MS3

Friends!

Long time no post!!! I've been waiting to post and finally share that I have closed the door on MS2 and am moving forward to MS3!

I think this is the year that all medical students dream about. Finally getting into the hospital, being done with Step One, interacting with real patients with real problems and really diving into medicine.

Since writing Step I've been running around trying to get my life organized and finish all of my pre hospital health check ups along with organizing my life into two suitcases before I head off to IMF.

I've slowly been updating my professional attire since, let's be real, I've been living in leggings and tank tops for the past year.

What is IMF you may be wondering? Well my school has a six week program called the Internal Medicine Foundations that we must complete before starting our core rotations. The simplest explanation is it's a pre-clinical bootcamp... we get to work on and perfect our patient encounters, practical skills (scrubbing in, IV lines, physical exams), SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) notes and History and Physical Exam notes. Even though I haven't started yet, I am very thankful that my school has this since it allows us to brush up our skills before we're in the hospital on our rotations (I know my first few interviews/physical exams aren't going to be the smoothest).

After six weeks of IMF we begin our core rotations (one year) which consist of Family Medicine, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics and Psychiatry.

Also, I've been looking at all of the different resources available for core rotations and it's been VERY overwhelming!

I'm planning on keeping you all updated throughout this part of my medical journey as well - what resources I've used and my experiences along the way. If there's anything in particular you want me to write about please let me know.

AND THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, for joining me on this journey.

- Jen

An Open Letter To My Friends & Family

For those of you who are friends or family this letter is for you,

I wanted to say thank you for trying to understand what I've been going through while in medical school. I know it's kind of complex and I tend to have to explain the journey multiple times but don't apologize for asking me to explain it to you 'one more time'. It's tough to follow! Sometimes I don't even know the answers to your questions and I have to look them up myself.

I know I've been here, but not really here. Home, but not really home. Textbooks and question banks have taken over my life. I used to be so great at responding to text messages and remembering special events but all of those have been slipping my mind. Trust me, when I do remember them I feel HORRIBLE about forgetting about them on their proper day.

Thankfully, every time I do pop up from my little study hole and apologize for taking ages to respond you always understand and tell me not to worry. You don't even realize how much that means to me.

I can't even describe how much I wish I could go to all of the birthday parties, get togethers and events but studying has consumed my life right now.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL BAD FOR ME.

I made the decision to go into medical school and go through the rigorous training to become a Doctor. I knew there would be some social sacrifices that would come along with it. I fully accept that - but because of that little internal "Doctor" instinct of wanting to be there for everyone, I know I have to be selfish.

I guess a part of me wants to apologize for putting you through this too - because we are going on this journey together.

You help keep my sanity. You help when I'm stressed. You help when I've had a horrible study day. You help to lighten my mood when a test is coming up. You remind me that I am supposed to be here. You tell me I will be a great Doctor one day.


Even though you attribute this to "just being a good friend" know to me it means so much more than that. I wouldn't be where I am today without you so any of my wins are just as much yours.

Thank you for joining me on this wild ride. I promise to keep the good stories coming,

Jen

Motivation

Hey friends!

I am back for another post! Quick turn around I know. I've surprised myself too.

I've been asked this question and I've seen this question floating around the internet for the longest time now and I figured - WHY NOT SHARE MY TWO CENTS ON MY BLOG!

The question on everyone's mind every hour of every.single.day. "How do I stay motivated?"

Thinking about it - that's a pretty darn good question that quite honestly I don't think I even have the answer to. Do you want to know why?

I don't rely on motivation.

I can already imagine what is going through your mind right now... what do you mean you don't rely on motivation? Are you crazy? What planet do you live on? How did you make it through two years of med school not relying on motivation?

My answer to you is simple. I rely on dedication.

If we were to only look at the definition of the two words:

"Motivation: Desire or willingness to do something; enthusiasm."

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/motivation

"Dedication: If you say that someone has dedicated themselves to something, you approve of the fact that they have decided to give a lot of time and effort to it because they think that it is important."

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dedicate

Based on my understanding and interpretation of these definitions, motivation comes and goes while dedication is more permanent. So why would I rely on something that changes based on the day?

Do I wake up every single morning fully motivated to study and learn as much as I can? Honestly no. Some days I wake up and I just soak up all of the information I am reading that day. Other days I wake up and I'm lucky if I make it through one chapter.

On those hard days where my motivation is a big fat zero am I still fully dedicated to become a doctor? Heck yeah I am! That will always be the dream even if I am having a very non-motivational day.

I've found now that I've been attempting to change my mindset from relying on motivation to relying on my dedication I haven't been getting as frustrated with myself on those days my motivation has been a little low.

Show up. Every day. Be dedicated to your goal. Motivation will come and go. Stay true to your course.

- Jen

You CAN do it.

Hello my friends!

I've been living in my classroom studying my life away (more so than usual). Third is turning out to be one busy semester but we're getting more into the clinical and pathological aspects of medicine so it is VERY interesting.

I haven't written a post because I've been finding it kind of difficult to find some inspiration to write. Normally I'd write about keeping the motivation high and remembering why you did this... but since I couldn't even practice that skill myself I felt like theres no way I could write about it. I'm feeling the toll school has taken on me mentally and physically. I've been so tired, with no amount of coffee or sleep helping.

I've pretty much hit a rut.

And I feel like everyone around me has felt like they've gotten into a rut too. Every time I see something like this happening around me I try and think about what good will come from this.

Over the past three weeks I have had multiple conversations with multiple people about how stressed they are and how they don't feel motivated.

I noticed a trend - when people were consoling me about if I could get through it they were so positive and motivational. They had all the confidence that I could pull this off. But when the conversation turned and we were talking about them, their mood changed and the positivity and confidence faded. Which pulls me back to a conversation I had with a good friend about confidence. She told me a quote and I will never forget it...

"You need to learn to be your own best friend"

And I thought, how powerful is that? It should be so easy - yet it is one of the hardest things to do.

I'm guilty of it - friends and family continuously tell me, "Jennifer you're more than capable of this" but I'm my own toughest critic and things that make my parents more proud than they already are just make me shrug my shoulders. 

So I challenge you, and I will continue to challenge myself to try to become my own best friend.

- Jen

One Month In

Hello friends!

I figured I'd write a post (definitely not doing this as procrastination) about one month in to my semester and let you guys know how life on the island is going.

I'm in my 2X semester, all the "X" means is I'm finishing the schooling portion of my MD in 16 months as opposed to 20. This semester, as I've been told, is very heavy in physiology which makes me a little nervous because physiology is not my strong suit. We've completed our Cardiovascular 1 and are finishing up our Respiratory 1 before our first Mini on Tuesday. So far we've had all physiology classes except for 4 lectures so there's been a lot of information thrown our way.

In second we also have ICM (clinical skills) and SGL's. The ICM's are hour long sessions where we learn how to perform various tests done during a physical exam. At the end of the semester we're going to be tested during a practical exam. SGL's are essentially case studies done in a small group. You spend one hour with a patient interviewing them and learning about their clinical case. The next hour is spent discussing with your group and then everyone is delegated a different aspect of the case to do research on before their next meeting. I have my first one tomorrow and I'm pretty nervous/excited to see how it will go.

As always school is a whirlwind of emotions. Some days I wake up and I wonder if I'll ever become a doctor, or if I'm in too far over my head and maybe this isn't for me. Those days are hard to get through, lectures seem so much longer, the material seems so much drier, I miss home so much more. I've experienced how straining this is mentally. I've never been so challenged academically and emotionally in my life. It seems so easy to give up. Go back home and figure life out. But then I have my island family who always manages to make the bad days better. They talk me out of my funk and remind me all of the reasons I fought to get here in the first place.

When it gets difficult, and it always does, I try to remember why I want this so badly. Why I'd make myself go through 14 hour days, barely any sleep, coffee as a lifeline... and I know, I know that once I get through medical school, get my MD, get through residency and become an attending I will never have to work a day in my life. Sure everything leading up to that attending position seems like it could be a deterrent - but honestly - there's nothing else I'd rather be doing with my time.

Jen

I love these crazy Canadian MERP-ers

Obsessed with sunsets

I can't help myself

Before CVS examination

2X - Let's Do This!

Hi friends!

I'm writing to you after my second day of classes and after being on the island for roughly a week. We've had our introduction into our second semester and I'm looking forward to it. I've been told it's a very heavy physiology semester (not my strongest subject) so I know I'm going to have to work hard to do well this semester. We do a lot more clinical skills classes this semester which I am very excited for because it makes all of the hard days in the library seem worth it.

As much as being in the big city with all of my Starbucks cravings satisfied I found myself missing this island I've come to call home.

This is what I found myself missing on a daily basis:

1. The climate

• Toronto was a little too chilly for my liking. I keep on saying I'm a pretty horrible Canadian when it comes to accepting winter - I've learned it's worse after I've been living in a warm climate for four months.

2. The ocean

• I love the water, the beach, swimming, laying by the water... I could go on for ages. I'm fortunate enough to live right by the ocean so I get the lull of the waves putting me to sleep after a long day at school. My first night at home I was so exhausted but I found I could not fall asleep because it was SO QUIET! I lost my ocean sleep maker. 

3. The locals

• Even after one semester on the island you get to meet and love the lovely people of Dominica. They're always so happy and friendly - again comparing to the people of Toronto who are always in a hurry and very busy. I have to admit I was guilty of sitting at home telling my parents that I missed all of my island family

4. The routine

• As much as 14 hour days is long and painful I honestly missed them. At home I found I had no schedule and was running around trying to get everything done and trying to see everyone as quickly as possible before I came back to Dominica. 

5. My Island Family

• Not only the locals of Dominica I missed my friends. Even though we spend all day with one another I have grown to love them like I do my own family. I've said time and time again I know I wouldn't have made it through first semester without them and I can't wait to go through the rest of my semesters with them by my side.

Talk soon,

Jen

My last Starbucks :(

On my way to St. Maarten

First day back

Sunsets

Sunsets

Never Going To Be A First Semester Medical Student Again

Hello friends!

I'm writing this after one full day of relaxation after my final for first semester. It still feels so surreal that I've completed 15 weeks of intense medical school. I feel like I've only been here for one month and it's crazy to look back at all of the information I got into my brain in 15 weeks.

It's been one heck of a ride so far. I feel like I've been challenged mentally, emotionally and physically (try sitting at a desk for 14+ hours a day - you'll know what I mean). There were times this semester where I wondered if I was going to get through it. I would get home after a long day of studying and wonder if this was really for me.

I'd lay down in bed and think about the people I've met and the various experiences I've had and I realized that I am meant to be here. I'm meant to go through every trial and tribulation in order to get to do what I've been dreaming of doing for years. Then I realize it's not a matter of dreaming any more - it's just doing what I need to do to accomplish my goals.

Every time a professor says, "You are a physician in training" I get shivers up and down my spine.

Every.time.

Going through one semester of medical school has made me appreciate and respect Physicians more than I already do. They've all experienced the same things us current medical students are experiencing. Long days turning into nights, never ending information, frustration, tears, caffeine overload and total exhaustion.

But there's not a day I wake up not knowing that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. And what I love about my friends and classmates at Ross is that they all think the same thing.

Becoming a Physician is their dream and they are not about to give up. They don't realize how much they inspire me and push me to be a better student and person on a daily basis.

I'm back home tomorrow! So I'm off to pack!

Jen

Post exam day relaxation!

If I'm not in the library I'm on the beach

Post exam dinner

This sneaky cutie wanted my sub

Halfway There!

Hello Friends!

So I just finished my second mini of the semester - it was on four weeks of material. It doesn't sound too bad until you try to study it and you realize how much information it actually is.

Officially halfway done the semester! These past six weeks have FLOWN by! I thought since I've been in class for six weeks I should share six things I've learned since I've gotten here:

1. Be Flexible. Everything isn't going to work out the way you want it to when you want it to. I'm used to getting things done in a North American lifestyle and it's not the same here. This is Dominica. Things move at a different pace and you just need to adjust to it.

2. Creepy crawlies will be everywhere. Two incidents for me in the past week. One day I woke up with ants all over my room. And actually last night I walked into my room after a weekend in the library to find a little lizard just chilling on my desk. If you know me - you know I'm not a huge bug fan...

3. You can't always get what you want. Literally. The grocery store near by isn't always fully stocked, they don't have a lot of the comforts from home. AKA Reeces Peanut Butter Cups or other sweets from home. 100% miss my Starbucks Blonde Roast coffee.

4. Just because I live on an Island does not mean I have a sick tan. I actually spend a ridiculous amount of time in the library. The only sun I get is going to and from the lecture hall to the library. Unfortunately you only see the beautiful pictures I see on my walks through campus. You don't see me staring into my cubicle for 14 hours.

5. Consistent water is very underrated back at home. For those of you reading back in North America or other parts of the world appreciate having water every night. It's a bit of a buzz kill to come home after spending the day on campus to not be able to shower or brush your teeth properly (this is why you prepare backup water in the fridge). Again refer back to lesson 1.

6. Friends will get you through anything. Close by or far away. I've met some amazing people while I've been down here and I don't think I would have been able to get through this without all of them. I think I'm still going a little crazy but I'd definitely crazier without them. And all of my friends back at home who constantly support me with loving messages always bring a smile to my face when I'm stressed out. Even though it may take me a while to respond I always love the messages I get.

Until next time,

Jen

Post Mini 2 relaxation

Always need to laugh

Sunset on campus

Rainbow post anatomy lab

Cotton Candy Clouds

Searching For A World With 40 Hours

I've said the title of my post too many times to count in the past 12 weeks. As we get to the end of our semesters (I've got three weeks left) we have everything starting to pile up. Assignments, final projects, "midterms", presentations - you name it. As a normal student we start to burn out. We've been pushing ourselves for the earlier part of the semester and our brain is starting to go a little crazy.

I find that my time management skills always come into scrutiny at this point of the year. "How do I utilize my time properly?" I've been thinking this myself - along with crying to some friends about how stressed we were. So I have decided to do a post on time management skills.

I've asked countless profs, done research online, talked to other students and here are my top five time management techniques that work for me.

1. ALWAYS MAKE TIME TO WORK OUT
I've done a study on myself throughout undergrad and now - every time I don't work out I find it very difficult to study and my grades suffer. If working out isn't for you, then do something that will recharge your batteries and get your mind back in the game.

2. Schedule your day
I'm a very organized person. I need to plan what I'm doing that day. But I'm not saying plan to learn a whole subject if that's unattainable. Plan your day and schedule your time realistically. For example I cannot block off 4 hours straight studying and think I will get through a weeks worth of material. I know I can't sit and work on something for that long. Instead I will block hour slots with realistic tasks for me to complete in those hours.

3. Balance
I guess this goes with rule one... but it's so important I'm going to reiterate it again. Talk with family or friends, go for a walk... ect. I know after every hour I will have a five minute dance party to pull myself back together and focus again. The little breaks and time for your brain to decompress is so beneficial - rather than staring at that concept you can't figure out, have a dance party and then come back to it and look at it with a new perspective.

4. Change your study spot
I get very bored if I have the same study spot. Every once and a while switch it up! Go to a new cafe, or that library down the street. Having a different visual stimulations stops your brain from processing things redundantly and has shown to actually increase memory.

5. Sleep
I know what you're thinking. Sleep? This is a time management list... You always need to fit sleep in. Numerous studies have shown that your brain can think much more logically. So if you have that 8 am exam - don't stay up until 4 am studying. You won't be able to logically think your way through the exam or you may sleep right through it.

Hope that helps!

Jen

Just a Reminder

Sit back and relax every once and a while. Med School applications may be hectic and consume all of our time, but we're only young once and we need to enjoy it while we're here! Take that breather, go for a walk and enjoy nature. You'll feel so much more relaxed and energized after :)

- Jen