Celebration of Academic Excellence

Sak Pase!

A couple of friends from back home took some shots of the live recording of the Dean's list celebration from their laptops so I wanted to share. Let me enjoy this cuz I might not make it anymore haha #MedMicroIsABeast. Here ya go....

TTYL!

Either I'm an Egare or I Was Just Burnt Out

Sak Pase!!

Creole word of this post: "Egare" - Haitians use this word to call someone/oneself an "idiot" or "dumb."

Okay so it's been a while and I have no excuse, none whatsoever.

So far, third semester has honestly been a humbling experience for me. In my last post I explained a few things, including the classes I'm taking this semester, Dean's list, tutoring and Honoring courses. Last semester went great for me, so I got this wonderful idea you know...keep doing and being great. But this semester, third semester, is legit coming for my life. Kinda reminds me of my first semester struggles. As a reminder, I'm taking Pathology I, Medical Microbiology, Physiology II and ICM (intro to clinical medicine) III. During my first semester at AUC, ICM started around the middle of the semester. During my second semester, ICM started towards the end of the semester. This semester, ICM started right in the beginning. For this semester, we had physical exam checkoffs (heart exam, lung exam, abdomen exam, and peripheral vascular exam). We also had interview checkoffs and OSCEs. What the heck are OSCEs? I don't even know, let me google it....

"Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCEs) is a form of performance-based testing used to measure candidates’ clinical competence.  During an OSCE, candidates are observed and evaluated as they go through a series of stations in which they interview, examine and treat standardized patients (SP) who present with some type of medical problem." I got this from the "oscehome.com" website. Take a look if you're intrigued.

Basically, we had 4 timed stations. One station was vital signs, one was a physical exam station, one was a focused interview station and the last one was heart exam/murmurs. I get nervous about the smallest things and let's just say I was a nervous wreck. I came in the first station sweating bullets and stuttering while talking to the standardized patient. I was a little off on the Blood pressure reading. During the heart exam, I turned the stethoscope to the bell side but forgot to rotate the head until I heard it click. In the focused exam station, I almost ran out of time, smh. Mind you, the OSCEs were literally the day after midterms so either I'm an egare or I was just burnt out

The interview check-offs and physical exam check-offs were the week before exams. Interview check-offs went great but physical exam check-offs was a freak show. I mean YOUR GIRL MESSED UP BAD. What's my excuse? Well, i have trouble feeling the ribs on the human body and counting them to find the correct intercostal spaces to listen to the heart sounds. When I think I'm on the 2nd intercostal space, I'm on the 3rd. My preceptor was not happy with me whatsoever. You have to make under a certain amount of mistakes I think to pass the check-offs and boy I was close. I passed it but barely. I cried...in the bathroom...like legit tears...red eyes, nose dripping, hiccups, boohoo crying. I cried not because my preceptor went innnnnn on me but mostly because I did so badly. Reason #144 why I always say med school isn't for me. But if the next person can do it, why can't I? I always have to remind myself that it's okay to mess up sometimes. As long as I learn from my mistakes. Plus I need to woman up and stop it with the tears. I won't make it through rotations and residency if I'm that sensitive. Shoot, ask me how I made it this far.

Now let's talk about my first midterms. I'm not sure if it was because of ICM, but I felt like I barely had time to study.  I aced Path, did okay with Phys and BARELY passed Med Micro. FREAKING MED MICRO.... I mean, I studied my ass for that exam. Like I lived and breathed Med micro. I went to my professors office hours for an exam review and I was sooo angry. Most of the questions on there I was able to answer right away. So please tell me why I couldn't do the same during the exam? 😐

I need to get it together cuz this? This ain't it.

On a good note, the Celebration of Academic excellence is tomorrow and your girl will be in attendance because I made Dean's list last semester. I pray that my name can remain on the list for the next two semesters but the way med micro is coming for my life, we'll see! Wish me luck!

I should really re-read this post to check for mistakes but the laziness is real. So judge me not. Read and if you see a mistake, read my blog description at the top of this page haha.

TTYL!