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.