My First "A" in Med School

Sak Pase!!

It's been a while y'all. I have been so caught up with catching up with med school that it's been so hard to actually sit down and write a post. Do forgive me! My personal life has been HECTIC, that's actually an understatement. Hectic doesn't necessarily equal bad. A lot of great things have happened in this past month and I don't think my basic mind is able to process it all.

I'm back though! This semester isn't as eventful as last semester and I'm very okay with that. I have more time to study and more time to lallygag...


I'm kidding! I've been very productive this semester. Last time I posted, I mentioned that I was trying to figure out a study schedule for the new semester and I think I've figured it out! Aside from this week, I have been going to class every morning until 11:20am. I eat lunch and "socialize" until 12:30 ish then I stay on campus until 10:15pm-10:20pm every night and get home by about 10:25-10:30pm.  Don't worry, the school has a shuttle system where they take you home or anywhere near the campus from 6:15pm until 3 am. But basically I have no life because I spend literally my whole day on campus. During that time spent on campus, I also go to tutoring for my classes and attend other events on campus. I am the Treasurer for the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) and sometimes (like yesterday) we have events on campus that I have to be in attendance for.

Let's talk about MIDTERMS!! Our first Midterms were last week. I have to say, I'm so so so so happy that I am no longer a first semester student because I had so much time to study, IN DEPTH, for my exams. No joke, last semester was really difficult for me because I felt like there was no time.  I was always rushing to ICM (intro to clinical medicine I) or always rushing to anatomy lab. I had so much on my plate that I never really fully learned the material in depth for my exams. I was always learning the minimum I thought I needed to just pass. To my current first semester students and incoming students reading this, JUST GET THROUGH first semester!  The material doesn't get easier but you'll have more time in your day to dedicate to studying. Just make it through first semester y'all! You'll become a med skewl pro lol.

Anyway, I got my first "A" in medical school in Immunology. For Physiology, I was 0.53 points away from an "A" 😒. For MCB II (Molecular and cell bio), welllll....let's just say that I PASSED and was way above average for that one. The average for the whole class was about 62 percent. Although I am grateful for scoring above average, I studied my booty off for that exam and I thought I would have done much better than I did. So, because I need closure, I have scheduled to go to my professor's office hours to try to figure out where the heck I went wrong. First time going to  professor's office hours so pray for your girl. I get nervous, and when I get nervous I forget ALLLL of my English and end up looking like an idiot.

With that said, I am super grateful that my first set of midterms went great. I pray that I can continue getting A's so I can at least honor a course before I leave this island. Remember to honor a course, you need an 89.5 or something so fingers and toes crossed.

Right now, I only have Physio I, Immuno and MCB II to worry about but starting October 29th, they'll add Biostatistics to the load and starting November 5th, they'll add ICM II. So the end of 2nd semester is where the struggle really starts for us because they're adding two new courses on top of us having to study for our NBME Finals. Can't wait!

Last but not least, BMSA is having a suturing workshop this Saturday. I'm excited because we will be suturing on the cadavers in the anatomy lab! I can't wait!

That's all folks.

TTYL!

Birthdayyy and second semester

Sak Pase!

Let me start by saying that I am a quarter of a century old today and all I'll be doing is med school. Yep, I'll be med schooling. Bite me! I would rather be in West Palm Beach celebrating with friends and family but who am I to complain? I am on a beautiful Island working towards my dream and I'm TWENTY-FIVE years old. What more can I ask for? The text, the calls, the hugs and cyber-hugs, and can't forget the ice cream I've received all have honestly warmed my heart, and the day isn't even over yet.

Now let's talk about comparison. During the weeks leading up to my birthday, I started to concern myself over the fact that I still do not have my life together yet. I see all the people on FB and IG buying homes, having children, and getting married and I'm over here still in school with many many more years to go before I have a career. Am I not adequate compared to them? Is my life not good enough? If anyone knows me, they know that I CAN'T WAIT to have children and I honestly do not see that happening in the near future. The more I think about it, the more I'm beginning to see it in another perspective. Everyone has their own timeline, EVERY BODY. It's stupid to compare yourselves to others to be honest, yes I'm stupid. God created each of us with unique personalities and gifts and with unique paths and destinies for our lives. If we are each unique then yes it is not wise to compare myself to another and to wish that I was more like them. Comparison is the thief of joy. You will be MISERABLE if you keep comparing yourself because you will never think you are enough. It's none of your business what another is doing. Mind your own, stay on top of your own and stay out of what's not your own. Do you! When you find yourself comparing yourself to another just thank God that he has made you the way you are. He knew what he was doing after all.

Let's talk about med skewl! I'm a second semester student! I came back to the Island on Monday Sept, 3rd and classes started yesterday. So far so good. I have Molecular and Cell Biology from 8a-9:20a. Physiology I from 9:30a-10:20a. And Immunology from 10:30a-11:20a. We also have Biostatistics and Intro to Clinical Medicine but those classes are not until the end of the semester, the last month I think. What's even better about this semester is NO ANATOMY LAB. Jizos! Y'all don't understand my excitement. After our morning classes last semester, we had to go to anatomy lab from 2p-4pm. Now for this semester, after 11:20a, we are done, done done for the day. I have so much time to study now y'all, I just hope I actually use that time to study.

I'm trying to figure out a new study schedule. Since I don't live on campus anymore, I'm trying to figure out if I should go home after my classes at 11:20a, nap, then come back to campus to study or if should stay on campus to study then go home later in the day. I mean my new apartment is only 8 minutes walk away but this is St Maarten and IT'S HAWWWWT! That walk isn't fun when you're dripping in sweat. Decisions, decisions. I will share my schedule once I figure it out. For now, I'm just winging it.

Well, that's all for now folks.

TTYL! 💜

Far From Perfect

Sak Pase!

It's been a while. Your girl had way too much on her plate these past few weeks. The boy on the floor in the meme below was definitely me.



My first two finals were Histology and Embryology and they were last Friday. I studied my little tooshie off for these finals. But literally like 10 minutes before my exam I received some bad news from my brother about my mom in Haiti. That definitely messed things up for me big time. I failed Histology and barely passed Embryology. That whole weekend I was a big ball of emotions, tears, anxiety and panic. I won't go into great detail but this past Tuesday was a big day for me and my family. That day could have gone realllllly bad. So in addition to that stress, I also had my last two exams, Molecular and Cell Bio I and Anatomy that day. I didn't' do so hot on those exams either. By the glory of God everything worked out for your girl though. Things worked out for my fam and I passed all of my classes, but unfortunately not enough to honor them. You need a 89.5 to honor a course I think. I have 4 more semesters left on the Island, I better honor a couple of them while I'm here.

 I finished my first semester of medical school y'all and I'm now a second semester student!!! The reason why I started this blog is to help others like I was helped by other blogs I've read before coming here. I write what I write not only as a guide but also to show y'all WHAT NOT TO DO. Learn from my mistakes, do better, be better. I am not perfect, as you can see, but I don't care. This blog isn't about perfection, it's to show you the REAL struggle a basic medical student goes through every day. How we're expected to not only do well in school but also handle the personal issues, the financial issues, the emotional issues that we have all while being active on campus, volunteering and keeping a happy face. Basically you're expected to be super human. It would be nice if the gig came with a super power too, maybe like photographic memory? Super speed?

Anyway, I am extremely grateful that things didn't go as bad like I pictured in my mind. Negativity and pessimism are the root of all evil honestly. I always stress myself out and things always end up working out. God is good and he's always been good so I'm not sure why my basic mind can't understand that lol. Also, I feel like we take the people around us for granted. If it wasn't for friends and family, I would have honestly lost my mind. They supported me all the way through with affirmations, positivity, words of wisdom and lots and lots of love. I was a HUGE baby but they were patient with me. The friends here who helped me get through my classes, who answered my stupid questions even though they had their own material to study. Like....I love my crew. LOVE!

Oh Oh! I moved out of the campus apartments on Wednesday. Still haven't unpacked. I now live in a cute little 1 bedroom apartment in a complex called Adventura about a 5 min walk from campus. I love my little apartment, it comes fully furnished and with kitchenware, a TV, etc. Perfect little setup. My bed is a little too comfortable, so that's going to be a problem when classes start again haha. The only thing I'm not too fond of is that I don't have a view of the ocean or the lagoon. But I can always go to campus or to friends' places for that! :) I'll miss campus living for sure. On campus, my AC ran 24/7, the wifi and water were included so I didn't have to worry about paying for utilities and wifi. Now I have to make sure not to keep my AC on or my lights on for long to avoid high utility prices. Win some, some lose.

I leave for Florida tomorrow and I can't contain my excitement. Even though it's not a long break, I'm happy to be going home for a little bit to see my loved ones, be around familiar faces, eat HAITIAN FOOD that I didn't cook, and eat Chik-Fil-A. Nom nom.

Classes begin on Tuesday, Sept 4th. My birthday is the next day, Sept 5th. I turn a quarter of a century and I will not be celebrating it. Maybe when I turn 30, God willing,  I'll have a huge celebration?

That's all folks, gotta go unpack the stuff I moved to my apartment AND pack for Florida tomorrow.

If you're reading this and you have any questions feel free to email me, comment under any post, or add me on IG, Facebook, or twitter and send me a message on those platforms. 

TTYL!

Views, Beyonce, and Finals

Sak Pase!

Now I know I went ghost for a while but I haven't had the motivation to write lately....especially with every thing going on around me. FOUR WEEKS until I complete my first semester of medical school. I mean wow! I think the last time I updated you all was a week or two before my second midterms in the beginning of the month. I passed all of them and all above average! My lowest score was Anatomy, both in Exams 2A and Exams 2B. To be completely honest, I'm a little annoyed because I'm close to an A in every other class but Anatomy. The goal was to honor all of my classes this semester but it seems that Anatomy is making it it's goal to kick my big behind. I don't want to be mediocre, I want to be great #bars

I also got above average on my second anatomy lab practical, same score as the first practical actually. Today, we took our third practical. Scores are still not up so I will update when they do get released. **UPDATE: Really close to an "A" on my lab practical. I can't complain. Thank you Lord!**

Since last block's exams I have been in a rut. I have not been to a single class (except for Anatomy lab because it's required) since July 16th. Because I stayed up until around 4am-5am every morning to study for last midterm exams, my sleep schedule hasn't been the same. I can't go to bed on time anymore which means I am not able to wake up every morning for classes. I also didn't have the motivation to study for any of my classes. I mentioned that our anatomy lab practical was today right? Well, I started studying only this past Friday for this practical. I KNOWWWWW, I'm a bad example to my readers and I'm sorry. But it happens!! Starting tomorrow, I will make sure that I am up for my classes.....

I mean I do really need to get it together. Finals are coming up! I'll just take a second to explain finals at AUC. At the end of the semester, during finals week, we take an NBME final for each class we have during that semester. So I will be taking a Histology final, a Molecular and Cell Biology 1 final, an Embryology final and an Anatomy final. The NBME exams (National Board of Medical Examiners) are not exams written by the professors of the school, unlike our other block/midterm exams. NBME is the organization that develops and manages the USMLE Step Exams that us med students have to take. Step 1 is taken around the second year after completion of basic sciences and before hospital rotations. During 3rd and 4th year, we must then take Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Step 2 Clinical Skills. Then Finally Step 3 after completion of med school and during residency. The point is, AUC gives us the NBME exams as our finals for each class every semester in order to prepare us for the USMLE Step exams that we will soon have to take. For that, I am super grateful. We're taking exams written by the makers of the Step exams themselves. Doesn't get any better than that, does it? Yes, I'm still in love with my school!

My last final is Aug 21st, then HOME TO FLORIDA for a whole week!! Can you feel my excitement?

On July 21st, the Black Medical Student Association (BMSA) at AUC hosted a talent show. I'm not a star or whatever, but yours truly was given the chance to bless the stage that Saturday. There were so many great performances and such great talent around me. It was a great show. Below is a short clip of my performance. I performed "Listen" by Beyonce. Shout out to my videographer though! I also have some pictures below. I looked like I was really into it, lol.

Finally,  below are some short clips of a pool party I went to this past Saturday with some wonderful people. This was the same place I went hiking a couple of months ago...Loterie Farms. All I have to say is VIEWWWWSSS.

ONE MORE THING.....

TTYL!