APRIL 2021

Monthly: 3 Hours

Cumulative: 15 Hours

This past semester has flown by! April has been definitely difficult with the shelf exam and impending MCAT and AMCAS cycle. I found the shelf exam to be very challenging and overall, I was not happy with how I performed. In addition to personal problems I was dealing with around the same time, I found that I had trouble pacing myself in my studies and should have started earlier. It was a learning experience for me that helped me learn what to expect and how to better prepare for shelf exams in the future. I have learned a lot this semester from my classes but feel that I have most excelled in being more comfortable and less intimidated by the course load and material. I can more easily read a difficult research paper, feel more confident as a presenter, and not feel overwhelmed by mechanisms of action. 

In terms of service this month, I have continued to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank. It has become very near and dear to my heart. I continue to look forward to my time there, and my interactions with new people and fellow volunteers who I have found to be such kind and genuine people. It is a safe environment in which we call all share in the spirit of service. I'm thankful that the service component of this program has allowed me to find Second Harvest, and I know without a doubt they are an organization that I want to continue to be a part of long term. It is still hard to believe that we are at the end of the program. I am grateful for all I have learned from amazing professors and for the supportive friends I have met who I hope to one day see in class again in med school!

MARCH 2021

Monthly: 6 Hours

Cumulative: 12 Hours

March has been a non-stop month. It started off with an exam for the Psych module and more recently a Cell Control Mechanisms module exam. I was pretty satisfied with how I performed on both tests and feel very confident that throughout the course of this program, I have been able to really hone my study skills. The shelf exam is fast approaching, and as anxious as I am about it, I feel like the hard work that I've been doing all year long is paying off. I mainly use notecards to study and have been diligently been making them for every single lecture we've had, so now it's been easy for me to go back and start studying immediately instead of having to organize all the material and start from just looking at notes.

With the most recent module, most of our classes were in the afternoon which gave me more time for volunteering in the mornings. I have decided to continue volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank. It's always a great experience for me, and I get to meet a lot of interesting people. I recently volunteered alongside an older gentleman who told stories about his travels in Italy and how the food differed in different parts of the country. I find that the atmosphere there is always so positive and uplifting, and I feel a genuine sense of solidarity with those I am able to work and interact with as we help prepare meals to be donated. While I was helping to prep and season raw chicken, the chef mentioned that they have not had to purchase their own chicken for months as they had been receiving continuous donations. This was something that I found quite amazing, and especially because of the pandemic, it really warmed my heart to know that it hadn't deterred good acts of generosity. It inspires me to stay involved in giving back and reminds me that service really is universal.  

FEBRUARY 2021

Monthly: 3 Hours

Cumulative: 6 Hours

February has been a good month! Neurology is another topic that I didn't have much exposure to during undergrad, so that module was challenging for me. It was my first exposure to a lot of the information we covered, so I definitely found a lot of it confusing. We also had our first set of Cell Control questions, and although I was intimidated because I did not know what to expect, I found everything to be straightforward. This semester is proving to be more challenging than the last, but I have responded well to the challenge and am proud to see it exhibiting my personal growth. Overall, I was very satisfied with how I performed on the neuro exam and hope to carry that confidence as we continue to the psych module exam!

I'm grateful we were blessed with a week off for Mardi Gras. It was a good time for me to re-center focus on some things I had on the back burner like getting my materials together for MCAT prep as well as looking into the best methods to study for the upcoming shelf exam. I also got the chance to see my siblings who I have not been able to see for a while and do a little more volunteering at Second Harvest's Community Kitchen. Although a bit late to the game, I also received my first dose of the COVID vaccine. The only symptoms I had were chills and a lot of arm soreness, so I am grateful but definitely wary based on what I've heard about the second dose and mentally and physically preparing for it to the best of my ability. I am still frustrated by the misinformation around the COVID vaccine and how widespread and prevalent a lot of conspiracy theories are. It's been hard to see a political climate that has facilitated major public distrust in science, but I hope this is something that will improve with time and the new administration. My hope is that people will consider more reliable sources in their research of the vaccine and take advantage of resources simply meant to help and protect them.  

JANUARY 2021

Monthly: 3 Hours

Cumulative: 3 Hours

After a month long break, it is nice to be back in class again! Although the break was much needed and a good mental refresh for me, I definitely feel more confident in myself academically now (not so much to where the shelf exam doesn't scare me but I don't have anxieties about classes and my academic performance anymore). I truly feel that I've gotten the hang of my study plan and feel very in control of my own success. 

The Principles section of the first exam was challenging for me, but I did well and am happy with my scores. The material was more challenging than I thought. Bundling together the reproductive and endocrine modules in addition to all the diabetes drugs? I was overwhelmed to be honest! My friend Sarah who is an MS2 at LSU Shreveport and I chatted about it, and she told me that those modules are also bundled together at her school. That made me feel better because I then felt challenged to prove that I could handle this truly medical school-level workload!

I also learned hilariously this module that my understanding of diabetes up to this point was pretty lacking. Insulin and diabetes were concepts that were mentioned but never really taught to me in undergrad. Before this, all I could tell you was that insulin was involved treating in diabetes and had something to do with blood sugar, but sadly that was the complete extent of my knowledge. I'm proud to say that I have a very adequate understanding of it now. I'm excited to learn more about subjects that I never had much exposure to in undergrad, especially now that we are doing neuro.

For service this month, my friend and I carpooled to Second Harvest Food Bank to volunteer for their community kitchen where they assemble home cooked meals. Sharing with her a place that means a lot to me was a memorable experience. I love the people and the atmosphere at Second Harvest Food Bank. I especially love volunteering in the community kitchen because it gives me the chance to meet and get to know people from different walks of life of all different ages. It has become like a second home to me since I moved to New Orleans, and the people there are always so kind and help me feel at ease. It's nice to be able to safely work with others since the pandemic has hit. They have strict rules there about masks and handwashing as well as gloves and hair nets that help me feel safe until I can have a chance to get the vaccine. 

Overall, I still can't believe that the first semester came and went so quick. This semester is definitely feeling busier and faster, but I'm happy to be back and looking forward to all this semester has to offer!