What's Up Third Year?

Ok I know what you all are thinking..."WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" I honestly think this has been the longest that I have waited in between posts, and I would be lying if I said it wasn't on my mind every day. It has been such an adventure this past month [and a bit] and I think it has been the hardest in regards to volume of material, being away from home, and almost seeing that light at the end of the tunnel.

I do not even know where to begin, as fourth semester took me by surprise. I do not know if it was because I was quite tired to begin with, the shear amount of material, or the fact that I just wanted to be done as fast as it began. So many mixed emotions and until you physically and mentally experience it yourself, it is so hard to appreciate how medical students feel, and I have the best family and friends for understanding my academic commitment. So here I sit, on a Tuesday night in my apartment, looking at this bright pink sky as the sun sets in Dominica, with no one else on campus, as all of my classmates are back in their home city. You are probably wondering: "Why is she so crazy to stay in Dominica?! Why isn't she at home already?! That, my friend, is a very good question.

Making the decision to stay on island to study for Step 1 [my big bad US board exam in November] was one of the toughest decisions I had to make. I want more than anything to be home with my family and hang out with all of my friends, but after taking that NBME COMP exam this past Friday, I knew that I had made the right decision with staying on the island. That exam was the toughest exam, in my history of exam taking, that I have ever had to endure. Whoa...I still shutter just thinking about it. I would LOVE to be home, but my parents also understand that being here at Ross is vastly different that living in a farm house in good ol' Canada with dogs, cats, people, and not to mention a wonderful herd of cows that just love to "moo" at the most convenient of times. It was tough to stay here when a majority of my friends are gone home, celebrating, seeing everyone important in their lives, and most importantly-the comfort feeling of home. I knew after leaving that exam, that staying here was the best decision, as I get access to unlimited resources and I can bust out a fifteen hour day studying and not even realize it [I know, I'm weird].

Thankfully, I will be going home for a week in September as my sister gets married [!!!] and I have the wonderful honour of being her bridesmaid. I honestly can not wait and what makes it even better is that my Dad actually built a chapel on our land, bells and all. Don't worry I will make sure to post pictures of the big day. If you have not already seen my instagram posts of the chapel, head on over to @d1todr and check them out!

So all in all, I really enjoyed my time at Ross. I have made Dean's List all four semesters [yay!] and I created a brand new club: RUSM Sports Medicine Club that I recently got to hand over the torch to a wonderful friend of mine, Ozzy, who will lead the next group of Eboard members next semester. I believe that everything comes full circle, that if you put effort in, you will receive that satisfaction and do well. The Caribbean route is tough, but I know I will become such a better physician because of it. I can not wait to start clinicals in January, and I will try my hardest to upload some videos of study tips and "how-tos" of surviving med school thus far.

I want to thank you all for following me on my journey, it is crazy how fast my sixteen months on the island went, and only two more years to go until I get that M.D. Thank you for your comments, smiles on campus, and for you all cheering me on. For the whole month of November, I will need your good vibes, that USMLE board exam is not going to write itself and I will give it my all! You know I will!

Off to enjoy a wonderful dinner made by my Stephen, with Domi laying by my feet, I can't help but realize how lucky I really am.

Bye for now,

-E xo

Pics!

Stephen and I at the 4th Bon Voyage Farewell Banquet.