MIA while I tackle with medical school

Unfortunately, my blog updates have slipped. So I just wanted to post something to at least show some signs of activity. I still have an article to publish concerning some modified .htaccess code for GZipping static and dynamic web pages, but will not be able to do anything for a while now as schoolwork has to take priority.

I should have posted this earlier, but I am now in medical school pursuing an MBBS. Hopefully, by 2014, I should be graduating from the program and transitioning into specialization, but that is a long time off. Right now I am heavily focused on getting through this first semester of year 1 because I hear it is the toughest stage. Therefore, most of my time is spent reading medical textbooks and studying. I am not looking forward to having to resit any exams, so I have to put the majority of my focus on my work. That means that I may be making fewer regular posts here. However, that is no sign that my blog is going anywhere. If I manage my time well, keeping this blog active should not be a problem.

Anyway, it’s back to the books. Exams are quickly approaching. I never doubted that medical school was difficult, but I now have a new appreciation for the tremendous amount of work good doctors have to put in to become successful healthcare practitioners.

The end of another school year

Another year of university has finally ended… well, I shouldn’t say “ended” because I still have to write my final exams. However, classes are finished and all that is left to do now is to study and submit a few assignments.

My exams are a bit spread out so I have a reasonable amount of time to study and relax. Believe it or not, it is actually around exam time that I can actually get some relaxation; at other times in the semester I am normally swamped with assignments and presentations. Thankfully, all of that has stopped for a while.

This summer I plan to go back home instead of taking summer courses. I have already went through the process of getting a degree audit so I know where I stand and which courses I need to take in my final undergraduate year. My final exam is on April 18th, but I will leave campus until the following week when I travel to Ohio and fly out from Pittsburgh destined for The Bahamas. I am very excited about returning home so that I can finally get a break; of course, this will be a “university work” break. I plan on doing some volunteer and/or part-time work while simultaneously studying for the MCAT, which I will write upon returning to the US in August.

Well, I have to get back to studying. I wish I could go outside and take some photos since it is such a sunny and cool spring day. I recently started reading some tutorials optimizing digital camera settings to take absolutely stunning photos. I might post some of those that I have taken. Until next time…

Spring break and housekeeping

I’m finally on spring break, or as my university would call it, “Reading Break”, because it is really meant for students to catch up on their studies. Go figure! Anyway, I do not think I have a choice! There will be no classes for a whole week, but I still have to go to the library, conduct lab experiments, complete assignments and study for “after-break” exams. As it is Friday afternoon, I have no intention of starting anything – after this tiring week I have reason to relax.

As one of my passtime chores, I have started importing some old blog posts, which is made pretty easy thanks to WordPress’ import feature. Still have to edit many of them as images do not show up and nothing is tagged. This may take a while to get organized, but that is the way I like it. There is nothing worse than inconsistency! Yuck!

Anyway, if you are also on your spring break, then have fun… and do something productive if you can!

It came from the sky!

When I got up today and looked out through my window, I was greeted by a sight that I was not expecting for a while. Rooftops and vegetation were covered in light snow – just enough for a white blanket! The night before I did notice very mild precipitation, but I was expecting everything to be melted by morning. The temperature must have dropped a few degrees below zero!

That did not really stop me or anyone else, although it required a few extra minutes of getting properly dressed so that no extremities were left exposed for freezing! One lesson I must remember, however: when walking on grass with a surface layer of ice, take care not to make long strides especially when transitioning to an unfrozen surface! You will definitely slide and probably injure yourself. The latter did not happen to me, but I did get a “pre-winter” reminder when my threaded and rubberized boots gave way and, for about 3 seconds, my heart skipped several beats!

Interestingly, much of the snow has already melted already. However, looking at the skies, I am not sure there will be sunshine for a while. The drab grey overcasts can be very depressing, but I guess that comes with the season.

I hope to get some good R&R over the weekend and definitely be productive in assignment completion. I have come to expect a multitude of assignments every week. Will it ever end? I do not think it will; it is just a part of the life of a student…

Approaching insanity…

Hmmmm… Is it possible to diagnose one’s self with insanity? Do insane people know that they are insane? I’m not sure, but if they don’t then I’ll be the first one to confess!

This is supposed to be the mid-term break here at university. It runs for 1 week and during this time students usually catch up on studying and completing assignments before classes resume for the next half of the semester. It’s half-time before a spiraling homestretch toward Christmas exams. However, I believe I got more than my share of what I’m supposed to be doing this mid-term break. I have to write 3 Biology essays for different courses, 2 full lab reports and 1 brief communication, then to top that off I have a major test to study for! And all of this is due next week! I haven’t even started any substantial work on some of my essays and it is already Thursday! I guess you are asking, “You could be doing something better than updating your blog, idiot!”. Well, I know that, but that is the only thing I do other than eat, sleep and work. There is really no time to do anything else.

I have set a few goals on what I want to complete and at what time, but that doesn’t seem to be working out because my pace always slows down. However, I find that I am able to do much more work when in an environment where that is all you can do: the library! Yes, after a histology staining lab this afternoon, I will head over to the library and see if I can get more stuff done. I can almost feel that I won’t be able to meet any of the deadlines for completion of these assignments, but I guess I just have to reorganize my time and focus.

I just can’t wait until I’m finished with school altogether! Here’s looking forward to formal academic retirement!

Mid-term break approaches

The mid-term break is only 2 days away! Can you believe it? Well, it is not really a “break” as such, but is called a “reading week”, and believe me, that’s what I’ll be doing!

Yesterday evening I had my last test for the week so I was feeling pretty darn good when it was finished, because the rest of the week only consists of attending classes and a few labs – no stress! However, this may probably be the only break I will have because a lot of assignments are due after the mid-term break and tests tend to follow close behind. I already have to write a few Biology essays, formal lab reports and resume my bug collecting (which I hope to do soon seeing that the cool weather is here).

I wish I could just go to a movie on Friday evening, but in this small town the cinema isn’t open! Can you believe that? I thought Friday would have been the best day for business. Anyway, I’ll find something else to do; maybe something more constructive but at the same time relaxing. I really need a good long nap! I haven’t had one of those in a long time. It’s strange how a simple thing as rest becomes something I actually look forward to!

Since many other students will be going home for the mid-term break the dorms will be almost empty, which is not a bad thing as the quiet environment is conducive to studying, but at the same time it can be depressing. I’ll see how it goes…

My brain is about to explode!

This weekend is supposed to be Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada when students travel home to be with their families and spend time enjoying the Thanksgiving dinner. Well, unfortunately for me, there won’t be any travelling as I am swamped with having to study for tests, doing required reading and completing assignments.

As soon as classes resume on Tuesday I will be greeted by a Biochemistry test that probably one of the most intimidating tests I have ever had to prepare for! It’s loaded with detailed chemical reactions from anaerobic glycolysis, the citric acid cycle… I can’t even remember what else, but there’s more! I only started studying on Friday last and it’s already Sunday – I haven’t even reached half way. Anyway, I hope to cram as much as I can and do my best when the time comes.

Sleeping is probably the only means by which I can escape having to worry about schoolwork. At least there I can imagine a life without all this stress! Don’t get me wrong; stress can be good especially if it makes you sharper in the academic setting. But my biggest stress is the worry that I am not absorbing the material very well. I wish there was a way you could just listen to recorded lecture notes while you sleep and learn at the same time; maybe the subconscious could learn when at rest and be able to transfer to the conscious when awake.

That’s probably wishful thinking! I better get back to studying. Happy thanksgiving to all!