America!

I am finally back home! I arrived in New Jersey around 7pm, my younger brother was there to greet me. I then took my last flight home to Hampton, I was so exhausted! I was so happy to see my older brother, I haven't seen him in 7 months. There was definitely a change in temperature! I am super excited for these next 3 weeks of rest, relaxation, and fun! #happyheart

 

 

A Day In the Life of a Med Student

Happy Saturday everyone!! Today I wanted to do a post that highlights what a typical day in med school looks like. It varies for everyone but this is what mine generally looks like. As a 2nd year student we have not started our clinical rotations yet and we still attend lecture daily. We also have several clinical skills sessions that we have to do as well. Yesterday was exciting because we had a fidelity simulation with a patient that had renal failure. The rooms is set up exactly how it would be in the hospital and we had to quickly tend to the patients needs! It was amazing and a nice reminder of why I wanted to be a doctor to begin with.

{5:30}  Wake up, drink a hot cup of coffee, have morning devotion, and check personal emails. Review old material that was tested by either re-mediasiting the lecture at 2x speed or doing questions.
{7:00}  Shower and get ready for the day. If I have enough time I'll make my favorite breakfast, oatmeal with raisins/bananas.
{8:00}  Attend class or set up at the library to mediasite the lectures. If I didn't have time to make breakfast I'll pick something up along the way.
{1:00} Take a lunch break. I always attempt to review old material during this time but it never seems to happen. I either end up talking to friends or I just glance over them quickly and nothing really sticks.
{2:00} Look over that days lecture and make study products. If it's something like histology I normally don't take notes and just re-mediasite the lecture every few days. After the study products are made (which sometimes takes forever) I run back through all the lectures again that will be tested for that block. Take periodic snack breaks.
{6:00}  Have dinner either at Subway or finish up whatever I didn't eat for lunch. If I'm feeling ambitious I'll pick up a Monster or espresso from Pic-n-Go and put in a few extra hours.
{10:30} Leave the library, walk home and enjoy the fresh air. Shower, relax for a little bit, watch Life in the ER, Pinterest, text family/friends back home, etc.
{11:00} Bedtime!

This is an ideal day, It varies every now and then based on group study sessions, clinical skill sessions, and extracurricular activities. Any tips on the best way to incorporate gym time would be so helpful!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Why I Chose Medicine

 

~Happy Tuesday~

With the first exam out the way and the semester off to a great start I wanted to share with you all how I ended up at this point in my life! Why medicine?

All throughout middle school and high school I wanted to be a teacher like my mother. I took courses in middle school geared towards elementary school teaching. In high school I fell in love with history and senior year set my major as History with the goal of becoming a history teacher.

During my teenage years I suffered from acne. My mother took me to the Dermatologist my senior year of high school. Her name is Dr. Yvonne Knight and I was instantly drawn to her practice. She was the first African American physician I had ever encountered and I admired the professionalism yet grace and poise she carried herself with. As the months passed I would ask her various questions about medicine and by the time prom rolled around my face was flawless! Little did I know that these visits would impact my life greatly.

Before starting my undergraduate studies I prayed about my career path. I still vividly remember that summer day. I rushed downstairs to tell my parents that I wanted to be a physician; that's what God had placed on my heart. During undergrad I saw peers shy away from medicine and switch their major to something other than biology but something within told me to keep going. I had to repeat organic chemistry and struggled with biochemistry but something told me to keep going. I took the MCAT once....and then twice....and then a third time but something within told me to keep going. I've sat down with more admission officers and attended more medical school visitation days than I can recall  but something within told me to keep going. I realize now that something within was the Lord directing me to my appointed purpose in life. I was so happy the day He opened the door up and allowed me to begin my medical education at Ross University. Although it has not been a cake walk He has not failed me yet. Despite what statistical data says I'm here in my 2nd year of medical school and I know it's only by the grace of God.

That something within resonates with me daily now and I'm glad that despite setback after setback God was working everything together for his glory even when I didn't realize it. Through it all I have to thank my parents. They have seen me struggle, my tears, my determination and not ONCE did they ever talk down or try to change my mind about my dream. What they did do and still continue to do is pray with me and offer their full support. I would not have made it this far without them. They've taught me how important it is to always keep the Lord first in whatever I do.

I said alllllll that to say: Listen to the voice of God. Trust the plan and purpose He has for your life. If you feel passionate about something to the point where you can't stop thinking about it, go after it. If you've failed repeatedly and feel that all hope is lost know that with God you can do all things. I was discouraged when I didn't get straight into medical school after grad school. I continued working full-time at CVS pharmacy for a year. Little did I know that this opportunity would prove to be one of the Biggest blessings! Medical school pharmacology is that much easier....especially after filling over 600 perscriptions per day for two years!

Peace and Blessings to all....Keep Going!!!!



Dr. Knight

Tired but smiling! Don't worry be happy cuz every little thing.... <3

 What my life looks like pretty much everyday after lecture.....my cubical, lol :)

When I need an energy/mood booster= Chocolate!



Books I Used to Tackle My First Year of Medical School

During your first year of medical school it is easy to spend hundreds on books that you may never glance at. Early on you will quickly find other students that have all the books on PDF and will gladly share them with you. However, if you are like me (old school, lol) you learn best with an actual textbook that you can carry around and highlight in....it's something about physically turning the pages!

Below is a comprehensive list of what I purchased for my studies. Clicking on the book will take you to where I ordered it with reviews.

Anatomy

 

I would definitely recommend purchasing this book. It's great for practical exam preparation. I could not make it into the lab tutor sessions every evening and this book provides photos that are neatly labelled.

 

I found this book to be helpful. At Ross we learn the entire anatomy in one semester so it goes by FAST! This went more in depth than the PowerPoint notes and I was able to connect the dots with this text.

 

 

Cardiovascular and Respiratory

 

This book is amazing! It literally condensed everything my professor said into easy to digest pages. My lecture notes matched this perfectly, great for reading before bed. The questions were extremely helpful. I would recommend this to anyone.

 

 

Neuroscience

 

Unfortunately, this was a book that I did not take full advantage of. This block went by so fast and the lecture notes were enough. However, the recommendations on this book was very high so it must be somewhat helpful, I wish I used it more.

 

Gastrointestinal

 

This is my go to book! Once again, it condensed all of my lecture notes into high yield points. I read it at night and did the questions. It comes in paper back and it is fairly small so it's easy to carry around. A must read for any student taking physiology!

 

Endocrinology

 

This was my last block in the semester. It helped me weed out what was high yield for the course and it also provided me with additional information that although was not in my notes proved to be high yield for Step.

Ziplining, Snorkling, Hiking...and a Hurricane?

Greetings From Dominica

I am safe, my prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Erika. 

It was literally non-stop action from the time my brother and sister arrived to when they left. The evening of their arrival we dined at Sunset Bay with friends; their lobster and mussels were amazing! The next day we had a tour guide that showed us around the island and showed us major landmarks such as the capital, Roseau, Scottshead, the Botanical Gardens, and Trafalgar Falls. We literally had to climb over massive rocks to get to the waterfall, but it was so worth it, we got to stand underneath it! While they were here I celebrated my 26th birthday and my birthday wish was granted....ziplining! The hurricane arrived during the night and we didn't realize the extent of the damage until the next day. All the phones and wifi went down over the entire island, we could not reach loved one's back home. My brother had to swear into the Coast Gaurd and my sister began grad school the following week, the airport was completely destroyed. Their resolution? They hopped on 2 ferry's, made it over to another island with an international airport and made it home in time to do both! I was amazed, that definitely takes spunk! It is a vacation that I will never forget and I'm sure they won't either. Hopefully, my older brother can visit before my time here is up, the island is beautiful! 

 

Med School in the Caribbbean

Hello Lovelies!

I wanted to write a quick post before my brother and sister arrive. So I woke up this morning in my new apartment and I couldn't help but feel grateful. If you told me 5 years ago, let alone 3 years ago that I would attend medical school abroad and wake up each day to the sound of waves crashing against a black sand beach I would have laughed. Who, me? Not in 1 million years! But then when I thought longer it dawned on me, God is just that able. I didn't see this moment but He saw it before I was born. I've learned to never underestimate the power of God. He is just that amazing and can turn around any situation. Here I am and I could not be happier. Yes it's tough but at the end of the day there is nothing more rewarding I'd rather be doing. Never give up on a dream that you have envisioned for yourself; if you have to patiently wait, wait. It will be so worth it in the end. Have a wonderful weekend! <3 <3 <3

 

 

Year In Review

Around this time last year I stepped onto the plane not sure what the future held. Over the past year I've had my share of defeat and I've had my share of victory. Words cannot express how blessed I feel to have made it this far. Medical school is not easy and I commend anyone who is willing to commit to such academic rigor. Mentally I am not the same person I was a year ago. Medical school yanked me out of my comfort zone and forced me to mature mentally....quick! I saw myself transform from a shy individual afraid to say the wrong answer to boldly stating what I thought the answer was. I've drinked more Monster energy drinks than I can count, and I've pushed myself beyond what I ever thought I was capable of. I have to thank my sister for giving me her teddy bear to practice on! I'm only here by the grace of God and by His might, not my own. I look forward to starting my 2nd year in 2 weeks and am excited to see the future unfold! I want to thank all my readers, you all make this journey that much easier.

 

Before school picks back up I have 2 weeks of fun!
My brother and sister will be here in 3 days, I cannot wait!!

 

 

Exam Week

Greetings!

Sorry for such a long delay, neuroscience has been a handful. Every aspect of the brain is pretty amazing, there is so much going on in there! It really does feel like I'm learning an entirely new language. We have a practical exam on Wednesday and our actual exam is on Friday. There's still so much I need to go through and review. Have a wonderful upcoming week!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Happy Friday!

Good Morning, yesterday was the first day of Neuroscience! Although the information was dense, it is very interesting! Later that evening we celebrated a friends birthday, she turned 23! Today I have my first neuro physical exam skills session, it should be fun. Have a wonderful weekend!

Evening Breather

Greetings! Time continues to fly by, there are only 8 more weeks left of the semester! I took my exam today and passed; all glory to God! To celebrate my friend and I had dinner at this new Indian restaurant they opened near campus. For the first time I had chicken biryani and it was delicious! I will definitely be back in the near future for their butter chicken! Tomorrow morning we begin our next block....neuroscience! I'm looking forward to it! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Flatworm, Roundworm, Pinworm, Hookworm....

 

Who knew there were so many worms!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful week! My next exam is in a few days, at this point it's just constant repetition through all the lectures. Today was pretty productive but I'll be up for a couple of more hours. I'm looking forward to tomorrow....RCF is having Worship Night; the theme is "Revival", I will be singing. Have a great upcoming week :)

How to Stay Organized in Medical School

I hope your week is off to a wonderful start! I just finished up a small group learning session and now I am in the library for the rest of the day. Before I began studying I thought I would share my thoughts and tips on remaining organized in medical school.

Any medical school student will tell you that everyday time is of the essence! From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep you want to have a game plan in mind. Personally, I found that an hourly planner works best for me. It allows me to keep track of each lecture, clinical skill meetings, and important dates. If I did not have a planner I don't know what I would do!

When I get into the library I like coming up with a to-do list of things I want to accomplish and I write it down on a sticky note. This way I can be most efficient with my time. At the end of each week I like to reflect on what worked the best for me and what I can adjust to have a more productive upcoming week.

It's also important to pinpoint when your brain is most alert. Some people study better late at night, others study better early in the morning. I like getting a head start on the day and waking up early; I feel more prepared to take on the day.

But life happens. Things don't always go according to plan. I may not accomplish everything in one day but I'm okay with that. There's always tomorrow. The main thing is staying focused on your goal, working hard, and putting forth your best effort!

Happy Studies!

Plan....Regroup...Perfect

Study Break selfie....why not!

My Heart- Forever and Always

~Family over everything~

 

 

Back to It

Yesterday, after a 12 hour trip, I arrived back on campus. These past 2 weeks have been great! I was able to spend time with my family and take a trip up to New York to visit my extended family. I missed them so much over the past 4 months, I made sure to appreciate the time I had with them.Tomorrow is the first day of class; this semester I have 5 blocks: cardio, respiratory, GI, endocrine, and neuroanatomy.

I would not be where I am today without the support and guidance of my mother. She has been such a wonderful role model in my life. She always has a calm spirit about her and I appreciate all the advice and wisdom she has passed on to my sister and brothers. I love her so much! Happy Mother's Day <3