Long Haul

For those of us who live in or who have traveled through the western United States, we have probably seen a long stretch of highway in the middle of the desert. It is so hot that you can see a mirage of a vast lake covering the road ahead. The closer we get however we realize that lake has disappeared only to reappear further up the road. When we reach that lake, again it disappears and reappears further up the road. On and on the cycle goes and we just never seem to get there. This past term has been similar to these mirages. I knew it would be a long hot drive through the desert of life but it seemed whenever I got to that nice cool lake, it disappeared only to reappear further down the road. 3rd term and 4th term are stacked together here. When I finished 3rd term finals on a Friday I was shocked to learn I was supposed to start a new term the next Monday. Just kidding I knew I had to start 4th term right away but you get my point. Just when midterms were over a new course started up. When we finished Microbiology for good they threw nutrition at us. When all of my friends got to go home for summer break, I had to stay another 6 weeks. On and on we went and we just never seemed to get there. But, just like driving down that hot highway we eventually reach our destination and the nice cool lake is no longer needed. I am very grateful for the experience of the dreaded 4th term. I learned a lot about medicine, myself, and just how much I really can endure and perform under pressure. I am grateful Kuulei is such a good wife and put up with me and my chronic absence in getting this thing done. I am glad I get a break now.

CSI

Kuulei and I watch CSI from time to time. For me it is mostly because there is nothing else on but at the same time it is cool how they show stuff happening on the inside of a body. This week we had a forensic pathologist teach us a few lectures in class. I knew there would be some graphic images but boy were they graphic! It was disturbing to see the dark side of humanity. I just can't believe humans are capable of doing those sort of things to others. We were watching all of these pictures when in the back of the room we heard a large "THUD!". I looked over and there were some students standing peering over the aisle because someone had fainted. The professor stopped the lecture and helped get the student over to the clinic next door for help. Apparently the student was still unconcious when they brought him to the clinic. The professor said, "boy that is the first time that has happened here at SGU." I took that as there had been other schools where people have fainted! Anyway, it was a good experience because even if I had wanted to be a forensic pathologist I for sure don't want to be one now.

Boot Camp

Yesterday some of my classmates and I went to our clinical skills lab to have our practical quiz. We practice our clinical skills on each other while a tutor who is an M.D. watches what we do and asks us questions. Most tutors have been really nice and have been good to teach us. They will hold us to it if we make a mistake but they do it in a respectful manner. The tutor we had the other day came in obviously agitated. He was huffing and puffing as if he had just been in a fight with his wife. He said to us while wiping his eyes, "I am really tired today, I don't want to be here so we will make this snappy." Then he asked us to write on a piece of paper our name and what system we were to examine. One of my classmates was writing hers in and he said, "hurry up you should be done by now." Each of us took our turns and he was rude to every one of us. He even said to one of my classmates the day before, "If you get this question wrong I am going to be pissed off!" I was dumbfounded. Needless to say it was a very awkward atmosphere and I was very nervous when it came my turn. I just tried to stay calm and do the best that I could. I actually was assigned something I knew very well so it wasn't a problem. When he hounded me with questions I was a step ahead of him yet nervousness overcame me and I misnamed one of the nervous plexus. He said, "Have you ever heard of brachial plexus? I replied, "Oh yeah it;s not cervical plexus it's brachial plexus." Hehe. I giggled inside just like that too. Anyway, long story short despite how mean the guy was I did really well and proved that I knew what I was talking about. I know that it is going to be rough in clinical rotations, internships, and residency. I will probably have doctors barking at me all day. I think that if you stay calm, don't take it personally, and do your best you can come out on top overall. It has been a long semester and I am ready to go home, but I am glad for all the lessons I have learned. I learn more about myself each day.