Sem Break Is Over, Studying Begins

We had two weeks for sem break...and I honestly don't know where the time went. Once we started classes, everybody was so keen on just waiting for the classes to end and gives us the freedom to become normal human beings. Hahahahaha

Aaaand, the time came. and just like that, sem break ended. Back to school. Another round of beating the clock in cramming everything you need to know before the next eval.

Although I dont advocate cramming, I seriously cant get out of the habit. Fr example, I studied the whole week for the exam, and as a practice of mine, I bring out an outline I'vemade of the topics and run through them, reciting or writing down everything I know about each topic. After that, I test myself with the past rvals (of the higher years) and then list down the topics that I havent mastered.  It always happens that the night before ( and sometimes even in the wee hours of the morning), when reviewing, that I find a super ultra mega topic that I completely forgot to cover.

Mission: Try to cram this topic in under an hour.

You may think an hour is a lot of time to study a teeny topic, but for me, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TEENY/MINOR TOPIC.

This is because I believe that EVERY POINT COUNTS. Some people would think, "nah...the prof wont ask any questions about this topic because there are other topics with heavier bearings...", or "...the prof said this topic only covers 5 items, I guess I can sacrifice these items and just focus on the more important ones..."

WRONG. Sometimes, one point is all that stands between you passing and failing. So many of my classmates found themselves in that situation where they failed by one point, and because of that, they had to take the Refresher Exam.

***Refresher Exam: a make up exam given to those who failed the previous exam. But for this one, no matter how high your score is, your end score will just be 75% or passing. These Refresher exams are usually harder than the past evals so as to discourage other students from abusing these   opportunities.. you'll know what I mean once you start studying here. Hahahahahaha

And honestly, who wants to take ANOTHER exam? I wouldn't want to study everything for the 2nd time. Sayang yung oras na sana nagamit mo para mag aral ng ibang subject or topic.


Which reminds me...I have to study. Goodbye sweet sweet sem break. Til we meet this Decemberrrr!

The Academic Avalanche

Hey guys, I apologize if I havent posted in awhile. The pace in med school kinda picked up when July settled in.

As i said before, things went into hyperdrive when July settled in. June was the typical settling in phase where doctors/professors slipped in a quiz or two, letting you gain a solid foothold on studying again.

BOOM!
Then July came in.

Every other week we had quizzes and major exams, and it came to a point where you just couldnt study as much as you wanted to because you were dead tired.

Major exams that happened this month: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and this week would be Community Medicine and Bioethics.

Seriously, of all the major exams that came and went, Anatomy was probably the most mind boggling thing I encountered since our freshmen orientation with the mock exams.

I prepared for that exam like everyone has prepared for the oncoming zombie apocalpyse.

I kid you not. I spent a majority of my weekdays + 80% of my weekend reviewing everything and I was kind of pumped for the exam already.

Day of the exam, 7am in the morning, my dorm mates and I came out of our rooms at exactly the same time with blank faces, silently staring at each other, when, very quietly, one whispered... oh my g*d, I dont know anything.

All of us kinda went into a crazed panic since the exam was a bout 3 hours away. 

GROUP STUDY NOW!

Nobody brushed their teeth, fixed their hair, or took out the morning glories scattered all over, we got our stuff out and went to one room and started reviewing each other like there was no tomorrow. 

We spent two hours studying, took a bath, then went for the exam.

Here we go.

About an hour later, I was feeling pretty good about the results. But within a few minutes, panic set in again as we prepared for the practical exams for that afternoon.

For the practical exams, they set up 80 stations in the laboratory where there would be around 65-70 microscopes set up with specimens, around 5 pictures, and 5 resting stations. Every 20 seconds we a buzzer would sound out and everyone had to move to the next station.

This type of exam gives you an adrenalin rush. It was awesome and at the same time, depressing.

Within 20 minutes or so, we finished all 80 questions and headed out the laboratory. And everyone was kind of high with the rush. We headed out, ate, and made merry while doomsday/judgement day waited silently.

About 2-3 days, results came out. And I failed both the theoretical and practical. And so did 80% of the batch.

It was kind of comforting to know that, but deep inside, I was depressed because I studied my ass off and I still failed. 

Good thing that they lowered the passing rate a little, and I passed both, but, it still frustrated me. 

I will not be an average/ mediocre doctor. I will study my ass off, and one day I will top the exams.

Shit just got real.