Hey friends!
I know it's been a while and I'm so sorry for taking FOREVER to write up a new post. Honestly I just haven't really had any inspiration to write. The last thing I want to do is to write up a blog post and have it not be genuine. I started this blog to just help out others the way I was helped throughout this whole medical school journey so the last thing I wanted was to be posting emotions I don't genuinely feel while I'm here. Today I got that inspiration back.
We had our very first community clinic today. For those of you who don't know what it is, we go out in small groups to different villages in Dominica and perform a medical history and physical exam on a REAL PATIENT. This is done all on our own (with our junior faculty watching us to make sure we are performing our skills correctly) but we run the whole interview and physical exam on a patient who is experiencing actual symptoms and are dealing with an actual disease.
A group of colleagues and I went to a village about 30 minutes from our town thinking we were going to see two patients in the clinic but once we arrived we quickly realized the clinic had actually planned two home visits for us. As nervous as I was I was kind of excited to see what a home visit was actually like. So, we had a quick drive over to our patients house and then it was my colleagues and my show. We were greeted by a very friendly gentleman who welcomed us into his home with open arms and was ready for us to learn and to use him as a learning tool. As I sat there and spoke to the patient I realized how lucky I am to have my health and to be aware of any health concerns I could face (i.e. caffeine withdrawal). This gentleman was speaking to my colleague and I about his condition and how at first he had no idea what any of his diagnoses meant. It took him several years before actually realizing that what he is suffering from will not end well if not treated properly. This whole process of interview and physical exam took approximately an hour and I couldn't have been more grateful for the whole experience. The fact that this gentleman is suffering from several diseases and is still so happy, friendly and so willing to help students improve their medical knowledge makes my heart so warm.
This made me think about how fortunate we are back at home to have a significant amount of patient education and support groups to help patients as they go through any diseases they may be suffering from. As well as being so incredibly grateful to be able to go on this amazing, yet sometimes frustrating, journey to become a doctor. When we walk into a room we are the person in charge of this persons health and they look up to us for that. It shouldn't be taken lightly but also not to the other extreme of an overwhelming amount of pressure. I always find myself on the latter, putting too much pressure on myself to know everything and getting frustrated when I don't. A good friend of mine left me with this message and I'm going to leave it here for all of you...
"You diagnose your patient with your mind and not your heart, so study with your mind and not your heart. Your mind will save your patient. Your heart will comfort them."
- Jen
Showing posts with label smiles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smiles. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Just Keep Building
Hello Friends!
Quick turn around for another post from me but I’ve got some inspiration for some more writing/procrastinating.
I got some pretty exciting news yesterday and I’ll officially post it on this blog - but I’ve been asked to be the Prime Minister (President) for the Canadian Students Society! Words can’t even describe how excited and happy I am to be able to take a leadership role in this club and work along side some of my amazing friends.
I'd just like to take a moment and reflect as to why I'm so grateful not only for the Canadian Students Society but for being in medical school and living out my dream of becoming a Doctor.
In high school I was a very active student member. Coming from a smaller all girls high school it was very easy to get involved in the school community. I did plays, ran the robotics team, was selected to be a prefect, was on the May Court, helped out with school events... You get the drift.
For various reasons everything changed in my undergrad. I wasn't involved in any clubs let alone never dreamt about taking a leadership role in any aspect of my time there. Just to clarify, it had nothing to do with the school itself. The Applied Health Sciences Faculty was amazing - the smallest faculty on campus - we had a very home like feel to all of our events and throughout all of our buildings.
My confidence was stripped. I isolated myself. I didn't think I could be a part of a team and I didn't want to be. I didn't think I could be a leader, not in a group project let alone in a club.
For various reasons, I wasn’t the same active student body member that I was before. My friends who knew me from high school noticed the shift and honestly there was nothing anyone could really do to bring my confidence back up to where it was before. It was hard, going from being someone who was so actively involved to someone who went to classes and labs and that was it. No extra curriculars, no clubs, no teams - nothing. Until I found a volunteering position working with cancer patients that made me want to get more involved. Mind you at this point joining anything was a big deal for me. And I will be forever thankful to all of my patients at Well Fit, as much as you say I helped you, you helped to shape me into the future doctor I am today.
I was thinking about my 18/19 year old self and how she would react if I told her that she would be in medical school, and she would be loving it. She would gain her confidence to take on leadership roles again and most importantly she would be genuinely happy.
The thought brought me to tears.
I asked a lot of friends whether I should post this more personal blog and I got a resounding yes. Then I realized how happy an 18/19 year old Jen would be if she read something like this when she wasn't feeling her best.
For anyone who may be thinking about applying to medical school but is doubting themselves or doesn’t believe that they can do it - if you want it badly enough you will do it. And you will succeed. Once you start doing what you love the confidence and the happiness just falls into place.
- Jen
Friday, 3 June 2016
Hometown Family To Island Family
I recently got a question; "how do you handle being so far away from home, away from friends and family, on an island by yourself with only being able to study?"
I know I had this question before I came down to Dominica and it really festered in my mind, kept me up at night, and made me really worry. I was fortunate enough to know the other students in my MERP Canada class so that calmed some of my nerves but I was still nervous.
"All my friends are at home, I only know 10 people, my family is nowhere near, I can't go home on weekends like in undergrad" ... all these thoughts (and more) passed through my mind night after night as the big departure date was coming.
My mom came down with me and stayed for two weeks, and dad was able to come for the second week my mom was here - I couldn't have been happier to have them here as I settled in to a new country. But let me tell you - the night they were leaving I bawled my little eyes out. I was so upset. They were my last bit of home left on this island - and they were going BACK home. I was devastated - but with the pace of the material here you need to keep on track and trudge forward.
As the semester continued on and days were spent in a classroom or library time flew by and many new friendships were made. The best thing about being down in Dominica is that everybody is dealing with the same things you are. We have the same classes, same professors, same amount of work we need to do and most importantly we're all far away from home.
And you bond over that. You find your tribe, as I like to call my friends, because they are there day in and day out like a family. My island family has been with me through just about every type of emotion you can think of. When things get tough we band together and support one another.
I know for a fact there is no way I would have gotten through first semester on my own and I can thank each and every classmate for putting a smile on my face at one point in time last semester and this semester. My heart is so full with the love I have for my friends here.
I honestly didn't know how things would be down on the island.
Are the students going to be cut throat?
Are the upper semesters going to be intimidating?
The answer to both questions is no. I've never met a group of more supportive and encouraging group of students.
Do I still get homesick and wish I was with my family? Absolutely, there are good days and there are bad - but I've always got my second family here in Dominica and they mean the world to me.
Jen
I know I had this question before I came down to Dominica and it really festered in my mind, kept me up at night, and made me really worry. I was fortunate enough to know the other students in my MERP Canada class so that calmed some of my nerves but I was still nervous.
"All my friends are at home, I only know 10 people, my family is nowhere near, I can't go home on weekends like in undergrad" ... all these thoughts (and more) passed through my mind night after night as the big departure date was coming.
My mom came down with me and stayed for two weeks, and dad was able to come for the second week my mom was here - I couldn't have been happier to have them here as I settled in to a new country. But let me tell you - the night they were leaving I bawled my little eyes out. I was so upset. They were my last bit of home left on this island - and they were going BACK home. I was devastated - but with the pace of the material here you need to keep on track and trudge forward.
As the semester continued on and days were spent in a classroom or library time flew by and many new friendships were made. The best thing about being down in Dominica is that everybody is dealing with the same things you are. We have the same classes, same professors, same amount of work we need to do and most importantly we're all far away from home.
And you bond over that. You find your tribe, as I like to call my friends, because they are there day in and day out like a family. My island family has been with me through just about every type of emotion you can think of. When things get tough we band together and support one another.
I know for a fact there is no way I would have gotten through first semester on my own and I can thank each and every classmate for putting a smile on my face at one point in time last semester and this semester. My heart is so full with the love I have for my friends here.
I honestly didn't know how things would be down on the island.
Are the students going to be cut throat?
Are the upper semesters going to be intimidating?
The answer to both questions is no. I've never met a group of more supportive and encouraging group of students.
Do I still get homesick and wish I was with my family? Absolutely, there are good days and there are bad - but I've always got my second family here in Dominica and they mean the world to me.
Jen
Saturday, 21 November 2015
Medical School
Hey guys!
It's with great pleasure that I let you all know that I will be heading down to the Caribbean at the end of December to follow my dreams of becoming a doctor.
I've just gotten a little taste of it here and I'm sure it's going to be a lot different once I'm down on the island but I have to say I am more than excited to sink my teeth into the medical field and do what I've wanted to do for my whole life.
After going through all of this I feel like I have proven to myself that I can do it - and that if I put my mind to anything I will achieve it. I want all of you to remember that too.
I promise to keep you all posted along the way. Including my preparations for leaving while still here in Canada.
As I've said before it's going to be a wild ride - and I cannot wait for you all to tag along!
Jen
It's with great pleasure that I let you all know that I will be heading down to the Caribbean at the end of December to follow my dreams of becoming a doctor.
I've just gotten a little taste of it here and I'm sure it's going to be a lot different once I'm down on the island but I have to say I am more than excited to sink my teeth into the medical field and do what I've wanted to do for my whole life.
After going through all of this I feel like I have proven to myself that I can do it - and that if I put my mind to anything I will achieve it. I want all of you to remember that too.
I promise to keep you all posted along the way. Including my preparations for leaving while still here in Canada.
As I've said before it's going to be a wild ride - and I cannot wait for you all to tag along!
Jen
Friday, 3 July 2015
A Lesson in Humility
Hey!
After about a month on the job, AND ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT, I've found one reoccurring theme in my daily activities.
As many of you know I have my BSc in Kinesiology, so I came into this job thinking it would be relatively easy. Boy was I mistaken.
*My med school interview*
"Jennifer, what do you think the most important quality of a doctor is?"
"Humility. As a doctor I believe you will never be the best at anything. Sure you may have mastered your way of a treatment but there is always going to be someone out there who has a different way of approaching the situation - and their way could work better"
*End Scene*
Now, you may be wondering why I've decided to relive that nerve wracking moment in my life. I believe humility is not only the best quality you could have as a doctor but as a person as well.
I've done it, you've done it, we've all done it. You look at a job and you think to yourself, "That job looks so easy. I'd be able to do X, Y & Z". After doing this job I have decided to never do that again.
I always thought being a receptionist wasn't going to be too difficult of a job, take peoples payments, book them appointments... ect. After working for a month and getting to points where I was about to cry behind the front desk I've realized it's one hell of a difficult job.
As a receptionist you are the front line of the clinic. If people come in angry they take it out on you, if they call angry it's on you, if scheduling doesn't work out it's on you... basically if anything doesn't work out the way they want it to it's automatically your fault.
With saying that, I have met some very pleasant and amazing people at the clinic so obviously anywhere you go you're going to meet those bad apples. I'm just vocalizing the fact that I didn't realize and appreciate how much receptionists do and what they deal with.
All the best,
Jen
After about a month on the job, AND ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT, I've found one reoccurring theme in my daily activities.
As many of you know I have my BSc in Kinesiology, so I came into this job thinking it would be relatively easy. Boy was I mistaken.
*My med school interview*
"Jennifer, what do you think the most important quality of a doctor is?"
"Humility. As a doctor I believe you will never be the best at anything. Sure you may have mastered your way of a treatment but there is always going to be someone out there who has a different way of approaching the situation - and their way could work better"
*End Scene*
Now, you may be wondering why I've decided to relive that nerve wracking moment in my life. I believe humility is not only the best quality you could have as a doctor but as a person as well.
I've done it, you've done it, we've all done it. You look at a job and you think to yourself, "That job looks so easy. I'd be able to do X, Y & Z". After doing this job I have decided to never do that again.
I always thought being a receptionist wasn't going to be too difficult of a job, take peoples payments, book them appointments... ect. After working for a month and getting to points where I was about to cry behind the front desk I've realized it's one hell of a difficult job.
As a receptionist you are the front line of the clinic. If people come in angry they take it out on you, if they call angry it's on you, if scheduling doesn't work out it's on you... basically if anything doesn't work out the way they want it to it's automatically your fault.
With saying that, I have met some very pleasant and amazing people at the clinic so obviously anywhere you go you're going to meet those bad apples. I'm just vocalizing the fact that I didn't realize and appreciate how much receptionists do and what they deal with.
All the best,
Jen
Monday, 8 September 2014
Beginning of the End
Today is my last, first day of my undergrad. How time flies. I remember my first year in university, it feels like it was yesterday. I came from a small all girls private school so you can only imagine how different university was for me. It was the first time (like many other students) I was away from home. Anyone who knows me knows how big of a home body I am so this was a huge adjustment for me.
As wildly different university was for me I have to say these have been the best four years of my life. From the people I've met, to the experiences I've gone through they've all allowed me to grow into the woman I am today. I wouldn't change anything I've gone through these past four years because whether it was good or bad it was necessary for me to go through.
Although graduating and leaving behind such an amazing group of friends will be difficult I know, deep in my heart, that it's time to continue on my journey. I've done all the growing I can possibly grow in Waterloo and now I will be off to bigger and better things. I'm not sure what those things will be, but whatever they are I will take their challenges and rewards and use them to grow even more.
It's been a slice Waterloo, here's to a phenomenal final year!
As wildly different university was for me I have to say these have been the best four years of my life. From the people I've met, to the experiences I've gone through they've all allowed me to grow into the woman I am today. I wouldn't change anything I've gone through these past four years because whether it was good or bad it was necessary for me to go through.
Although graduating and leaving behind such an amazing group of friends will be difficult I know, deep in my heart, that it's time to continue on my journey. I've done all the growing I can possibly grow in Waterloo and now I will be off to bigger and better things. I'm not sure what those things will be, but whatever they are I will take their challenges and rewards and use them to grow even more.
It's been a slice Waterloo, here's to a phenomenal final year!
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
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