Sisters in Christ



2014 In Review

Wow, what a year 2014 has been! So much has happened within the span of 12 months. The biggest thing that happened to me was starting medical school abroad. This was my first time away from my family and my first time traveling outside of the country. I feel so blessed and humbled to have this opportunity. This new chapter in my life has increased my faith and trust in God. When I think about the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for me my soul shouts....Hallelujah! Medical school is a journey; I started mine 7 years ago. Over the years I have not only developed intellectually but emotionally and spiritually as well. My outlook and perspective on the world is so much different than it was 7 years ago. I have such an appreciation for the little things in life, I try to aim for simplicity as much as possible. I want my life to be a testimony to others that all things are possible if you put your mind to it and keep God first. My road less traveled has not been a cakewalk but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

I wish all of you a wonderful and productive New Year; may Heaven smile upon you.

 



Home is Where The Heart Is

Christmas Eve

I wish all of you a peaceful and joyful holiday season. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by loved one's at this time of year. Yesterday, I did some Christmas shopping with my younger brother and visited his new apartment. Later that evening I went out with my sister, it felt so good to catch up; she's my best friend, we are 1 year apart! I missed my CrockPot while I was away; I made veggie soup! My older brother was on a road trip with family and didn't get back until today. The first thing he did was make me lunch, it was delicious! We sipped on egg nog and enjoyed each others company, today has been amazing. Next stop, my hometown :)

 



What's In My Bag: "Med-School Edition"

Due to the rigor and demand of medical school I won't be able to post as much but

I'll try my best to post when able!

During the summer, a friend of mine on Instagram (braidsnglasses) suggested that I write this post! Now that medical school is in full gear I def. have picked out a few "must-have's" in my purse to get me through my day!

1. Planner: You cannot get through a day in medical school without pre-planning your week. In addition to attending lecture each day, you have to learn the new material as well as review previously taught material within an allotted amount of time. A planner is a must! I like to draw square boxes next to whatever I have to study, as I complete a task I check it off; that way I have a clear and focused agenda each day.

2. Binder : I carry this everywhere I go! I have 1 binder per block. So for my first exam I have a binder that holds all my PowerPoint lectures and notes. By the end of the semester I will have 4 binders total. This is a great way to organize and compartmentalize because you constantly have to review old material to prepare for the Final exam at the end of the semester.

3. iPhone: I don't know why I didn't purchase one sooner! This is a must in medical school in terms of the wonderful apps offered. I recently discovered that I am a auditory learner so I've been using the app QuickVoice to record myself while studying the material. I can then listen to "my notes" at the gym, before bed, walking around campus, etc. I also purchased SimplyNoise which is a "white-noise" generator. It blocks out external noise, and I can literately study for hours by listening to it. My friends have also downloaded other apps such as "Netters Flashcards" and "Quizlet"

4. Pen/Pencil Case: This is an easy way to carry all my highlighters, pens, and pencils. It also has a clear zipper pouch in the front so I can keep my lip balm, hand-sanitizer, and gum all in one place!

5. Water Bottle: You always want to stay hydrated while studying. It also forces you to get up periodically to take a break and use the restroom!

6. Jacket: You pretty much live in the library, which is below freezing....enough said. lol

7. Grant's Dissector Anatomy Book: This book has helped me so much in terms of learning and understanding Anatomy which is the main subject taught your first year. I review it every morning, then review it throughout the day; especially before lab!

8. Money: This should be a given but it's even more important in medical school when you want to walk over to the campus cafe to grab a cup of tea/coffee or take a break for lunch/dinner!

I hope you all enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. I am so excited to be on this medical journey and I look forward to sharing my experience with you all in the near future.

Stay encouraged and God Bless!

First Official Week

♥ A Big Thank You ♥

My have I missed you all! Tomorrow will be my last day in the States until December. From visiting family in New York to having a surprise party thrown for me here in Virginia these past weeks have been priceless. I have to extend a warm thank you to all those that have prayed with me, given me gifts, treated me to dinner, called/text, and offered kind words of encouragement and support. Your generosity has made this transition so much easier.

Thank You.

His Timing is the Best

Be still, and know that I am God

 Psalm 46:10

Today my boss treated me to dinner since I am leaving CVS Pharmacy in 2 weeks. Two of my coworkers surprised me!

Sometimes you can't understand why God allows life to go a certain way. One year ago I was somewhat devastated when I graduated with my masters and didn't automatically start medical school afterwards. Instead I began working full-time at CVS, I didn't know what the future held. This was the biggest blessing ever. This experience has opened my eyes to the medical field! I have learned so much about drugs used to treat cancer, blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, asthma, cough, the flu, anxiety, pain...the list goes on and on. I've strengthened my verbal skills with patients that come from all walks of life. I've made daily phone calls to doctors offices to follow up on prior authorizations and refill renewal requests. My math skills have definitely been enhanced! I've made lifelong friends that encouraged and believed in my dream the entire time. Most importantly, I learned to trust in the Lord. As the weeks passed my faith in Him increased and overnight he opened the door. If you are going through a doubtful season in your life trust in God. He will see you through. I am very grateful for this opportunity and now I see that God was preparing me for what is to come.

Weekend in Review

Hello all! I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July Weekend! I attended my best friends annual July 3rd Block Party, we had a blast! My younger brother turned 21 this weekend, where did the time fly? We spent time at the beach and made a quick stop to Cold Stone. Today I registered for my classes for the fall; I'm so excited! Please keep my in constant prayer!





Going Away Celebration

 

 

A BIG thank you to my coworkers for throwing a going away get together for me

over the weekend, I have learned so much about pharmacy from you all.

You will be missed!