#systems physiology

Tonic Smooth Muscle -- always partially contracted -- relatively low resting potential

Phasic Smooth Muscle -- contracts in bursts -- triggered by action potentials

I’ve been putting off making this post for a while. Not because I didn’t want to, but because it meant putting all of these emotions into words and accepting the reality of it. This year, I was supposed to be finishing up my second (and last!!) pre-professional year, and was supposed to start my first of four professional years starting September. But Spring semester of PP2 kind of came around and kicked me in the butt. In short, my classes/schedule was as followed:

Organic Chemistry II

Systems Physiology

Organic Chemistry Lab

History of Pharmacy

Chemistry TI

Residence Assistant Class

Meanwhile, I had two other part-time jobs ranging from 5-10 hours/week. So all in all, I didn’t do very well. I ended up failing Systems Physiology and passing Organic Chemistry II by the skin of my teeth. Literally. I don’t know how I passed with a 42% on my final.

So now, i’m retaking Systems Physiology and if I do well (C or above but aiming for at least a B+), I can carry on with my program as though nothing happened.

With failing systems, I had a lot of shame in myself. I have never failed a course. I have never just gotten by. 

Basically, I didn’t know how to make this a learning experience instead of letting it define me.

As i’m retaking systems, I’m still struggling with that. I don’t doubt that i’ll pass. Hell, I think i’ll do really well, but knowing that I couldn’t push myself to do better during the school year really eats at me. I feel guilty for failing and wasting my parents’ money. I feel guilty for letting down my parents. I feel guilty for wasting my own time. And I feel so ashamed that i’m in this position. 

Anticipating that all goes well, my schedule/course load for Fall semester looks a little like this:

Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Pathophysiology

Introduction to Pharmaceutics

Pharmacy and Practice Management

Introduction to Pharmacy Care

Leadership in Pharmacy

Chemistry TI

Resident Assistant Class

Which totals up to a whipping 21.5 credits. I was hoping to get intern for CVS Pharmacy and had to turn down all the offers i’ve received thus far. And during every call, I kept questioning if I were doing the right thing. If I turn down this opportunity now, will it ever come again? Failing this one course has started to make me question every decision, no matter how minute. And i’m angry at myself for questioning myself. 

But there’s good news:

Since i’m only taking one class this summer, this gives me a chance to completely revamp my studying techniques. My professor is really intense (i.e. we finished 330 of the 999 pages in just 4 days), but it gives me the opportunity to re-learn how I study. And this is what I wanted to share.

Before class: I read the chapter the professor is going to discuss that day and take notes on a notepad. Day 1:

Day 2: I incorporated color-coding into my note-taking

Then, I transfer and rewrite my notes into a bigger notebook:

During class, I take notes in different colors to keep me focused:

I also found that I slacked a lot in bullet journaling :( 

So this is me trying to pick it back up:

My bullet journal is so wrecked from all the rain damage.

Small children having temper tantrums sometimes attempt to manipulate parents by threatening to hold their breath until they die. However, the chemoreceptor reflexes make it impossible for the children to carry out that threat. Extremely strong-willed children can continue holding their breath until they turn blue and pass out from hypoxia, but once they are unconscious, normal breathing automatically resumes.