They never said it would be easy....

Well they never said it would be easy and it is definitely not easy.

My first day was all day lectures of Biochemistry and Histology and I thought this isn't terrible yet.

My second day was more biochemistry and more histology and I was starting to feel the overwhelming creeping behind me and tapping on my shoulder

My third day I was calling home crying saying I can't do this

My fourth day I cried a little more, but starting to realize ever other girl in my class had also cried the night before and some even on the second day which made me feel a little bit better

By Friday (my fifth day) I realized my whole class felt the same way I did so I began to realize it we are all in this together, we will all suffer together and we will ALL get through it together.

On my seventh day I took my first test in Biochemistry and in Histology and I am pleased to say I did fine in both and I couldn't be more thankful to start out this crazy ride on a good note.

This past wednesday I met my cadaver for the first time. My cadaver is a female who has graciously donated herself so I along with my peers could have a up close and person experience with the human body-muscles, organs, and all. It does get a little personal when you see that some of the cadavers have tatooes and some of the women still have thier toe nails painted but then you rememeber they wanted thier bodies to have a purpose after death and you're grateful to have the "gross anatomy" (what they like to call the holy grail of medical school) experience.

I am highly sensitive to the fomalin (formaldehyde) used to preserve the bodies. My eyes water, my nose burns, and my throat burns from the fumes. I continually am turning my head away from the body to get air. A few of my classmates got a little weezy the first dissection where we removed the skin from the body. I seemed to be able to keep in together regarding the visuals, its the fumes that seem to bother me more than anything.

I am glad to say I have survived 2 full weeks, it feels like I've been doing this for two month we've covered so much material. On the same note it feel like I've known my classmates for much longer than 2 weeks also, and we're definitely becoming a tight knit group.

Salt and Light,

Kelly

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Medical School Class of 2015 Day #2

Today was better than yesterday :) NO falling down the stairs!

So some very important individuals talked to us today about Hippa, professionalism, patient-minded behavior, student health policies, parking (oh boy is this a problem-UMMC parks 2.4 million cars every year....yikes!), and many other topics....like "this will be the hardest thing you will ever do" and "please done take any drugs that aren't yours" and "when we play the dental students in intramurals....we MUST win" We were reminded on SEVERAL occasions that Marijuana is Illegal, ha you would think this would be common sense to medical student lol.

Oh another note I had a frustrating tooth ache. It has been bothering me for a few days and I had been calling all the dentists in the area to see if anyone would be willing to look at it under such short notice.....no one was willing unfortunately. Dr. Clark (our dean of students who has a fantasitc dry wit and a dear love for medical students) has been leading us through orientation for the past couple days. He has been a pleasure to get to know and I can already tell I am going to like him alot. Every student that got up to the podium today said that Dr. Clark would become one of favorite people on campus and that he had a solution to any problem and he was the man to get things done. Well I thought to myself "I wonder if he can work magic and get me a dentist appointment before classes start next monday." I knew it would be hard doing this because no dentist that I had tried to see could see me before the end of August. But I thought it wouldn't hurt to try. I told Dr. Clark my story of how my tooth had started hurting for a couple days and I was out of luck trying to find a dentist, this conversation took place at 3:00. With one phone call, I had me an appointment for 4:15. Amazing!

On a positive note, it appears my tooth is fine, my molar gums are a little sore from over flossing them :)


Salt and Light,

Kelly

FYI: If you have a mobile device, this page is available for mobile viewing also. Thanks for reading.

University of Mississippi Class of 2015 Day 1

Day 1 = complete!!

Orientation Day 1 was probably what you would expect from an orientation....lots of talking by deans, program directors, ect. They mostly just wanted us to know that we were about to start the hardest thing we were ever going to do but that lots of people had gone before us and we would be able to do it too.

On a funny note....as I was coming down the inside stairs of my apartment on my way out the door I slipped and fell down the stairs spilling my diet coke EVERYWHERE and banging my arm on the stair rails! Oh my dear goodness, I was fine except for spilling my drink absolutely everywhere but FORTUNATELY I somehow only got coke on my pants (which were dark dress pants) and so I just decided I was going to roll in the outfit I had on. I knew the coke would dry since it almost 100 degrees outside. Ha I was just thinking to myself "what I fantastic way to start my first day of school.....awesome". It was good though, I got a good laugh at myself.

Tomorrow is another oreintation day and we are going to learn computer policy, library conduct, badge access, locker assignments, VA hospital tour, ect! Thanks for reading! Best wishes to each of you as your begin a new season of school, work, parenting, grand parenting, ect.

The verse I read this morning before falling down the stairs: "but one thing I do...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead I press on the win the prize for which Christ has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ"

3 days left!

I am now three days from starting medical school! EEEEK! Some have asked if I am nervous....heck yea! I definitely have a healthy sense of fear about the whole thing but I also have a confidence because the Lord has equipped with the ability to carry out his purpose for me. Next week goes as follows: Monday: Last day of freedom; Tuesday: Orientation (they haven't disclosed what all 'Orientation' means...); Wednesday: More Orientation (still not sure what we are doing...) Thursday: Orientation Day 3; Thursday Night: WHITE COAT CEREMONY. White coat Ceremony is a fun event where all the M1's (M1 refers to Medical Students in thier first year) recieve a short white coat with a patch on it that distinguishes us as M1's. When medical students finish thier 4th year of medical school and graduate they recieve a long white coat with the your name, MD on it. Friday: Family Day. Family day is where 3 members of your family can come and take a campus tour and they have some sessions with former students and family members of former students to basically tell the family that we aren't going to be super available for the next couple of years.

I'm looking forward to orientation week because I'm ready to meet some new friends and get this crazy thing going. I have had a great and relaxing summer and now I'm ready to do this thing.....any prayers sent my way are appreciated :)



Rejoice in Hope, be patient in Tribulation, be constant in Prayer Romans 12:12