One Week from Starting 2nd year of Medical School

Today is August 31st, just 6 days away from starting my second year of medical school. Today, the new first year medical students started their orientation. My new roommate is a first year medical student. Ill never forget the feelings of anxiousness, fear, and unknown last year at this time. Ive used my expereince as a first year to play a joke on a first year girl that I met, and I told her that we had to read 300-400 pages of notes every 3 days! She almost fainted! It was awesome! Anyways, year 2 is just on the horizon. I don't feel nearly as anxious, now knowing how hard I have to study, and the effort I need to put in to this. Along with regular class though, I have to devote time every week, hopefully everyday, to a test that we take at the end of next year called "Step 1".

 It tests basically everything from first and second year. It's BRUTAL and the test will heavily influence what type of residencies I can get. I HAVE to KILL this test! So I am starting early, and I have already been listening to lectures and reviewing for exam, even though most people say its too early, or that I'll forget the material. So, it's been a great summer! Highlights included going to see Jennie in Wisconsin at her family's cabin, going on a road trip with my Moto dawgs to see Millville motocross race in Minnesota, family coming to see me on the 4th of july weekend, family vacation in Wisconsin and chilling in Chicago, and going out a few times downtown was a blast too (my buddy crashed a bachelorette party last weekend, and it was crazy).

 Research at the orthopaedic department has been really good too. I've scheduled and seen many patients for their rotator cuff repairs 2 years after the surgery and seen how they are doing. It was really laid back, I made my own hours, and got to see how the department works. It was definitely worth doing. Wow, as I look back at summer, it FLEW like usual. So now, it's on to fall, I can't wait. Iowa hawkeye football is here! That's going to be AWESOME. I'm going to go back for a couple of games! This weekend I am going to watch it at a bar with a friend from Iowa!! So now, its just relaxing, I am going to start a lecture on statistics (my worst subject ever) for the step 1 exam! One week till blast off!

-MD in 14