Summer Wrap-Up

Things have gotten a little busy as school is quickly approaching. I move in to my new apartment this Friday. I am slightly excited, but I don't think it has hit me yet. I am definitely not looking forward to having to go back to class, but I would like to get this year over with.

Work has been a great experience. I have absolutely loved working as a zip line tour guide, and am so glad I had this opportunity. I am pretty sad I only have one more day of work. I met so many different people and definitely had some challenges along the way. I got the opportunity to experience everything from little children being terrified and having to encourage them to providing a great tour experience to someone with a mental disability. This job really was a blessing. Plus, I was earning money while having fun!

Besides working and packing, I have been studying for the GRE, which I take Thursday. I will be taking a practice test today to see how close I am to my desired score. I'm trying not to worry too much about it. I may feel anxious about getting into graduate school sometimes, but then I just have to remember that God will lead me down the path that He has chosen for me and all I really need to concern myself with is honoring Him.

My brother did move in with us last week, and it has been a little different. We now have five vehicles outside the house and we have another person to share the bathroom with. It has been nice to be able to see him though.

I've got quite a few busy days ahead. I better go take that practice test. Thanks for reading!

I Survived

Training for work last week was rough. Getting up at 6:30 AM every day and working hard for 9 hours six days in a row was definitely a challenge. I finally got a day off yesterday and had CPR and First Aid training today. We learned so much, and I had no idea how much went into being a zip line tour guide. It makes sense though. We have to be ready for any and all situations that could come up during our tours. I get along with all of my co-workers and am pretty excited for tours to start this week. I get to take my sister and mom on tours so I'm looking forward to that as well.

Other than work, I have been trying to read and study some vocabulary for the GRE. Not much got done last week due to such an intense training schedule but at least I got some good workouts on the job. Also, I ran into some car trouble last week and had to have my sister and mom chauffeur me to work, but it should be fixed by tomorrow. Then the plan is to sell it and buy a new one (new to me, anyway) so I don't have to keep pouring money into it.

It has been a little strange with my dad being away. He just left three days ago for two weeks and I already miss him. However, I did get a chance to experiment in the kitchen since he is gone, and the dinner I made turned out really well. Mom wants me to give him the recipe. I'm sure he'll love that.

There is about a month left until school and I'd have to say I'm ready to go back. As much fun as my job is, I think I would rather be furthering my education and making something of my life. I'm really looking forward to moving to a new place and starting a new chapter in my life next year. I just have to get through this year first.

I almost forgot. My brother will be moving in with us in about three weeks. I am pretty pumped. It's too bad I will only be here for two weeks after he moves in, but he will be so much closer to visit now. August sure is going to be a busy month!

That is all I have for now. As always, thanks for reading!

Summer Update

Throughout the past month I have basically been finding all kinds of things to take up my time. I finished up physical therapy recently and was able to start working out again. I have been doing a lot of organizing and some crafty things. I have also been reading quite a bit and studying for the GRE. I will be taking the test August 16. I just registered for it today. Hopefully I will get a competitive score. All I have to do is work on memorizing all these vocabulary words. I feel pretty comfortable with the math section.

Other than finding projects to fill the time, I have traveled quite a bit to see family. I have gone to Indianapolis twice, Chicago, and LaPorte. It was very nice to be able to spend time with loved ones, but I am glad I do not have any more travel plans for the rest of the summer.

I ended up getting the zip line tour guide job and start training on Monday. I will not be able to work as long as I had hoped due to such a late start date but some money is better than no money. I just haven't had the best luck with summer jobs.

I have been hearing a lot of people from school say they are ready to go back, and in a sense I guess I am too. I don't miss it, but there are a lot of things that I plan on accomplishing this year and quite frankly I would like to get it over with. I am ready to graduate and move on to graduate school. It is kind of weird not having any idea where I will be a year from now, but I just have to be patient through this entire process.

That's all I can really update on. Summer just isn't nearly as busy as the school year. Thanks for reading!

Decisions, Decisions

Hello all. I've been settling in at home for the summer. I am alone at home all day throughout most of the week, so I have a lot of time to think. Not always a good thing. My newest thoughts are that I should apply to graduate school this fall. If you have been following my posts, you know I have gone back and forth with whether to try to get into an MD/PhD program, go into medical school, or apply to graduate school. As much as I thought MD/PhD was the way to go, I'm beginning to think that maybe it isn't the best thing for me. I have not had much research experience, so it would not be easy for me to get in. I was planning on taking a year or two to do research with the NIH, but there is really no way I can count on actually getting into a lab. Plus there is no way I want to live in Baltimore, so I would be moving twice within a couple years. It is starting to seem like graduate school may be a more stable option. I will still be able to do all the research I want to, and I kind of realized that patient interaction is something I really enjoy, but it isn't necessarily a huge part of my career goals. I am interested in learning about Alzheimer's disease in and out so I can help find a prevention. I don't think that seeing patients could really complement my research. I believe I can still get the motivation and enjoyment from working with patients through volunteer work, and devote more of my time to the research required to tackle the disease. Plus, once we do eliminate it, I don't think I will have any trouble finding a new disease to work toward eradicating with my fascination with the human brain and body. I do wish I would have figured all this out before I took the MCAT, and even before I picked my school for undergraduate study, but I've learned a lot from this whole process, and nothing is set quite yet. I will get my MCAT scores this week, and who knows if I will actually need them, but taking the exam was definitely an experience. I need to start looking into taking the GRE so I can apply to graduate school before the end of the year. Hopefully I'll have things mostly figured out before graduation. Only one more year. Kind of weird.

Other than all the thinking I've been doing, I have been doing a lot of reading (of all types-Mom bought me a Nook). I have also applied as a zip line tour guide for the summer and have an interview at the end of the upcoming week. I'm also planning on starting to volunteer at definitely one and possibly another senior center. I will be continuing with the one I have been volunteering with, and the one I am looking into specializes in memory care. I can't wait to get back to volunteering.

I have also been going to physical therapy for my back injury (finally) and am learning so much about my body (my physical therapist likes to point out my weaknesses). Not only am I recovering from my injury, but I am also becoming a stronger athlete. My physical therapist is really helping me strengthen every part of my body that I am confident will help me become a much better thrower. I am really excited about the progress I've made and can't wait to see how I improve!

I think that is all I have for now. I'm sure I'll be posting more updates throughout the summer. Have a great week! Thanks for reading.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:33

Finally Over

This incredibly stressful semester is finally over. The MCAT is finished. I just have to wait patiently for my scores. I didn't exactly get the grades this semester I was hoping for but with all that was going on I can't be too disappointed. I'm still at school, however, and have a track meet at the end of the week. I didn't perform very well at the conference meet last weekend, so hopefully I can improve this weekend and maybe even break a school record. I am mostly packed to go home and I have started my medical school application. I have two more days after today to get some things done before the meet on Thursday. As much as I want to go to the meet, I really wish I could go home. I wish I lived closer to school sometimes. Now I just have to focus on track, applying to medical school, and figuring out what I'm going to be doing all summer. I will also be going to the doctor to finally try to get this back fixed once I get home. That's pretty much all that's going on right now. Can't wait to get home! Thanks for reading.

Tomorrow is the Big Day

It is finally here. I take the MCAT tomorrow. Hopefully all of the studying will pay off. Am I nervous? A little. But I figure if I don't know it, oh well. I'm just hoping for a decent enough score to get accepted into a school I would enjoy being at and that will help me be a successful doctor. At this point, I know I'll be fine. Even if I don't get a good score, I can figure something out. It is very difficult for a person like me to look good on paper. I just hope someone sees something that makes them want to get to know me.

Other things going on in my life:

-Dance auditions for next season are in about an hour. I'm excited to be reunited with all the girls and interested to learn more about our new coach.

-I am not competing in track this weekend because of my test, but our conference meet is next week. I am only about ten feet from making it to the national competition even with my back injury. Makes me wonder how good I could have been if I hadn't been injured all season. 

-Today was the last day of classes; finals are next week. I only have three, all on Tuesday. Not really concerned about them. I am at a point in my life where I am really beginning to notice what things actually matter. Don't sweat the small stuff. 

Other than that, it's same old, same old. Really excited for summer. Can't wait for all this stress to be gone. Although my calendar for summer is already starting to fill up. Oops. I mean, could you expect anything else from me? I can't wait to go to the doctor and get fixed and get healthy and start training again. 

As always, thanks for reading!

Matthew 6:27-Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Two More Weeks!

I take the MCAT in two weeks. Two weeks! It hit me today that it is right around the corner. I hope I am ready by then. If you have been wondering why it seems I have fallen off the face of the earth, that is the reason. I have been busy studying, writing my research proposal, and competing in track, as well as keeping up in all my classes and working in the office.

I did get to go home for Easter, which was a much needed break. I decided not to do any homework or studying and focus on relaxing and spending time with my family. It was a great decision, although I have only been back for a week and already feel burned out.

Track has been going okay. My back is continuing to bother me, which has been interfering with me performing my best, but I just keep pushing through it. I had a pretty good practice today even though the rest of the week wasn't so hot, so hopefully it carries into tomorrow's meet. I can't wait for summer so I can get this fixed!

Speaking of summer, there are only two weeks of class and three final exams standing in the way. Very exciting, but also very stressful. Definitely looking forward to relaxing a bit once school is finished. I still have yet to find an internship, job shadow experience, or job for the summer, but I still have a few options.

I also have many options in the paths I will be taking to become a physician-scientist. Sometimes it seems like too many options. Since the application will be available soon, I have been stressing over it a little. My main concern is my lack of research experience. I haven't had the year or two in research that most schools are looking for, and although I know I will be a dedicated researcher, it is going to be very hard to prove to admissions committees. I have been doing some personal research on alternate paths I can take since I don't want to spend the money to apply if I am not going to be a competitive applicant. Luckily, most of the schools I am looking into allow their students to apply to the combined degree program during their first or second year of medical school. Therefore, I can apply to medical school right now and will hopefully be accepted, engage in research during my first year, and apply to the program then. This way seems a little more reasonable at this time since I have not spent much time in research. It also takes a little stress away.

I better get back to studying. Just wanted to update you all on what has been going on. Thanks for reading!

"My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me."
-Psalm 62:7