#ginger student

February 7th, 2022

Hey, hey, heeeey!

I finally passed all of my exams. Thank God.

I had to postpone my last exam - biophysics. I had to take it at 1st February, because after exhausting chemistry exam, I had to take two days off. I didn't feel like studying and I had slight symptoms of covid :/ But I was fine, nothing serious happened.

Yeah, biophysics was difficult, 225 topics/questions and they choose only two for exam. Will they choose Doppler effect? Will they choose ECG? Nobody knows!

But at least I got pretty good questions, synapses and types of ametropia. So my final mark was B (as Biophysics :D)

Now, I got a week off, but I will slowly study anatomy, so it won't be a huge shock for me to be back at school :)

My personal opinion is that summer semester is going to be easier (?) I got pretty much time between classes so I will definitely visit library a lot!

Classes I will take 2nd semester at medical school:

Anatomy II.

Medical Informatics

Biology II.

Histology and Embryology

Social Medicine

English for Medical workers

Sports

So, this is for now, I will surely comment on my further studies :)

Ruth's Random Rambles 2 - Week 3

Finally I can say that the days are flowing day by day much quicker. The question is if I have enough time to prepare for two really difficult exams after Christmas.

I kinda enjoyed this week, mostly because I prepared well for anatomy class, which lifted my mood :)

Some short tests were already taken, my opinion is that the score might be good.

Also I found website called studytogether.com . I was wondering for longer time about finding study buddy or joining some virtual study room. So I will give it a chance if it'll help me with finding more time to study, to focus more and be more productive. Do you have any experience?

Next week, there are short tests ahead of me about lymphatic system, about cinetics of enzymatic reactions and about arteries and veins of head. I will try my best to prepare well and not stress about it, because stress is unhealthy.

Ruth's Random Rambles - Week 3

I decided to create this "series" to relax a bit from school and to keep this blog active :)

It's already middle of the week 3 of my first semester at medical school. Let me be honest, it's hell. There's too much to study, too much papers to fill and too little time. I still have no idea how people in higher years managed to pass all of the exams.

Currently, chemistry is a huge problem for me. Equations, pH, solutions, titrations,... I have to score more than 60% on my exams and this scares me! God, I hope I will pass my exams.

About anatomy, well, we are still studying upper limb. This week was about muscles. Anatomy is all about memorizing and revising.

The biggest struggle for me is keeping myself motivated. It was only 2 weeks into semester and I already searched for a job, because I thought I won't make everything on time and it made me feel down.

Ruth's Random Rambles - Weeks idk

May 20th, 2022

I am back!

This few weeks were difficult, I am sorry about leaving you here. But I hope you will forgive me my absence.

I passed all of my credit tests, now, there are only 2 exams left. Both in one week.

I could use this as a summary of the 2nd semester at medical school. Summer semester was a bit calmer than the previous one. Even though we got new subjects, anatomy became more difficult, but still, I think I enjoyed it as much as possible.

Anatomy lecture on monday morning. Still in online form. But the professor promised next semester lectures will be in present form in university aula. I like it there, the atmosphere, memories from taking entrance exam....aaaah. This semester we studied internal organ systems. GIT, respiratory tract, urogenital tract, muscles etc. I liked it more than limbs. They were way too complicated. I must say our teacher at practicals in dissection room was great! I am already praying she will be with us next semester as well. She explained and showed us everything we wanted to know, told us what is necessary to remember, what they usually ask at credit tests and exams.... One thing I didn't like during lectures was that professors examined us, asked us many questions. For someone else it might be fine this interactive form, but I prefer to study anatomy at once, not by parts. So I do not prepare, study for every lesson, but I study after 2 or 3 lessons everything at once so I have it more compact.

Medical English. I think it was waste of time. If we studied medical vocabulary, terms, it would be much more useful. But the way the lessons were presented, to me, it felt like English for elementary school. We played games, the tests were a bit too easy. The only "productive" thing we did was presentation. The topic had to be anything medical. At least I passed with A, so I don't have to deal with this anymore.

Medical Informatics. Another waste of time, but this time, the teacher and whole department was too strict and tried to make informatics centre of our studies at faculty. We took 3 tests, the last one I didn't pass, so I had to retake it on Friday. Really, who wants to retake test on Friday?! Also, another presentation during week 14. 5 slides were enough so I could "slack" it a bit. But it was nightmare.

Mondays evenings were all about sports and body forming. So I wouldn't miss 2 credits, I had to take sports. It was fun! Even though mornings after were hard, but really, the trainer was great and fun to be with, understanding, really, I can't say anything bad about sports :) At least I had something that helped to take my mind off of studying and school.

Biology. This whole semester was about genetics. For me, it was pleasing, because I like solving problems in genetics. The only thing that bothered me was that the seminars were a bit too long. But otherwise, I found it really fine and if microbiology will be in the same form as this subject, I might enjoy it as well. Also, there is exam in front of me, which I have to pass, so I hope I will have enough luck.

Histology and Embrylogy. Practicals were very good. The teacher was very nice to us, helped us with everything and I felt that she is professional in her field. We had this friendly relationship with her. Also during the practical exam which was yesterday, she was kind, calmed us down. Really, she has every trait a good teacher has to have. The lectures, to be honest, I could do without them. The professor just told us everything we found in textbook, no facts, no explanation, she just told us the whole book from the memory.

And the last, Social medicine. My opinion is that this subject should be taken later during medschool. We talked about different minorities, how we are supposed to treat them, about the support from state, how affected families can ask for help, about organisations and support groups. It was fine subject, but not for this young students, who will see real patient in 3 years.

So, this is my quick summary of this summer semester. I hope the exams will be fine and that I will pass with ease.

Let the next semester be at least as good as this was!

Ruth's Random Rambles - Week 9 and 10

April 23rd, 2022

Hey!

I thought it would be better if I made one post for these two weeks, since there were Easter holidays, so I didn't spend much time at school. Only four days in two weeks. Fair, isn't it?

In week nine, I had Anatomy test. The test was crazy! They asked too many details and nothing about gastrointestinal tract. All of the questions were about peritoneum and related structures. But I scored 20/25 so I did pretty well :D

On Wednesday, I just had Histology lesson and then I took train home. Afternoon, I still had Social medicine seminar, but it was okay. The topic was homelessness.

I thought I will be sooooo productive during Easter, but nah, I was lazy. The only task I finished was that I devided my studying for the week 14 when there will be 3 credit tests at once.

Then, I came back to school only for Histology practicals. It was fine, we discussed bone and ossification and a little bit of muscular tissue. It was fine.

There are only 4 weeks left. I am curious, how I will survive through them.

Ruth's Random Rambles - Week 4

March 12th, 2022

Spring is already in the air (no, this was not supposed to be joke about people with asthma or allergies), and me as a student can feel the presence of the spring not just by pretty sunny days, light wind and small flowers blooming, but also by the fear of midterm exams. Yeah, week five brings the first wave of exams. Monday - Informatics and Tuesday - Anatomy.

I am not as scared of Informatics as I am scared of Anatomy. We got only thorax, heart and respiratory system, but still, you never know what they will ask in the test.

If you wondered about the tulip, I got it from my cousin for International Women's Day <3

Yeah, so my week was full of nervosity and studying, but I hope I will make it all work and pass all my exams :)

Ruth's Random Rambles - Week 4

Week four finished, 10 more left of the first semester.

Monday was terrible. I got my score from the first short test from chemistry - 84%. Every week we write this short test and at the end of semester, you're supposed to score on average more than 60%. Oh, also, tomorrow I got this "bigger exam". I have no idea what to expect there. Teachers gave us topics, but I still feel like I have no idea what will be on test.

On Tuesday, during anatomy at dissection room, I saw complete body for the first time. It might sound weird, but it was really cool to see, how complex human body is, how everything is connected.

The rest of the week was pretty much boring, nothing special happened.

Tomorrow starts week 5. First bigger exam, optics at biophysics, inervation of upper limb,... Too much to study, too little time :(

Hello! I am back! August is behind the corner, school days are getting closer and closer. On September 16th, I have introduction to medical studies. I am so excited.

Also, I flipped through the pages of my anatomy books. First topics will cover skeleton and muscles. To be honest, I am terrified of face muscles :D I am sure I will feel uncomfortable after seeing cadaver ooops

16th July - Do you have any summer traditions?

Not really. But one thing I noticed is that every summer I did something to my hair. Once I dyed it Ariel red, next summer it was purple, then I cut my bangs and last summer I dyed my hair ginger. This summer, I am thinking about getting curtain bangs, but we will see... So I guess my tradition is to change my hair.

17th July - What is your typical daily routine in the summer?

On days when I am working, I wake up at 4 am, have light breakfast, go to work, come home at 8 pm, then I do a few Duolingo lessons, take shower and go to sleep. (So sad, I know)

When I have day off, I wake up at 6 or 7, have a cup of coffee, watch morning show on tv, then I do Duolingo lessons and stories, walk the dog, clean the house and my room, journal a bit, then in late afternoon, I visit my aunt, we drink coffee (sometimes wine) and chat. Then I read a book or scroll socials and in the evening, I watch movies. (Boring af)

18th July - How do you stay motivated during the summer? (for example, to study)

This summer it is a little bit more difficult, since I am not spending most of my days at home. But I will tell you example, I am completing Duolingo lessons, because of my 180 days streak. Does it count as motivation?

19th July - Do you stay indoors or outdoors more in the summer?

It's 50:50.

20th July - Are you a ‘summer person’?

Not at all. I am glad it is finally warm outside, but I prefer spring or autumn.

21st July - What is an unpopular opinion that you have about summer?

School holidays are a bit too long. In my country, holidays last 2 months, college students have longer holidays. I think, 2 months at once is a bit too much. I would prefer having holidays like this: School from September to Christmas, then maybe 3 weeks of holidays in April or May and then August.

22nd July - What does summer feel like where you live?

It feels....fine? I live in Central Europe, so we do not have any sea, but I live in area that is influenced by the mountain climate, so our temperatures are not that high, but I still feel like in sauna.

23rd July - Would you prefer summer to be hotter or colder than it usually is for you?

Colder!!!

24th July - Would you prefer your summer to be shorter or longer?

If we talk about the season, then I am okay with how it is now :)

25th July - Daytime or nighttime – what’s your favourite time during summer?

Suprisingly, I prefer nighttime. I am usually morning person and most active before noon, but it changes in summer where I am opposite.

26th July - Do your sleeping habits change during summer?

I go to sleep later in the night.

27th July - Do your eating habits change during summer?

Yes, for me it is easier to do 20+ hours fasting during summer than in winter sooooo.... that's what I do (#not pro any eating disorder)