Creole Day

October 29th is Dominica's Independence Day.  They have festivals that sometimes last weeks in the capitol city of Rosseau, Dominica. Around campus we say many of the Ross employees dressed in their Creole attire.  One of them mentioned that people come from all over the Caribbean to enjoy the festivals.  It's like a Caribbean Mardi Gras.  They have traditional Creole food and various entertainers and musicians.

Unfortunately, my landlord said that Ross always schedules Mini's right after the Creole festival weekend, presumably to discouraged 1st semesters from going.  They probably don't want to be held liable, especially as we've gotten emails of students being a little too tipsy around campus.

Hopefully next year I will be in my "groove" as far as study strategies and knowing how much extra time, and I will be able to attend this festival.

Mini 3

We had our 3rd mini today.  It seemed to go much better than the first two.  For this mini I felt like I had a better grasp of the material, and I believe the study strategy I used was more effective.  I finished early, which I usually never do.  I hope that turns out to be a good thing, I should find out on Wednesday.  

I never imagined that I would have these struggles going into medical school, but I guess it's all just a part of the process.  I remember being told by advisors that I probably wouldn't get into medical school, and failing basic chemistry and biology courses.  Throughout my failures, God got me this far and had a plan for me all along.  The hard part is trusting Him and showing gratitude for the many things I am blessed to have even when life isn't going my way.  Eventually, God will make a way.  In times such as these I am reminded of Philippians 11-13:
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Reasons to become a doctor

I was listening to the medical school HQ podcast and they had a great segment on 5 reasons to go and 5 reasons to become a physician.
Reasons to go into:

• Leading people to better health
• Leadership
• Lifelong learning
• Diversity in employment opportunities
• Ability to perform surgery

Not to go into:

• Money
• Prestige
• Grey's Anatomy or House
• Family pressure
• Live a prestigious lifestyle (weekly golfing, yachts, etc.)

All of the 5 reasons that they mentioned as reasons to go into medicine where things that definitely attracted me to becoming a physician.  Surgery not as much as the others, as I do not plan on being a surgeon, however I won't know for sure until rotations, but even family practice physicians usually do minor surgical procedures.  The leading people to better health should be a given when considering what becoming a physician is ultimately all about.  Good health is something that's taken for granted until an issue arrises, and it would be a blessing to be able to help someone in that aspect every day.

I am also excited about the many different employment opportunities that I will have once I am a doctor.  The direct patient aspect is a given, however there are also opportunities in research (clinical and non-clinical), educating, developing health care laws, reporting, public health, pharmaceutical development, medical equipment improvement and development, and entrepreneurship.   I would like to take on the challenge of operating my own clinic one day.

Money is usually the most obvious reason not to go into medicine.  Yes, the premise of getting at least six figure income after graduation was one of the reasons I choose to be a physician (I wouldn't go to medical school if I got paid $50,000/year as a physician), however there are much easier and more efficient ways to accomplish that goal.  By the time I graduate, I will likely be about $200,000 dollars in debt, and after graduating will likely be payed close to or less than minimum wage during residency when considering the 80hr/wk workload.  Comparatively, someone who got a job paying 60,000 a year would've already made 240,000 (pre-taxes) by the time I graduate medical school.  If they are actively investing that money, that makes the gap even further.  Compound interest throughout the years would put them in position to retire much more comfortably and quicker than me.  However, the physicians I have spoke to with a genuine passion for medicine find joy in their work and aren't looking forward toward retirement, helping to improve someone's health becomes an extension of who they are, not merely a job.

Interruptions

 This is the latest I've stayed up in a while.  At this point in the semester, it sort of feels like I'm on autopilot.  The days seem to blend together, because of the constant studying.  At this point, I start to welcome unplanned interruptions.  Such as when a native by the river who has been in Dominica since Ross was first established.  He shared the story of seeing various students come in and out of the island.  Much of the story I couldn't understand because of his very strong accent, but his passion and exaggeration made me listen intently.  He then encouraged me and pounded his fist into mine.  Or even the beggar named Charles outside of the IGA some days; he usually has an elaborate story that changes every time I see him, then he proceeds to ask for rum or some food.  I feel guilty if I plan a prolonged break, which I need to do, but it is hard when I constantly feel like I don't know enough from the previous lecture.  Then I see wives or husbands of Ross students walking their children, and I ask myself how efficient I am being with my time.  Many times students with spouses or children seem to be progressing just fine through the material, even though they have a huge responsibility to tend to outside of school.  I guess time constraints force you to be more efficient.  And that has been the hardest adjustment this semester, figuring out how to study most efficiently and what methods work for me the best.

We had our second clinical skills activity on Wednesday.  Initially, I see these clinical skills activities as distractions, as I look at them as taking away from my study time, however afterwards I am glad that we have these activities scheduled.  I learned how to conduct a general musculoskeletal exam.  This is important especially after particularly traumatic accidents, because many times patients may not realize how many different areas are injured.  Also, sometimes lower back pain is not caused by the vertebra in the back, but possibly an injured nerve that isn't transmitting properly from one of the limbs.   These activities help keep on eyes on the big picture and establish our examining skills early on. 

On Monday we have our second Mini exam and on Wednesday we have our first Anatomy lab practical.  We had a mock practical this morning, and helped to realize that I still have a lot of work today.  However, I feel well prepared for the mini exam.

Tomorrow I will go on a run before it gets too hot, go to church, then go over the previous weeks material for the upcoming Mini.  I'll probably subconsciously be waiting the next interruption as well.