Always question, always wonder.

I remember when I started my first “medschool” year, which, here in Switzerland (and also in France), is the most selective year. I was so anxious and depressed because I was constantly comparing myself to everyone around me, tried to copy some study methods that didn’t worked for me and literally spent every single day doing nothing but sitting on my desk writing and re-writing my notes. That year I lost 6 kilos, cried every 2 days, did zero physical activity and I was feeling like a total failure. And you know what happened? I failed the final exam. I didn’t pass the first year. I was devastated and lost nearly all my self esteem.

I spent the whole summer being sad, angry, and, on top of it, frustrated and jealous of the others that passed.

Hopefully, I had a loving family and an amazing boyfriend that supported me and motivated me to give it a second try (AKA the last one, as you can’t apply for medicine in the whole country of Switzerland if you fail 2 times).

But that second try was different. Of course, I already knew the program but that wasn’t sufficient at all. I had to review everything all over again, and i realized how limited my comprehension was the first time. I did physics and chemistry quizzes EVERY DAY till I knew all of them by heart. I memorised all the metabolic pathways by drawing them again and again. I wrote all my notes on my computer, printed them and organised them in little self-made textbooks. Plus, for the first time, I worked out nearly every day, saw my friends more often and actually ENJOYED my studies. I stopped comparing myself to everyone and focused only on ME and MY METHODS. I tested my self every week, and ASKED FOR HELP when I needed.

When the final exam arrived, I felt like I had already seen the questions. My brain was fusing and all the memorised information came to me. I passed the year, with a 80% score. Now I’m about to start my 4th year as a medical student. I sold my little text-books notes for a tutoring class. I’m living the happiest life I’ve never lived before. And, that little cat on the picture has been supporting me by sitting on my lap for the whole journey.

3/100

Today was obviously not my day. Overslept, ate candy, didn’t manage to catch up with study plan - although I succeeded to go over one huge, difficult exam question and finish the chapter.

So I decided not to beat myself up over it: I lit some candles, put bergamot essential oil in candle scent diffuser, and turned on the music. I need to chill a bit.

2 / 100 Days of Productivity

• went jogging in the morning (got farther than I thought I would)

• looked through the semester plans for my courses, still have to find copies for some of them…

• did a lot of errands on my bike (took about 2 hours)

• tended to my plants, got a new pot (the right one in the picture; I am awfully proud of every new leaf and light green and root and centimeter that they grow)

• made dinner for my family

• since we had our first History lesson today, I now know which of the small books from the library I’ll have to read first. Today I finished a quarter of the one about Nero.

• I nearly finished Anne of Avonlea!

PLUS!!:

Women have always been at the forefront of literature, the first novel (what we would consider a novel in modern terms) was written by a woman (Lady Muraskai’s the Tale of Genji in the early 1000s) take your snide “Isaac Asimov” reblogs and stick it

even in terms of male scifi authors, asimov was predated by Jules Verne, HG Wells, George Orwell, you could have even cited Poe or Jonathan Swift has a case but Asimov?

8.11.18 - 6

today’s day 5 of my study buddy challenge with @ciliastudy!

priscilla’s message: today wasn’t a v productive day but I still got through a chapter ish more of trig review and I managed to start some fun reading! ‘Tis an actual crime that I’ve never read the Illiad or the Odyssey and I intend to rectify that

it’s understandable that you can’t get as much done when you’re vacationing, but every bit counts! i won’t be able to post tomorrow, so check out her blog for both of our posts!