Wednesday, September 24, 2008

We can do this!

Today was the dreaded first bacteriology exam. Of course, my preemptive stress has me more concerned with the dreaded pharmacology midterm next week, that most 3rd year's remember as being a serious doozy. While many people thought bacteriology was horrible, there were enough questions to get some wrong and I have high hopes that achieved a B, which is fine by me! After the exam we had a short pathology lecture with Professor Sponenberg, who is sarcastic, weird, and funny. He took the extra time to give us a pep talk to remember the day we got accepted and keep that excitement and to know that minus a few exceptions look at the graduation wall and remember that the majority of us will make it. He promises that in the middle of 4th semester at some point we will actually be putting this stuff together and thinking like real veterinarians.

For some classmates this was a good pep talk following the exam. For me, it reminded me how excited I am to be in vet school; to be a part of this profession, to contribute to it and get back from it one day. It was the pep talk I need to know that pharmacology is doable and I will get to October 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas break!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Is it winter break yet?

Despite the fact that it is only the 5th week of class, I am ready to live with Matt again. I am ready for winter break. I am getting tired of now I see him, now I don't. At the same time, I am more used to it and it is going much better than last year. This weekend he is off to Nebraska to cheer on the Hokies and see his family, which is great...for him. It also means it will be 10+ days until I see him again. Granted I have 3 exams and a quiz to pass between now and then, but that only makes me feel marginally better, or worse. One of my classmates says she just immerses in her studies when she misses her significant other, so I suppose I'll have to do the same.

This weekend was quiet and involved some good sleep and productive library time. Matt is studying for his LEED certification and I studied for bacteriology. It was quite productive. I look forward to studying with Matt again in a few weeks until he passes his exam.

We went for a nice run at Pandapas Pond, the September Blacksburg weather has been absolutely beautiful, which makes long library days a necessary crime.

Today when Matt left he looked at me and said, "just keep plugging and remember why you're here." I know I want to be a great veterinarian one day, but why does it have to hurt this much sometimes?

Friday, September 19, 2008

Sometimes the Plan has to Change

I hate disappoint some inquiring readers, but details on the complimentary medicine class may have to wait until next year. I caved under the stress and dropped the class. I felt so much better after I did. I felt like I could breathe. This week was rough and I did not realize that in addition to all day Saturday and the 3 nights this week, the class was also meeting next Monday night. With a huge bacteriology exam looming, it didn't seem possible to lose half the weekend and Monday night and be prepared enough for bacteriology. I was so confused and really did not want to drop it. A friend suggested I talk to the assistant dean, and he put it in perspective. These are core classes versus an elective and if I am that stressed about it, I can take it next year or as CE credit as a practicing yet (here's hoping). While I know I am missing a great class I really did need the time. Although I have been studying for the pathology exam all semester, I still studied for 7 straight hours last night and probably did okay on the exam but definitely not an A. So, I needed the study time for path and I know I'll need it for bacteriology. while the class will be amazing, it was not worth that added stress right now.

Needless to say I was beat today and instead of having a productive FRiday afternoon at te library and the gym I went home for a nap, then to the gym (I love rowing class), but have not done much studying yet. I guess if I was this exhausted today I would have been more exhausted if I took the elective, so another positive of dropping it.

I would like to take this time to wish my best friend Roxy a happy 30th birthday. In the honor of life as a vet student, I cannot make it to celebrate her birthday with her. Oh the sacrifices we make just to be a veterinarian.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Comp Med- dropping like flies

So many classmates are dropping out of this class due to Pathology exam stress. I hope it does not bite me in the butt, but I am going to stay the course. As for complimentary medicine lectures (I had a question, yeah). It includes chiropractic, acupuncture and nutritive therapy in horse and dog and applying Chinese medicine with Western medicine.

More details to come, as I hope this class will be the reward for an exhausting week. It's only Tuesday.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

It's about to get ugly guys!

Ugly yes, yet possibly very rewarding. This week is the after-hours complementary medicine elective, which I have wanted to take since before I got into school and drooled over all the classes I could take. Because it's an elective it's Wed-Fri 6-8 pm and Saturday all day. This week is also the first big exam week. One pharmacology quiz tomorrow, clinical nutrtion final Wednesday and a huge nas cary path exam Friday. The next 2 weeks are only marginally better. To top it off my weekend next weekend will be shortened due to the elective class and I won't see Matt the following weekend because he is off to see the Hokies play Nebraska at Nebraska. Needless to say, the next few weeks will be rough academically and emotionally for me. But I am dealing.

This weekend was fun mainly because the VT Georgia Tech game was a great (close) game, and also a scorcher. So it may be a while before the next update, but hopefully positive thoughts will get me through. After these next 3 weeks, it does calm down a little and I'll be more acclimated to the world of intense exams by then (I hope).

I am upset though because I have done a pretty good job at staying on top of all my classes, yet it will all fall by the wayside this week studying for 3 exams and being in class until 8. C'est la vie!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Biding My Time

Despite a super fun bovine restrain lab last Friday, I have not written. Things are pretty good in vet school land, considering it's second year. But that is all about to change. I have not written because I am taking all the time I currently have to avoid the unavoidable horror that will start next week with 2 exams and a night class in complementary medicine. I have wanted to take complementary medicine since before I got accepted to school and would drool over the classes I could take.

Of course it couldn't be a worse week for 6-8 class Wednesday through Friday and Saturday 8-4. It interferes with studying for 2 major exams and my best friend's surprise 30th birthday Saturday. Such are the woes of a vet student.

Anyway back to last week. Last week went well and I am trying to be proactive and keep up on most classes, in order to make it through the rest of the semester with some success and some (not much) sleep. The first football game of the year was not a great showing for Tech, but a fun time for me sitting with my vet school friends this year. I am very excited for the game this weekend. It's not until 3:30pm, and we vet students are sooo excited we have the whole morning to study and soem time to tailgate!!

So this week I am enjoying the lower stress level because next week the real fun I know and love (hate) will begin!

Vet school notes: I really did love playing with cows last week and cannot wait for cow lab take 2 on Wednesday. I also joined the Equine club this year to get more horse experience. Tomorrow is the Royal Canin luncheon, which I hope will be a huge success.

Here's to week 3 of second year. Wake me up when it ends.