Memorable Monday

"When things get really small, they start acting really strange." -chem prof.

(not sure if he was taking about atoms or my children....)

Time is running out.

I added a couple of countdowns to my blog page. It is almost time for finals!

UNBELIEVABLE!

Semester #1 is almost over.

13 months until the MCATS.

But that's a whole 'nother countdown that I am NOT ready to begin.

First.

Chemistry.

When I Grow Up....

I just finished my paper for biology.

It was all about what I want to do when I grow up.

If only I hadn't asked myself this question a hundred thousand times in the last 5 minutes, then maybe it would have been easier to write.

Or something like that.

And really, it's not like I have to commit to whatever I wrote down on that paper...it's just that writing it down makes it all seem so much more real.

Not that the hours upon hours of homework aren't making it that real, you know....

Saturday (clever title, eh?)

It's Saturday.

Aren't you supposed to get to sleep until noon on Saturday?

Yeah, but not me. Today I will be:

1. Writing TWO separate reports
2. Taking ONE practice test
3. Taking TWO online quizzes
4. Redoing ONE biology exam for extra credit
5. Making a menu for a family of 7 to last until December
6. Cleaning the house of 7 people for the first time since September. (JUST kidding...sort of)
7. Grading my 5th graders math from last week
8. Making next week's lesson plans
9. Smacking myself on the head repeatedly while chanting "what was I thinking? what was I thinking? what was I thinking?"

So, go out and enjoy your Saturday and pity me. I will gladly accept it.

I made my bed...now if only I could lie in it!

...what was I thinking....

Dear fellow pre-med students,

My good friend gave me this shirt to wear at school today:
I hope you aren't easily offended by the truth!

Warmest regards,
The 30something premed.

Tonight I miss teaching

Ever have one of those moments when you think to your self, "Self, what in the world are you doing?"

And then you respond to yourself "Well, Self, I have no earthly CLUE what I am doing...."

Yeah, I had one of those moments tonight.

Well, I have those moments OFTEN. Tonight's was just more prolific.

I miss teaching. I do. I really enjoyed the classroom. I love the interaction with the students. I even, gasp, loved the grading and the lesson plans and the teacher's meetings.

So, what the heck am I doing in pre-med?

We had a colloquium at school (isn't that a fun word?) this evening and we heard 3 science teachers talk about how great their jobs are, trying to convince us that education is a great career choice. I found myself nodding my head so hard that it now currently hurts.

And then, in lab this evening, I (SHOCKER) actually understood the calculations and was able to teach them to a few other groups and it just made my heart ache for the classroom.

Granted, I'm not sure which I am more excited about...the understanding or the teaching...

However, for tonight, I just miss teaching.

Another Reason...

What this girl does every day is another reason why I am going into medicine...grab kleenex and go read.

The Difference

I am trying to figure out what the difference is between my chemistry and biology courses. I mean, there are obvious differences, like content and such. There are just some underlying oddities that make me go hmmm....

(which then makes me want to break into some C & C Music Factory songs...but I digress).

Here is one example: last week I had a kickin' Chemistry exam. I literally spent 24 hours (I counted) studying for that exam and still did not do as well as I hoped. Little bit of crying was done. For sure. I am a girl with real emotions, after all.

I have a biology exam in 15 minutes that I am not even remotely panicked over. I've spent a few hours this week preparing but NOTHING like I did for chemistry. I fully expect to do well.

Example 2: I have a solid A in bio. Chemistry? Not so much.

Example 3: The students in bio are not as well-behaved as the students in chemistry. It is really not fair to my bio prof. because she is really good and really smart and really makes things interesting. Maybe it is because my chem prof. blows things up in class and the students are afraid that they could be next. Just a thought...

Example 4: I am really looking forward to the next level of biology classes (genetics this spring!) and am really dreading organic chemistry and physics (fall 2010), for that matter.

So, what's the deal? What's the difference? I don't know and I guess it really doesn't matter.

I still have to take them. Means to an end and all that.

Ah, deep thoughts.

Better go take my exam now.

Man.

Well, stink.

I literally spent over 24 (non-consecutive) hours studying for my latest Chem exam and I still only got a c.

Stink.

I'm seriously considering plan B.

But the thirtysomething pre-nursing program just doesn't have the same ring.