Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I am finally posting after many many months off from this blog-things just became a bit overwhelming after christmas break-the rest of 2nd year almost killed me! I don't know how much you all know about the 'most dreaded year' of medical school-but it involved virology, bacteriology, mycology, immunology, pathology, clinical pathology, epidemiology, parasitology, organ systems pathology, antimicrobials and epidemiology. Tons and tons of information and learning taxonomy, nomenclature and what seemed like a billion different new names of diseases I still don't know that I will ever be able to memorize.  I spent entirely too much time studying and let my exercise regimen and quality 'me' time fall away and toward the end of the semester/last quarter I had my first anxiety freak out in a long time. I'm proud of myself that I was able to get out of it and pass the year decently, but it was annoying and scary for a few weeks there.

There were some fun moments I will try to remember of second year....Like streaking bacteria plates and growing our own colonies. Yes, I actually found that fun. We had a wet lab doing necropsies on cats for the Feline and Pathology clubs. We got to do a lot of sleuthing to detect diseases and causes in organ pathology on dead specimens. Clinical pathology was fantastic too-we interpreted blood chemistries and other lab work that is entirely relevant to my future as a clinician.

And of course all the horrifying moments ....not knowing if I ever knew enough about all the bacteria on earth...going into exams wishing I had *just* another day to study...trying to memorize epidemiological terms and formulas I barely understood....complete and utter burn out and sleepless anxiety laden nights wondering if I was going to stay sane enough to make it through....

and I DID.

I also lucked out and was able to get a student job internship for the summer at a local clinic-I was quite worried for a while there that I wasn't going to be able to get work, but I heard about it at the last minute. That job has helped me gain confidence in my hands-on skills as well as my client communication skills. VERY important things that vet students forget about while we're in classes all day. I also contacted a local feline shelter where I have been volunteering once a week, and they have let me do spays and neuters totally on my own on some feral kitties that were dropped off there. The head veterinarian there was willing to train me and work with me on a lot of my skills, and I'm so super appreciative! I'm very interested in shelter medicine now, and have already looked into a shelter med externship for 4th year.

And now-I am about 3 weeks away from beginning my 3rd year. This is the real introduction into clinical diagnosis and surgery. We'll be doing surgeries within the first few weeks of school! I'm excited and feeling so ready to move on.

This is my last week at my clinic job and my next job after this will be...as a licensed veterinarian in 21 months. squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! 




2 comments:

  1. Congrats on making it through! I have thought about vet school, but haven't even tried to apply. I'm 36 and all of my prereqs are "expired", and I have debt to the tune of 40K from a master's degree, so the chances of me going now are very slim it seems. I am glad to see an "older" person succeeding financially and academically in vet school. You are an inspiration!

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  2. thank you! i'm so glad to be an inspiration-I hope you can find work with animals someday as well!

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