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