Updates on Life

Hello all!  I know I should have written by now but I can't get out of the air.  Literally.

So recently, my dad started having some health issues and I actually flew home to see him at the end of February.  I actually skipped one of courses at Chicago Heart.  I went to help my mom care for my dad.  I came back to Chicago for a few days before going on a cruise for a week.  I would just say that I needed that time to just relax.  And I will say that I feel so much better.  Well, unfortunately, I wasn't able to come back as planned because my dad started to get worse and I could only continue to pick the doctor's brains about the condition that he was in.  Still he isn't what he was before all this happened but he is alive.

So I came back in time to take my NBME which I was not very optimistic about and I must say that I see what I am studying so hard for now.  I don't know why I took so long to take it in the first place but I honestly should've taken it sooner.  I can say that I probably have a clearer map of what my study schedule should be opposed to what it was.  I also will add that I did not want to purchase UWorld until I got back from the cruise and I honestly probably should've subscribed sooner.  I love this question bank so much better than the Kaplan Qbank we got access from the school.  The lectures are there if I need them but I can clearly see that I wasted so much time going through that thing. But I don't want to give advise just yet because I am waiting for the results of my NBME at this point.  I want to be optimistic about the results but realistically, I hadn't studied since February because all that has gone on.  I tried to here and there but it was way too crazy for that to happen.

At this point, I am continuing to study for Step 1 aiming for a new goal of June.  My original goal was to take the test in April but that has come closer than expected.  I think now that I know what to be prepared for, I am not worried about anything else at this time.  I would ask for continued prayers for my dad and his health and all the other students at this time also studying for Step 1.  Match day was a while back and SJSM still hasn't posted anything about the people that have matched this year.  I would presume a lot because the school has grown and more and more people are passing Step 1 than before.

So before I go, I promised some pictures of me while I was on the cruise so let me show you some of my happiness.

Chicago Car Show for My Birthday

Hair for my birthday!

Cruise boat: Carnival Fantasy

Towel animal while on the cruise

Cozumel's San Francisco Beach

I hope these few pictures do justice of all the fun I seemed to be having but I assure you that I am not having any fun with the UWorld questions.  I would ask for continued prayers for success.  I thank you all for reading about my adventures to becoming a doctor.  If you have any questions about SJSM or Caribbean medical schools in general, please don't hesitate to send me a message and I try to respond within a few hours no matter what time of day it is.


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

So It Has Been A While.....Forgive ME!

I would just like to ask for forgiveness for leaving all of you out there hanging on what is going on with my life.  I would just like to say that since the last time that I wrote, I have just been a busy little bee studying her life away.  Honestly, AICM just included a rotation for a minimum of two hours per week of various doctors that you essentially watch or talk about how to treat patients.  There were some doctors that were better than others but it is not my place to blast them on here.  My friends and I enjoyed each of our rotations and learned from them differently.  I would say the biggest things were the fact that everything was beginning to come together.

Honestly, while learning the material on the island, the information doesn't make any sense.  Talking with the doctors made us understand that all those little details matter.  Often, I have been told that I should be careful not to "over-study" but I beg to differ.  Is there a such thing as over-studying for the Step 1?  If anyone has an answer to that, I beg you to comment below so my friends can get some information from you.

So I am sure you are dying to find out what is going to happen next with me.  Well, right now, I plan to just study like crazy.  I honestly don't have anything coming up that is spectacular unless you mean my birthday in February and a cruise in March.  Plus, when I get back from that, I plan to take the qualifying exam to take the Step 1 with school.  I must agree that this is a really bad idea but it was something that was planned in advance and I didn't think that this would be how it worked out but unfortunately that is how my schedule is flowing right now.

Also, I am continuing to teach some BLS/HeartSaver courses here and there now that my partner in crime, James, is back around.  If you would like more information about some of the trainings we offer, just visit www.trainchicagoheart.org.  We are still working in conjunction with the Anguilla campus so you can expect some overlap.  We successfully turned the Anguilla program over to two other lovely students who are doing wonderful with the program despite also being responsible for their coursework as well.  I must say that I am extremely proud of them.  They are featured in the Newsletter featured on the SJSM website.

Also, not relevant, but I am pictured in the January 2017 newsletter on page 5 reviewing an exam with some other classmates.  I still remember that day and I must say that it was interesting to get my picture taken while discussing my exam with the professor.  To recap, the picture was during my third semester which is considered the most difficult semester for students to master.

But other than these tidbits, what else do I have to show for myself?   Umm.....would you like to see some of my Step 1 notes?  I'm just kidding but if anyone still has any questions about anything, I am still happy to answer.  I can take a 5-10 minute break every few hours to answer any burning questions that one would have about school.

Maybe before I end, I should explain what my hold up is right now so that people understand my path and where I am going.  So right now, I am studying for the USMLE Step 1 which is a test taken by foreign medical graduates and American medical students alike.  It is a test that determines your fate of what you are to become it seems like the good book does when we get to heaven.  (Give me props for that analogy if you can!)  My school has us (its students) take a qualifying exam (NBME) to determine if we are ready to sit for the Step 1.  Upon passing that, we are allowed to sign up for the Step 1 and write that exam.  The current passing score for the Step 1 is currently 192 with the average being in the 220s.  Of course me, being the overachiever that I am, strive to be a little above that.

I already mentioned before that I plan to take the qualifying exam at the end of March.  Based on the results of that exam, determines my next steps.  My ultimate goal is to successfully pass the Step 1 by August so that I am able to participate in Match by 2019.  So I asked for continuous prayers of my success in those endeavors.  I also don't want to have a never ending cycle of repeating learning the same things over and over which also explain my sense of urgency.  So if anyone is wondering why I am becoming a hermit, this should explain it all.  So peace and quiet it shall be!

I extend hope and prayers for all the students that are currently studying with me and pray they all pass with the scores that they desire.  Just know that my journey is far from over and it is continuing on.  I am just at a mountain currently but I am climbing and I have the equipment necessary to reach the top.  I will try to update you monthly throughout the journey with details of celebrating my birthday and going on the cruise plus the qualifying exam. Thank you all for your many well wishes.

Although Christmas has passed by a month, here's a family picture including my brother that was in the motorcycle accident on my iPad.  Please continue to pray for his recovery.

Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up.

Galations 6:9, CEB

Honesty is Key*

Hello All!  I am sure you have been waiting anxiously to see how my semester ended and what exactly happened during MD3.  Well, .......Life happened.  I must admit that it was a very tough semester but I pulled through without letting it break me down.

It began with a peer and me working on a project to educate Anguillians in CPR but it didn't end that way.  There was some resistance from the community that we did not anticipate.  Luckily, we were still able to educate the students at school.  Because it was a student-run project, we were able to log some tutoring hours because the certification is a requirement for the AICM semester that is currently held in Chicago.  If you want to see a video I made about the project, you can look here.  Never mind the music.  It was my first one.  A better quality video is to be uploaded shortly.  The information about the project is also to be updated as well.

Also during MD3, I lived every moment in the library.  There were some naps, tears and laughing that may have occurred but mostly studying to say the least.  I say all this to assure you that although I did have my outlet by teaching CPR that I also made time to study.  And here's some proof!

I still ate well and lost some weight through the semester but I assure you that it wasn't stress.  I was supposed to be preparing for the annual 5K event that is held on the island by the Red Cross but that didn't exactly happen because I wanted to sleep a little bit.  But I can sleep when I'm dead right?  Plus sleep is overrated.

So even after all the studying and writing to memorize drugs and pathologies, it still wasn't enough.  I when I say that, this wasn't enough.  Yes this is as bad as it looks to learn.  But I  prevailed with this material.  Life was a juggling act and unfortunately two things fell out of place.

So what am I saying?  I am saying that I did not pass two classes during the regular semester.  I did not plan to put myself in that position but I must say that things happen beyond your control.  What could have contributed to this?  It could be many things.  It could be the added stress of having class until 5 pm each day and taking a break until 7 pm or it could be the time that I stayed up late to bake and eat chocolate chip cookies.  Or from having to write a 5 page paper for Walden University or completing my vRx assignment for pharmacology.  As you see, it could be a number of items.

So what now?  Well I went home for break after my exams.  My family and friends were very supportive and demanded that every moment be dedicated to studying.  Honestly, I did not want to study.  I was becoming content with the idea that if I had to stay a semester longer that I would be okay.  After some thought, I began to develop the confidence that these exams were to be conquered by me.  So here at Saint James, currently, there is an opportunity to "redeem" yourself if you fail the course during the regular.  So there is a cumulative exam that you have the opportunity to take.  In order to pass the course of which you must score a 70% and that allows you to pass the course.

So after the endless hours of being told to study, it is safe to say that.............


I PASSED!!! Woohoo!!!  I am now in my final semester of Basic Sciences!  So let me catch up on what I missed in the last 3 days.  So I will run now to study hard and make all of you proud!  Oh what can this semester bring?

And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

-1 Kings 2:3-4, KJV 

Busy Bee in MD3

I must say that I know why all the upperclassmen were running around like their heads were cut off.  This semester has things constantly due and quizzes to always study for.  And then, when you think you studied enough, you haven't at all.  Then you go back to the slides to review the same material you may have reviewed 15 times before.  And sometimes even after that, you must reread them again.

I can honestly say that this semester will be more of an isolation type deal.  I think I have communicated with my family less than I have in previous semesters.  Mainly communication is about the upcoming big day or White Coat.  Although it isn't until next semester, it is still something to look forward to and be excited for.  Plus it is a mechanism for keeping my eye on the prize.  So far, it looks as if it will be August 13th which is the week after Carnival.  Talk about a bit of excitement.

I will mention that this semester has challenging classes but it may only be considered challenging because class is everyday until 5 pm.  Yes, we have class from 8 am to 5 pm.  Monday through Friday.  Three of my five classes are five days a week as well.  It sounds worse than what it actually is.  At the end of the day, you want a doctor knowledgeable in diagnosing infections, knowing the drugs to treat the condition and if there should be any other conditions to consider.

This is also going on while my friend and I are trying to accomplish a project of educating community members on CPR (this is the undisclosed project I mentioned in my previous post).  We have had everything come together at this point and it is really looking like we will be great at what we are doing.  We have our school's support and students leaving this island will have one item on their AICM checklist completed.  In case you are unaware of what AICM is, it is the fifth semester in which students have review for the USMLE Step 1 and preliminary rotations at the hospital in Chicago, Jackson Park.  From what I hear, they are trying to move the fifth semester to the island but rumors aren't true until it becomes reality.

By training the students for a reduced fee, we are saving the money to train community members.  This project is a very large commitment and more than what I expected but it is really making me rethink a lot of decisions.  The fact that I have the ability to educate others in something they need makes me want to make a life long goal of educating people of this gift that I have.  So that may be an introduction for a program I may want to execute in the future.  Or maybe one day call Anguilla home.  Who knows what the path of life will bring?

Not to mention that I am also involved in a research project of glaucoma prevelance on the island.  A professor had an idea to potentially pinpoint the amount of people that would be living on the island with Glaucoma.  There is no research about it thus far but we should have information regarding this eventually.  Although it may appear to be a lot, it is still what I think I am called to do.  I am greatful for the opportunity to participate in all of these lovely activities.  After attending church yesterday, I can only end with this:

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NLT

Later this week, I have an assignment to visit a senior citizen's home.  If I am allowed, I will try to take a few pictures and get a few good stories to give readers some entertainment.  If you would like to help me with my project for educating Anguilla on CPR, please do not hesitate to email me.  To all, stay blessed and I appreciate your prayers for greatness!  Have a blessed week!