7 Finals over the last three weeks...

Too bad i still have one more to go...

My brains posture just progressed from Decerebrate to Flaccid... At what level is the lesion?

During the 173 question Neuroanatomy Final...

U is for Unsatisfactory

When you receive an Unsatisfactory letter for a class, and you realize that it because you put your First Name in the Last Name slot.

Don't worry it all got worked out... and I did in fact pass that class...

Almost The End of M1

So we are getting really close to being done with M1! It's pretty crazy how fast the year flies by you. I'm getting ready to start my last summer off EVER! It's not as sad as it may sound. I am really excited to be getting closer to actually being a doctor.

BUT, the sun just came out and its sooooo nice outside.. All I want to do is frolic in the sunshine. Dilemma of my LIFE...

When All you Really Want is to be Playing Frisbee on the Quad.

Pretending to Study...

Finished Dissecting!

Walking out of lab after i finish my last dissection! 

and i'm like...

So excited to be done dissecting!
-G

At the Medschool Talent Show

When you realize people in your class have talents that extend beyond studying and regurgitating facts on exams:

And then you're like:

Great Job last night everyone... Way to be super talented and awesome!

God iiiiiiissss!

What Happens When I Listen to Gospel Music While Running at the Gym...

Sorry Folks... I just can't help it!