ISP, Week 1

Greetings, from ISP land! I am officially done with my first week of my "Intensive Study Period" for Step 1 studying! Overall, its been going pretty well. Its pretty insane how much I have learned/re-learned in just 6 days, but its also a really cool experience finding out just how much I have actually been taught over these last 2 years of medical school.

I have gotten into a pretty good routine this week that I really hope I stick to! My schedule is as follows:
8:30-9:00           Wake up/hit snooze/wake up again
9:00-11:00         92 UWorld Q Bank practice questions
11:00-12:00       Gym/Listen to audio lectures
12:00-1:00         Shower/Cook Lunch/Eat Lunch
1:00-5:00           Review Uworld Qbank questions/make flash cards
5:00-6:00           Dinner break
6:00-12:00         Read First Aid/Goljan RR books
12:00-1:00         Go home/do flash cards in bed until I fall asleep

This week, my "Reading FA" time was devoted to my 3 worst subjects: Biochemistry, Immunology, and Microbiology. I am definitely happy that I started with these to a) get them out of the way, and b) give myself a good base for when I start reviewing organ systems tomorrow.

Today, I took my second NBME practice exam (first one was sponsored by my school - [NBME]). The last exam I took, I was very excited to have passed, but knew I still needed a lot of work to do to get my score up to somewhere I would be really happy about. My big goal was to improve 10 points each week, but my realistic goal was to improve 5 points each week. Well, I am happy to report that I improved a whole 14 POINTS from my first practice exam!!! I'm sure I wont make that big of a jump again, but it was such a great feeling to have my hard work validated.

Since I took my NBME practice exam today, I get an easy day for the rest of the afternoon. I get to watch some TV and take a few hours off and relax. Then, tonight, I will review my incorrect answers from the NBME and review the chapters that I learned this week.

Also, since I'm on my break, I should tell all of you blog readers some exciting things have happened over the past 2 weeks. First, I turned 25 and now can rent a car ....woop! and 2) S graduated from medical school!!!!! Thats right, blog world, I am officially dating a real doctor! Im such a proud girlfriend.

Second Year Complete!!

I officially finished my second year of medical school yesterday! We had out last domain exam (Digestive/GI) from 8-10, which was actually really difficult...so we all waited anxiously for our exam results to be released at noon to make sure we passed. When 12 PM hit, I finally got to celebrate...I had passed the exam and was officially done with my pre-clinical coursework!

To celebrate, my friend Michelle and I went to the beach in Sleepy Hollow State Park! It was so amazing to have a completely free afternoon to lay out in the sun, have a few drinks (spiked 7/11 slurpies...yummm), and play with M's new pup Kuma!

Kuma

Spiked Slurpies

Beach Day

After playing at the park/beach for a few hours, we headed back to East Lansing and started to celebrate with our whole class...it has been so long since I have gone out to a bar in E.L, especially with most of my classmates. It was a great night and I'm so happy everyone came out to celebrate!

Couldn't have made it through the first 2 years without these girls! 

Story: This bar has all the tiles in the bathroom
covered with gravity...I did this one on my first night out in EL
and I found it when I went to the bar last night!

Today was my first day of ISP (intensive study period) for Step 1! Although I didn't do much intensive studying (only 3 hours of QBANK today), it still was a very productive day. I woke up late (11:30) with a pretty bad headache thanks to high doses of acetylaldehyde, but luckily that didn't last long. When I finally got up, I caught up on a few TV shows, picked up S's cap/gown for his upcoming graduation, signed my lease for next year, planned my ISP study schedule, went to my go-to study spot (Grand Traverse Pie Company) to study for 3 hours, went to the gym and am now finally catching up on blogging! It feels so great to have a day to do normal people stuff, because usually about 14 hours of my day is spent on school/studying.

Tomorrow, I'm going to really buckle down and put in my first 12 hour study day of ISP! I'm actually kind of excited to get started...wish me luck!

Boards Studying/NBME Practice Test

Hello blog world! Have you missed me? I know I have been MIA..but I have been rediculously busy. I promise to update everything from these last 7 weeks very soon, but for now here's whats been happening to me lately...

I am currently in my LAST week of pre-clinicals! Crazy! We are done with lectures, finishing up our last PBL case and have our last domain exam (GI) coming up on Monday. After that, its time to REALLY start intensifying my studies for 6 weeks before I take (arguably the most important exam of my career) the USMLE Step 1 exam! *cue scary music*

This week, a lot of things are coming to a close. I found out I passed my Clinical Skills Gateway/Exit Exam (which is a half-day testing that involves doing different clinical skills exams/interviews...kind of like Step 2CS for all of you medical students out there). I finished our last Clinical Skills experience (Phlebotomy). I turned in my last paper for Medical Humanities. We are currently working on our last PBL patient case. AND... we took our first NBME Step 1 practice test! I actually just got my score back about 10 minutes ago....the verdict: I actually passed! I didn't do great...but I passed! I'm so happy. Now, I can spend the next 6-7 weeks getting my score up to a place I want. I am not sure how many points students usually jump during their intensive study period...but I'm hoping the fact that I was able to pass without any real prep is a good sign. *crosses fingers*

Well thats all for now... Many new blogs to come, including my spring break trip to NYC, a research conference in Galveston, Texas, and all of the match day/4th year adventures S has been a part of over the last few months! But, now its time for me to get back to the books and learn all things G.I.

Phlebotomy lab! 

Spirometry Lab

This may be the nerdiest post I have ever written on this blog, but hey... this is who I have become!

I am currently in my Pulmonary Domain, so last week we participated in a Spirometry Lab practical. The lab wasn't required, but was "highly encouraged", since it would help to solidify concepts we have been learning over the last few weeks. So, I thought I would go. While it definitely did help solidify my understanding, I was not anticipating how fun/entertaining the lab would be.

We started off, by assembling our Spirometers. This is a device that is used to test breathing flow/volume. As you inhale and exhale, a computer program will map out exactly how much volume of air you take in or out, and how quickly or slowly you do it. After we assembled the device, we conducted our first phase of our lab. We used the spirometer to measure our normal airflow. We then had the computer make a Flow-Volume Loop graph with this information. Next, we used a straw connected to the spirometer and did the whole thing over again. This was to imitate someone with COPD. Sure enough, the Flow-Volume Loop that we constructed mimicked exactly what we thought would occur with someone with an obstructive condition. FINALLY, we conducted one more round, by tying each other up with scarves so that your chest wall doesn't have much movement. This round was to represent a restrictive disease, like Pulmonary Fibrosis. Sure enough, our lab results again predicted exactly what we thought would occur. Its great when that actually happens haha.

"Pulmonary Fibrosis"

Recording our results

"Normal" Flow-Volume Loop

COPD/"Obstructive" Flow-Volume Loop

 This was a really nice change from book studying. To understand the concepts we are learning in a practical manner and to be able to physically see the results from different changes to the lung, I think that I have developed a good understanding of these pulmonary concepts. Plus, we had lots of laughs and a nice study break!

But now, I have less than 1 week left before my pulmonary final..so I I have got to be getting back to the books!

Love, Italian Food, and Canada.

Last week, S and I celebrated our 5th anniversary! Its hard to believe it has been 5 years since we have started dating, but when I think about where we were in our lives when we first met, I guess it makes sense that it has been that long! I was 19, a sophomore at UCLA, preparing to study abroad in the Netherlands, and totally unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. S was 20, a junior, a pre-med student that was planning to start studying for his MCAT later that year. Now, 5 years later, we both are medical students living in Michigan. S is about to graduate and start a surgery residency...and I am a second year medical student, preparing to take my board exams! Its crazy all that we have been through, but I am so happy and so thankful that we have continued to support and love each other throughout our crazy journeys towards reaching our goals. :)

The night of our anniversary, S came to East Lansing and took me on a date. He knocked on the door to pick me up with a box of chocolates and a dozen red roses! It was so sweet! Then, he took me to our FAVORITE restaurant in Lansing, Bravo Cuchina Italiano. We had lots of yummy food: Miscato, spinach-artichoke dip with Parmesan incrusted bread for appetizer, Chicken Scaloppini (Chicken+portebello mushrooms+lemon caper sauce+diced tomatoes+feta cheese), and Creme Brulee for dessert...delicious. It was such a fun dinner, reminiscing about the last 5 years!

This weekend, we continued our anniversary celebration by taking a weekend trip to Canada! I had never been so we thought it would be a fun little weekend getaway. We had reservations at a little Bed and Breakfast in London, Ontario from Friday-Sunday. Sadly, on Friday morning, the person who owned the place called us and said that she had to cancel our reservations. So, we were temporarily out of housing. Luckily, we were able to get a reservation at the "Delta London Armouries". Although I was originally totally bummed about not staying in a little bed and breakfast, our hotel was a serious upgrade. We had one of the top floor suites with private lounge. In this lounge, that gave us free breakfast, free coffee, free snacks, and free booze in the evenings. I felt so fancy!

They even gave us robes!!!! 

Upon arriving to London, we decided to go to a restaurant called "Crabby Joes"! It was a pretty cool place, with lots of people our age...so I think it was a pretty good find! After we were done at the restaurant, we decided to head in for the night, because we were going to get up very early the next day to drive to Niagra Falls!

We arrived at Niagra at around 11 AM and immediately went to the see the Falls! It was really pretty with the ice in the water, but oh so very cold! We had to take many breaks by going in doors...but it was still totally worth it! We also went to explore the downtown area by going to the Niagra Casino, a fudge factory, the Niagra arcade, and the Guinness Book of World Records Museum...we then headed back on the bus, looked at the falls one last time...and then decided to head back to London, before it got too dark/snowy.

Warming up on the bus

Niagra Casino

Fudge Factory

Grave's Disease

After we got back to London, we went to the lounge in our hotel and had some wine/beer and some cheese/crackers/egg roles. Delicious and (again) so fancy.  We then went back to our room, watched "She's All That" and then went to bed. [Yes, I am aware we act like an "old couple" and go to bed way earlier than we should on vacation...but hey, it was so very relaxing!]

The next day, we headed out for one last stop in London, to an all-you-can-eat Sushi Restaurant, that my friend Bobby (who went to undergrad in London) recommended to us....and boy, am I glad that we made this stop! Soooo delicious....and pretty dang cheap for how much/what quality food we got! After we were done eating, it was time to drive home and get back to reality...

It was such a great trip. I can't wait until our next one! :)

2013 Resolutions

I am a week late on coming up with my New Years Resolutions...but better late then never, right?

1) [Health/Food]: Learn how to cook cheap, healthy, and easy meals.
I got a cookbook many Christmases ago with a lot of meals that are designed for college students with little money and little time to devote to cooking. Although I haven't really spent much time at all looking through it, I really want to get better with cooking easy, nutritious meals. My goal is to make 50% of the recipes in the book this year! Hopefully, this will encourage me to stop eating out and stop wasting so much money on food that I could easily make myself!

2) [School Goal #1]: Master each domain. 
I was very happy with how I performed in my classes last semester and hope to continue to work hard and earn above an 85% in each of the domains this semester.

3) [School Goal #2]: Pass my USMLE step 1 board exam
I am registered to take my USMLE Step 1 on June 15. *gulp*. I know that the next 6 months of my life are going to be filled with stress, little sleep and lots and lots of late-night studying, but I am hoping that it will be worth it after I see my score. In the end, I do have a goal in my mind and would like to hit that score goal. However, I will be happy if I pass with a score at or above the national average. Everyone wish me luck!

4) [School Goal #4]: Honor a clerkship. 
By the end of 2013, I will have completed HALF of my clinical rotation! Crazy! My goal is to honor at least one of these first three rotations. I know that it will take a few rotations to get in the swing of things, but I hope to have at least one honor under my belt before the new year.

5) [Relationship]: Encourage S with his residency placement and adjust to his new career position.
S is graduating from medical school this year and will start his residency in General Surgery. He has had incredible interview opportunities at a ton of great programs all over the country. So, this change is mostly exciting...However, I know that there is a huge possibility that he will not end up in or around Michigan. So, based off of where he is matched, I think that this year is going to bring challenges to our relationship. These challenges definitely don't imply anything negative, but I know that they will require change. My goal is to be able to adjust to this change and continue to grow our relationship together.

6) [Personal]: Travel to a new place.
I had this resolution last year and will probably keep it for the rest of my life. Traveling is probably my greatest passion in life. I love to experience new places and see how many amazing places there are in the world.

A look back on 2012 Resolutions

Its that time again!...the time when I look at my New Year Resolutions from last year to see how I did!

1) [Health]: Continue to work on my exercise plan and diet.
Well...I tried. I know this resolution is by far my hardest resolution to actually follow-up on because I am a stress eater, and in med school there is lots of stress, and therefore lots of eating. I can think of two positive things that I have done this year, although much improvement is still needed. First, I started doing hot yoga and I loved it! There is something amazing about being in a hot room, stretching your body to its limits. I think its a great exercise and everytime I go, I pledge to incoporporate it into my weekly schedule. However, I get busy and stressed out, and yoga is one of the things that goes. This should change. The second thing that I have liked to do is incoporate fruit-and-veggie cleanses every few months. I have done this three times so far and find it really helpful! When I have gotten out of control with eating out and not cooking at home, making myself do a fruit-and-veggie cleans has helped me get refocused and back into the swing of cooking healthy. I hope that I will continue to remember to do this next year. I know that I need to continue to find a balance between my health and school; I plan to work on this a lot again in the new year. 

2) [School Goal #1]: Improve semester average and Master each course! 
Success! Normally I wouldn't want to share my grades on my blog, but I am so proud of myself that I feel like I need to. Not only have I mastered each course (which is above a 85%), the lowest grade I received on any exam for the whole semester was an 89%, finishing the semester off with a 91% average. I am pretty proud of myself to say the least!  I hope to continue this trend into the next semester and give myself a confidence boost as I enter into my intensive study period for my board exams! 

3) [School Goal #2]: Participate a valuable externship or research experience.
Success again! This summer, I participated in a fantastic month-long externship at St. John's Hospital, that allowed me to spend 1-week shadowing in Pediatrics, OB/Gyn, Emergency Medicine, and General Surgery. I learned so much and totally and completely reaffirmed my decision to go into medicine. I have also been doing Neonatology research for the past year and am hopefully adding a new research project soon. 

4) [Relationship]: Continue to work on the balance between school and my relationship. 
Also successul! [I'm on a role!]. I think this year has been so much easier because S is a 4th year and has way more time to spend time with me, even when I'm busy. There has been many times that he will come visit when I have exams and he will just sit in my study room and watch movies on his laptop while I study. I know that does not sound exciting, but for busy med students, I am thankful for the time we get together. This last semester, we even got to see each other about 3-4 times a week, which is great! I'm very happy. 

5)   [Friends]: Contact friends from the past. 
Hrm. I'm going to say that I half-way completed this. I can't think of anyone I really contacted that I have completed lost contact with, but I think that I did do a good job visiting friends in different areas of this country. For example, I am lucky to still see my girlfriends from high school everytime I come home from break....AND, a few months ago, I went to New York City to meet up with all my old college roommates. So, I think I should keep working on this, but I am happy to say that for the friends that are important to me from high school and college, I think that I am making an effort to maintain these friendships. 

6) [Self #1]: Travel to a New Place. 

Yes. Yes. and Yes. I traveled to lots of new places!!! Most exciting was my trip to Peru. I spent three weeks there and visited lots of cities (including Lima, Cuzco, Chiclin, Chicama, Trujillo, etc). I also did a 4-day hike through the Salkantay Trail and up to Machu Picchu. [You can read all about my trip here.] Besides Peru, I also got to explore more of my new state! This summer, I lived with my friend Michelle in Harrison Township and volunteered in Grosse Point; I also went to Detroit a few times. I also went to the neighboring state of Ohio (to go to the Cedar Pointe theme park). For spring break, I road-triped down to North Carolina to have the most incredibly relaxing week of my life in the Outer Banks...and finally, I recently just returned from the state of Massachusetts, where I visited the city of Boston for the first time. So, yes. I way accomplished this goal and hope to have many more additions to this list next year! :) 

7) [Self #2] Learn a New Skill. 

Does studying count? Because I have gotten really good at that!

No? Okay, I know that. I think I failed at this one. The only thing I can think of is that I have really started to enjoy drawing. At Disneyland, I have taken a few of those mini-art classes where they teach you how to draw Disney characters; this is always my favorite part of my Disneyland trips (as nerdy as that sounds). I also am currently doing illustrations for a children's book that I wrote last year and am hopefully getting published in the near future. So, no I don't think that I have learned a new skill well...but I have become interested in a new skill that I still need to learn. Does that count? 

Well thats it for now. I think overall, I did a pretty good job with my 2012 resolutions and hope that 2013 proves to be just as great, if not better!