surreal

I can't believe the time has come to start planning my clinical rotations. Not too long ago, my family came down for white coat ceremony. I remember freaking out about learning how to take blood pressure, web camming with my study buddy and taking my first finals. Now, it is time to enter the workfield and use my new skills. Today, I will test them out doing sports physical screenings at a school. I don't even know how to do one...I guess I will have to fake it until I make it.

The future is unknown and it is scary but exciting at the same.

PA year 2 is just around the corner. Definitely been a memorable 2013 so far.

FU-GU

Genitourinary and endocrine system you are finished!!! The kidneys are pretty amazing at how they filter components through your body.

Fun fact: you don't get symptoms of renal failure until 70% of your kidneys are gone. That means you can pretty much survive with a partial of one kidney!!!

It was very difficult adult medicine exam today but the highlight would be picking up a pair of boxing gloves and [attempt] beat the crap out of the bag today. It got a couple shots at me especially when I had to knee it. First time in awhile I pushed myself to puking status. Well, the studying doesn't end...quiz tomorrow in Pediatrics.

Just a few more weeks....

Semi- homestretch

There is about four weeks of this second semester left and I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. This past school year has definitely been a time in my life that will stand out beyond the rest.. for now. Besides all the knowledge of the human body, diagnoses, symptoms, and treatments, I have learned immensely about myself. I've learned to sit back, enjoy the loops, turns, upside down and drops of the rollercoaster because eventually, it will stop and you will hop off. There is no knowing the future but just trying to stomach all the turns as best as you can. Learn, laugh, and love everything you do, even if the week is full of exams, quizzes, papers and the stars aren't lining up. That's what I have learned this year. Stay positive, look forward.

TLB out!

allergies: Penicillin

WHY DO I ALWAYS CHOOSE THE PENICILLIN DRUG WHEN THEY ARE ALLERGIC on a pharm exam??

Fingers crossed I don't do it with a real patient. :/

Therapeutic

Writing gets me through the day. Lying in bed eating my toast and boiled egg with a cup of coffee before I leave for the day and study at the library.

On the agenda today:

Study, Adult Medicine quiz, Study, Pharmacology class then exam and the a night with a bottle of wine and myself and a couple ladies two floors down. It is a non-exciting day but I will be busy but for now I sit quietly in my room alone with my thoughts and the sound of cars driving by.

This journey has been full of ups and downs. I have felt all the emotions of life in such a short time: Happiness, laughter, fear, anxiety, pain, heartbreak, friendship, love, comraderie...Compared to my last life of working and gymming, this has been a rollercoaster but at least I feel alive.

Things I want to do within in the week:
- join the climbing gym
- paint on a canvas to fill my walls
- go for a run up a hill
- smile

Irony

Studying an exciting topic alone at Starbucks

2nd semester- the beginning of life lessons. Blogging 2.0

About 6 weeks of the semester left and it is going to take all my might to stay focus to end the semester as strong as I started. PA school has taught me so much so far and I still have much more to go. Not only have I learned the material presented in the classroom but also time management, building relationships and what is important in my life.

Although, I feel like this is a very selfish time in my life, I am beyond thankful that I have the support of family and friends in Oregon and California to help me through even when I am not the happiest, most patient, or fun individual to be around at times. Looking back on PA school so far I have come from a crying and stressed individual to someone who is just taking it day by day and exam by exam. There is no need to stress out on the little things in life because you never know what the future holds.

Each day instead of stressing, I will focus on doing something new and/or challenging for me so I can grow and learn each day. Yesterday, I joined Jo at a Yoga studio for intermediate yoga. Yup, I was the non-flexible tool in the corner falling off my mat and had one eye opened looking around if I was doing the poses correctly. Laugh, live and learn.

There is no need to stress because somehow and someday things will all fall into place and hopefully I can sit back and smile at how far we have all come.

Below is a picture of me observing as everyone stress crams.