The Stressful Life of a Med1 Student

Well I made it through my first week of medical school in the MED1 program, which is accelerated (in the eyes of everyone else). The stress I am feeling makes college seem like a breeze. I don't really have time to just breathe it seems, and when I do something not school related I feel slightly guilty. I have started all of my classes and I am working my way though each. I think my favorite class is going to be medical ethics! There is something about looking at medicine from that perspective that interests me, and maybe one day I will be able to sit on a medical ethics committee at a hospital! Also it helps that the professor is really interesting! He is a licensed pediatrician, so hopefully I can learn a lot from him! My other classes are cell biology, histology, anatomy, lab, and physical diagnosis! 

We are full force into anatomy lab right now! I was lucky enough to get Meaghan in my lab group and my cut group! Our cadaver we named Bob. It was weird the first time I saw the bodies. It didn't really phase me, but seeing the human body like that was interesting. So I know that from school that adipose (fat) is all through the body, but my goodness! It took us two days to get rid of all that fat just to be able to see the back muscles. Also we had to prop our guy up because his neck was sunken in... and his belly is big so he is pretty high up on the table, which for "vertically challenged" individuals such as myself and meaghan it is hard for us to see and do work! But today we were cutting the spinal canal open which is called a laminectomy. We had to use the bone saw and though I was reluctant at first (those that really know me that power tools are not my forte) I did it anyway! I got to see a spinal cord, and to be honest I was that impressed, oh well I guess!

Today we had white coat ceremony practice with Dr. Wagner and Dr. Last! As Dr. Wagner was calling out nakes the one girl had a very long name and he said, "I once knew a girl whose full name had 5 names." The girl responded with "Wow thats super longer." Dr. Wagner then replied "That's what she said." Our whole class about died of laughter at that point! If you want to watch my white coat ceremony ONLINE LIVE TOMORROW AT 10:30am eastern (Island time though so it may be running late but tune in at 10:30 anyway the link is:

 http://www.ustream.tv/channel/whitecoat


I am getting used to my little place though! The oven is tiny, but it works. I finally got my toilet fixed and even through the internet problems we keep having I don't mind my apartment. I need to hang up all of my pictures of everyone from back home! Soon my room will be covered with my loved ones so it will really seem like a home away from home. I have gotten a little bit homesick this week. I just keep telling myself its only 3 months at a time and everyone is rooting for me. I also have managed to skype and talk to my parents, brother and sister in-law her mom and stepdad and of course nicholas! I've been having a hard time going through the material and I think when it frustrates me I miss home cause Nick or my parents or even Alli and my other friends would calm me down. I also have gotten my first cold while down on the Island. That didn't this mornings situation when I got caught in a rainstorm with the rain going sideways and I got soaked. Thankfully my fiend Erica brought me some scrubs to change into for the day (She is a lifesaver!) Other than all of that I am trying to adjust my life to little to no sleep, waking up early, barely getting any breaks throughout the day, and food that is not my forte. However I did have some BBQ chicken which was delish! If anyone would wanna send me care packages or mail let me know and I will get you my address! 


Until next week, 

The Future Dr. Emma XOXO