I am 1/4 a doctor! Three more years until I am graduated and putting all of my knowledge into action. It's an exciting thing to think about.
Well, here I am... Four weeks into MS2. I am knee-deep in lectures on antibiotics, parasites, and infections. Second-year of medical school is notably the hardest one of them all. Did you say 37 credit hours?1? There is so much to learn about human disease and how to treat it. But I can already tell that I am so much more engaged in the material this year.
The first year of medical school was all about how the body works. Biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and neurology cover the bases. The second-year is all about what goes wrong, how it goes wrong, and how to treat it. And you have got to know it all! The body is an amazing work of art, and history has brought some amazing breakthroughs in treatments and diagnoses.
As of right now, I am learning remotely. Most of the lectures are pre-recorded. However, we have live lectures and group sessions a good many times during the week. I appreciate that no professor is out of reach, which is absolutely wonderful! We can call, email, and in many cases text them with our questions. It's a new type of teaching environment for them too.
Before I mention ten of my favorite things that are getting through this year of Zoom-medical school, I want to express my appreciation for all of those teachers out there. My Aunt Sondra and Aunt Linda are some of the most compassionate teachers I know. I know how much they miss seeing their students and doing the job they were born to do. So thank you to ALL of the teachers out there who are making sacrifices for their health, happiness, and families to be there for their students. Your hearts are made of gold. I hope you know how appreciated you are!
So here we go... ten favorite things to kick off the fall 2020 semester. Many of them are helping me get through the long days of staying at home and missing the gym. Maybe they are worth a try for you too.
Powerbeats Pro: Wireless headphones are the way to go! I bought these instead of Airpods because they had a more athletic fit and a longer battery life. I use them for running, studying, and talking on the phone. They have some noise-canceling qualities and a nice microphone. I bought some refurbished ones from Best Buy for a cheaper price. These are such a good investment!
UrbanFit Exercise Ball: I Bought this ball on Amazon as an alternative desk chair. It is so good for posture and core stability. Sitting all day is good for no one! This brand has a variety of sizes and colors to match heights and workspaces. I love mine, and many of my classmates have bought them for their studies as well.
Brain on Fire: This book is absolutely amazing! I have been reading more than usual because I stare at my Mac screen for too many hours. Susannah Cahalan tells about her struggle and recovery from a rare encephalitis. Such a good read! There is also a Netflix movie based on the book.
Burrata Cheese: You gotta trust me on this one! This is the creamiest form of mozzarella out there! I put it on my stuffed peppers, mix it into my Panzanella salads, or just eat it with some olive oil, black pepper, and basil. YUM!
Body By Trainor: A classmate of mine recommended I try out these Instagram Live workouts. Meghan Trainor is awesome! She does new workouts 6 days a week and posts them to IGTV for free. They are pretty tough, with minimal equipment and minimal space needed!
Pixorize: So this one is for my aspiring and current medical student friends. Learning about disease and immunology through cartoons and silly pneumonics is the way to go! Each topic has a 3-15 minute video on a diagnosis, pathway, or cell type that is high yield for USMLE exams and the MCAT. It is crazy how much I can remember about IgG using a blue genie, timer, plastic wrap, and computer. Check it out if you want to know what I am talking about!
Trader Joe's Spiced Chai Tea: This black tea has such a spicy goodness to it! I like to use the biggest mug I can find, add a tablespoon of instant coffee, and some unsweetened vanilla almond milk. I top it off with a little bit of cinnamon. Such a fall drink. It pairs well with a breakfast pumpkin bread.
The Iron Horse Burger: Iron Horse Tavern is my favorite restaurant in Morgantown. Their house burger is the absolute best with BBQ sauce, a roasted poblano pepper, smoked gouda cheese, and bacon. Always sub the beer-battered fries for chips. Be sure to add a side of house ranch for those fries.
The Piano Guys: The perfect study music! For those of you who do not know, I took piano lessons for twelve years. I have such a love for live music and talent, especially piano. The Piano Guys cover some of the most popular songs to have you humming along without tempting a breakout karaoke session in your productive hours of the day. I have a playlist featuring their music on Apple Music.
"Down to Earth" with Zac Efron: This series follows Zac Efron through a variety of countries, to explore a variety of cultures and natural wonders of the world. He talks about the science of plate tectonics, the basis of geothermal energy, and even the process of documenting a miracle in Lourdes France. If you are a health nerd like me, you might like this documentary.
So there you have it! Ten of my favorite things that are helping me get through my second year of medical school. I hope maybe some of them can become your favorite things too.
I am trying my best to continue blogging through this next year, but studying will be consuming my life for sure! I need to work hard to succeed and score well on my exams now through June. Med school is more like a marathon than a sprint. Fingers crossed that I will get to have a white coat ceremony in March.
Crazy times we are living in. Remember to count your blessings. God is good, all the time! Stay well and safe everyone.
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