Progress Report II

 

So last time I checked  in I let you guys know that I was struggling my way through the Examkrackers Chemistry book. Well I am glad to report that I am FINISHED!!! Finally. So I am moving on to the physic book but I am still practicing chemistry questions using the MCAT Mastery App.

Also classes have begun and I am currently enrolled in Ochem II Lecture and Ochem I Lab and Ochem II lab. Talk about Organic Chemistry Overload!! I can only hope that it will further solidify everything for me on the subject of Chemistry.

Oh how I dislike Ochem so much!! It was a rough start (I completely failed bmy first quiz) But after  some reevaluation and putting in a lot of study hours in and practice, practice practice I have got A’s on all exams so far and A’s and B’s on quizzes.

With that said just know its ok if you struggle at something. You just know that is your weak point and you are going to have to put a lot of effort into it compared to those subjects that you are good at. I know this semester is going to be a rough one but I am prepared to put it the hard work as should you.

As for my personal statement it is still most definitely a work in progress.

I definitely did not think that the personal statement would be so difficult to write but I honestly think its the hardest part. You are selling yourself and I have never really been good at that because I have never seen myself as being better then anybody else so it’s hard for me to pinpoint what makes me unique and exceptional. I may have to employ help on this as everybody seems to see something in me that I fail to see in myself.

 

Considering the Dark Side of Medicine

Losing a love one is always heartbreaking and tough for many people. I lost my grandmother a few weeks ago and I have been dealing with denial and a feeling of sadness. This is the same grandmother I helped care for while in High School and it was because of her I decided to complete high school online so I could be there for her. Needless to say I am devastated.

Even through my hurt I have felt that I had to be the strong one in my family. I could not show that I wanted to cry and instead I had to comfort them. I kept thinking to myself is it going to be this hard when I become a doctor and have to give the bad news? If I get attached to a patient am I going to struggle to keep my emotions together?

Well I have seen some patients die while working at Emory University and it didn’t get to me as much but I think that is because mainly I didn’t know them well. But I did end up getting attached to many of the “regular” patients in the hospital and did end up losing one of those and felt some sadness but nothing that I could not hold back my tears.

I have seen medical students or residents leave a room after trying to resuscitate a patient with tears in their eyes. So I know it’s not easy to lose a patient. I think in a way you have to distance yourself from the patient and just keep reminding yourself this is just a part of life.

If you are pursing medicine I think it is highly important to consider the dark sides of medicine and not always focus on the idealized vision of what becoming a physician is. The dark side is that you won’t always be able to save a patient, there are politics just like any other job, and not all your patients will like or look up to you. In fact some patients are just plain disrespectful to those who are trying to help them get better. I’ve seen it time and again working at Emory. So weigh out the dark and the bright side of becoming a physician and really decide if this is for you. You don’t want to commit to all that education just to realize at the end this is not for you. To become a physician is a large commitment not only for yourself but also to your loved ones as well. You are dedicating yourself to medicine and sometimes that means sacrificing family time and other important things to you. So just be sure it is worth it to you.