Day 3159: Happy 2015!

Happy new year everyone!

Danny and I spent the final night of 2014 in North Carolina, where I was a bridesmaid for my beautiful friend Mel. She and I met way back when in 2008 when I first began this journey towards becoming a doctor. She and I have stayed friends since, despite never living in the same state again, and I was thrilled to be a part of her special day.

Day 2149: Happy 2013!

...three days in to it. Ha, how very Jessica of me to be late.

I have returned to school and it is in full swing. It's only pathology this block (and a new course that starts next week called Health Policy, which actually sounds interesting since it has to do with the Affordable Care Act and other related policies) so I am trying to get my red blood cell disorders, white blood cell disorders, etc etc in order.

Home was...something. Most (if not all) of you know the issues that arose whilst I was home. Well, to update you, things got better and then they took a turn for the worst. It's a lot of emotional turmoil that really just pisses me off, so I think I've made some headway as to how I want to deal with it all.

I returned to Milwaukee to get sick after my first night back. Fun, but not at all. After two days of icky, achy-ness (through the new year no less), I feel better. I tackled a little school yesterday and am back at it today. Sigh. Lots of learning, already.

Anyway, here are pictures from my trip home.

M and I went to Christmas in the Park!

Had some major best friend time. Amazing.

Did an ungodly amount of bikram yoga. Hotness/Hot mess.

A rainy Christmas in San Francisco.

Found old photos of me as Annie Oakley. YES.

Went to the happiest place on earth aka Disneyland.

My sister and I hanging out in CarsLand.

Day 1324: Happy 2012!

Hello hello! I hope the end of 2011 treated you well and that 2012 began with a bang! Or, maybe not something so loud, but in whatever way that was fun and bang-worthy for you. Oh, speaking of "bang," I got bangs!

Anyway, I was all ready to post some reflective things before 2012 came into play but I was caught up in traveling back to Milwaukee on the 30th that I basically did a whole lot of nothing when I got back. Well, that's not true. I went to a party, two in fact! One at a classmate's house and another at Bruce's cousin's house. All were perfectly fine, nothing too exciting, which suits me just fine. Then I cleaned my room and apartment and prepared myself for the frigid weather (it was 19-degrees as a high on Monday!).

Classes began on Tuesday and it has been go-go ever since. I don't have my last "go" (as in go-go-go) because it's been a bit slow, picking it back up, but let me tell you, medical school waits for no one! I am trying something new and making flashcards to help me study for my classes this semester. I have the lovely cell tissue biology, physiology (a class I really enjoyed in post-bacc), medical interviewing, psychiatry (very basic stuff), and medical neuroscience (brains!) this semester.

I figured out some new learning strategies in hopes that I will have figured out medical school by the end of this semester block soon. I hope to write some reflective, emotional (boring!) things in the coming days so that it's not just the same ol' "school is hard" stuff. That gets so boring to write and to read I imagine.

On the agenda, a formalish ball with my classmates on Saturday -- dressing up! An optometrist appointment -- vision! A business-casual-esque meeting with academic deans next week -- semi-dressing up and schmoozing! Oh, and studying. Always studying.

Day 592: New year, new thinking

Hello all! I hope you all had a lovely Chrismukkahkwanzaa. Goodbye 2009, hello 2010!

This year, I am getting into medical school. No ifs, ands or buts about it. I can't promise no negativity and doubt, but I can promise a better attitude. It's very easy for me to fall into a "poor me" state rather than bolster myself and recognize the amazingness that is me. That's why I have all of you :) So, thanks for being such a wonderful support system. I take you all for granted way too much.

Anyway, in the world of academics, my online statistics course starts on Monday. I've never taken an online course before and my biggest concern is that I'll fall behind and not do the work. However, with that kind of thinking, it seems inevitable that I won't fall behind because I'm so worried about falling behind -- does that make sense? Hopefully it'll be easy enough to learn and keep up with. This class is on the quarter system, so I will finish it up in 10 weeks.

I am also, as previously mentioned, taking a Biochemistry course this semester as well. This Biochem course is 15 weeks long (ergo, on the semester system) and only once a week. I need to get around to actually paying for it but I'm geekily excited about it. I like the idea of actually thinking and using my brain again.

With my online stats class and evening Biochem class, I will be interning daily Monday through Thursday. I'm hoping this will give me more to do with the actual research. If it doesn't, I'm going to start volunteering or something. Or else I'll be sitting around and doing my homework at the lab, which is fine too I suppose. I just want to feel useful this year.