Vet school is tough, you will hear that frequently from the moment you decide you are going to apply, until well after you've been accepted and enrolled in your classes. It can be hard to pack up your entire life and move into a professional career, especially if you are just coming out of undergrad. What is professional school like? Do you really need textbooks? What about a calculator? Notebooks? It can be confusing, and fortunately, many schools have forums and Facebook groups for incoming students to join and they can have all these questions answered. But if you're not into social media, fear not. I'll tell you what I think are the essentials for your first year in vet school.
iPad: or some sort of tablet or laptop. This will be a life saver in lecture, as well as outside of lecture. You can download all the power points into a note-taking app such as One Note or Notability (I prefer Notability), and then highlight, add notes, or customize the presentations for your studying. Many students take notes directly on their electronic device. I am old school, and still hand write my notes, but I always have my iPad open with the lecture slides pulled up in case I miss something, because professors sometimes speak FAST.
Notebooks: For those of you who are like me, and learn best by hand writing your notes, notebooks are crucial. Now, any cheap notebook will suffice, so don't worry about getting the fancy five-subject notebooks, because chances are, you are going to have a LOT of notes. I actually went through an entire three subject notebook for one class in one quarter because I took so many notes, and often re-wrote my notes to help me remember. Because I used so much paper, the cheap notebooks were a better investment for second quarter.
Writing Supplies: Pencils are great, but they tend to smear, so I write my notes in pen. Actually several pens. I like to color code notes, and often will go over my notes when I study by underlining or boxing concepts and key ideas to remember. Highlighters are also excellent tools for color coding your notes, and highlighting texts. However, keep some #2 pencils on hand for those pesky scantrons!
Whiteboard: Whiteboards are great for quizzing your friends, and testing yourself with drawing out pathways for biochemistry, or blood vessels and nerves for anatomy. I use a small one during study group, but having a large one at home is great if you want to draw out larger maps or pathways. Have a collection of different colored dry erase markers to make your maps easy to navigate.
Textbooks: Okay, confession: I never bought the textbooks for classes. For the most part, the exam information was presented in class. However, the textbooks are a great source if you don't understand a concept and are looking for clarification , or if you are looking for additional information on a subject. So if you feel like you might even consider using the textbook, go for it and buy them. And buy them on Amazon, because they are cheaper!
Backpack: While backpacks don't necessarily look the most professional, they are the most practical for students who have large, heavy textbooks to carry, ie: vet students. Do yourself, and your back, a favor and use one with two straps rather than a messenger bag or tote. Your shoulders will thank you!
Planner: I don't care if you are the most organized person on Earth, having a planner will SAVE your life in vet school. Unlike undergrad, your classes rarely meet at the same time every week, and for many schools, some classes last only a few weeks and begin in the middle of the term. Being able to know when and where you need to be is always a good way to succeed in vet school. You can use an electronic device (I use iCal), or an old fashioned book-style planner. I keep my class schedule in the iCal, but use my other planner for everything else. I make my to-do lists daily, and keep track of all my exams, simulations, and volunteer events that way.
Printer: I really think this is a good investment for students. Sure you can print at the library, but having a printer at home comes in really handy for printing last minute things, especially if you are a night owl like myself. Having one with a scanner might come in handy as well, because you can scan notes into the computer and add them to Notability or OneNote.
Good Snacks: Okay, this is a little random, but I am a big snacker. I like to eat something every couple of hours. Not only does this help you stay awake in class, it keeps your blood sugar from dropping, and keeps your mind focused on lecture rather than lunch. I think whatever you like to eat is considered a good snack, as long as it isn't messy, have loud wrappers, or capable of stinking up a lecture hall. My favorite snacks for class are trail mixes, protein bars, and fruit or vegetables.
Good Bedding: I'm a huge advocate of the nap, and thanks to polyphasic sleep cycles, I take a lot of naps. Sleep is especially important in vet school, because it helps you maintain your mental health as well as your physical health. I refuse to sacrifice sleep unless I absolutely have to, and I make it a priority to ensure that I am well rested. The key to good sleep, in my book, is having good bedding. That means investing in a high quality mattress, and having sheets with a thread count of at least 400 (the higher the better). Also, have supportive pillows so you don't wake up with a headache or stiff neck. In addition, black out curtains have been an amazing investment, especially in sunny Arizona!
Scrubs: Chances are, you will probably have an anatomy lab. Scrubs are great for anatomy lab because they are comfortable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to clean. Your school may have a preference on color, but most are usually open in regard to brand. My favorite brands are Butter Soft and Urbane. I think the quality is excellent, but they are also really soft. Also, take the time to invest in some comfortable shoes. As ugly as they are, Danskos have saved my life when it comes to standing for long periods of time, plus they are easy to clean. And let's face it-anatomy lab is gross, and stuff is gonna get on your shoes.
Stethoscope: This is a necessary tool for all veterinarians to have, so invest in one early on so you can become comfortable with using one. I have the Littman Cardiology III, and it is awesome.
Penlight: You will need this for physical exams, and they are cheap, so pick one up early so you don't forget.
Watch: NOT Digital. I made that mistake, and it is incredibly hard to count six seconds if your using a digital watch. But it works nonetheless, it just takes me a little longer to calculate heart rates.
Those are the most crucial supplies I think first year vet students should have. What school supplies can't you live without?
Monday, November 16, 2015
Friday, November 13, 2015
Life Update
Okay, so I am sure many of you are wondering why I can't manage to keep up with this blog. I promise I am going to be better and stop neglecting you! But a lot has happened in the last three months, and I needed to focus my energy in other areas. But I'm back, and ready to roll with a whole new set of posts.
First off, I'm MOVING.
I know, I just moved to Arizona three months ago, so why am I moving already? Well, my advice to you all is to always look at the apartment or house you intend to rent. Get a feel for who the neighbors are, and take the time to ask current residents what they think of the complex. I did none of those things, and I really made a mistake in choosing my apartment for vet school.
My upstairs neighbor has been a nightmare from day 1. He seemed decent at first, but I noticed that my two dogs were extremely uneasy around him, and I started coming home at random times to check on them. Several times I observed my neighbor standing in front of my windows waving his arms and yelling at the dogs to make them bark. Once they were barking, he would tap on the window and curse at them for barking.
One time, I was home and caught him peering through the window looking for the dogs. I tried to brush off these incidents, but after catching him cursing at the dogs and peering into my home, I had to complain to the complex. They issued a cease and desist, but he seemed to only become upset that I had complained and proceeded to yell at the dogs every time he passed the window.
When another neighbor, an elderly man, confronted him for driving erratically around the parking lot, he lashed out and threatened physical harm to the old man. It was at that point I decided that I needed to move. The complex refused to waive the lease break fees, despite this being an issue of my safety. I spoke to the local police and notified them of the situation as well, so they could be aware of any incidents that may occur.
This whole experience caused a lot of stress and affected my ability to study. Instead of being able to enjoy my apartment, I live with cardboard over the windows, and spend most of the time in the bedroom. The neighbor has only gotten more violent and tried to annoy me further by stomping around his apartment, moving furniture, and making noise at all hours of the night. Because I could no longer focus on school and I constantly feared that he would hurt my dogs or myself, I chose to break the lease. I will be moving on the 24th to a complex right next to school, and will actually be living right by my friend Kelly.
Although this is an expensive decision, I feel that my safety and my dogs' safety is most important, and I no longer feel safe here. Because I am currently living off loans, I can no longer afford to go home for the holidays, which breaks my heart, but my family kindly understands why I had to make this decision. They started a fundraising page for me to help me pay off the rental complex.
If you would like to help, please consider donating or sharing this page with your friends and family. I would appreciate any little bit of help, especially if it meant that I could go back to Minnesota for Christmas.
To view the fundraising page click here.
Secondly, one of my dogs became deathly ill at the beginning of October. One afternoon, she began vomiting. Now, Georgia is a pig when she eats, so vomiting is nothing out of the ordinary for her. However, she continued to vomit every half hour for about four hours (on my couch, of course. Still working on getting the smell out). Then, she began urinating frequently, very large piles of clear urine. I called the Companion Animal Clinic at Midwestern, where I go to school, and after speaking to the veterinarians on staff, they told me to bring her in right away because her symptoms were so serious.
When I put her on the scale, I saw she was down to 12lbs. When we moved, she weighed 17lbs, meaning she had lost 5lbs in only two months. This was concerning, especially when we observed how dehydrated she was. The tech, Sean, (who was AMAZING, by the way) immediately took her back and got her on subcutaneous fluids and took blood and urine. The vet examined her and chose to put her on amoxicillin to begin dealing with any infection that may be present, and also gave us some cerenia, which was to help with her nausea. We also got some canned food to stimulate her appetite and help her start eating.
The next 24 hours were horrible. She continued to urinate every few minutes, and couldn't get comfortable. Finally, Dr. Bennett called with the blood and urine results. She diagnosed Georgia with pyelonephritis, which is an infection of the kidneys. They found both E.Coli and Klebsiella bacteria in her urine in amounts over 100,000 per ml, which is indicative of a very serious infection. She also had proteins in her urine, meaning her kidneys were really not working as they ought to be. We switched her to Baytril, which would battle both bacteria, especially the Klebsiella, which is known to be a resistant bacteria to many antibiotics.
The vet put her on a month of medications and wanted to see her in a month to recheck her blood and urine. I made her appointment for November 9th. She seemed to get a lot better, but her appetite still wasn't that great, and she seemed almost depressed during this time.
On the evening of the 7th, Georgia could not settle down and get comfortable, and that continued into the night of the 8th. She began pacing and wandering around the bedroom every five minutes, and at one point seemed to be weaving her head and stumbling. She fell about four times before I made her sit next to me and I held her while she slept for about an hour and a half before she began pacing again. Needless to say, neither of us got any sleep. When I brought her to the vet the next morning, she was down to 9lbs. To go from 17lbs to 9lbs in three months is bad, but to go from 12lbs to 9lbs in four weeks is horrible. Her muscles had begun wasting, and she was exhausted.
However, her bloodwork and urine cultures all came back normal, so she was on the mend. She will be on a kidney health diet from now on, which is a prescription diet. We are hoping that she will gain about 3-5lbs back and she seems to be eating the new diet well, especially the canned food.
These two issues caused a lot of stress and anxiety for me during the past quarter of school. I am hoping that next quarter will be much less stressful, and that I can finally be happy and maybe begin to enjoy Arizona a little.
Another issue that has caused me stress has been my parents divorce. I debated a lot whether I wanted to bring this to public and discuss it, but I figured maybe someone else is going through this, and I want them to know that they are not alone.
Although I am an adult, this was one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with. My parents never got along when I was a kid, and I remember praying they would get a divorce many times. Unfortunately, timing was not on my side, and they finally decided that a divorce would be a good idea, right when I got accepted to vet school.
I was angry about that for a long time, and I guess I am still angry, and I will be in therapy for awhile to handle my emotions with this. I couldn't understand why this had to happen right when I was getting ready to pack up and leave my home. I felt like they were breaking up the only home I had ever known. I will admit, it made it a lot easier to leave because I just wanted to be away from the bitterness and constant fights.
My final months in Minnesota were the hardest times I have ever gone through. The fighting was vicious, and loud, and I cried more in those months than I have my entire life. I cried most of the trip down here, even. Anyway, I was angry and felt that I could not enjoy what little time I had left in Minnesota. With my mom buying a new house, and packing up the entire house, I felt pushed aside. I felt like she was taking this moment of joy away from me.
I held a lot of things in during the past few years, and I'm only starting to deal with my thoughts now that I am on my own. I feel strange because I want to go home, but there isn't a home to go to. My room is empty-I took everything with me. My dad lives in a relatively empty house. It's weird. Another thing that makes me anxious about going home is figuring out how to deal with my parents. I love both of my parents. I'm closer to my dad, but I still want to be supportive of my mom too. I don't know how to balance my time between my parents. I don't know where I will sleep when I return to Minnesota.
It is hard when parents run each other down in front of their children. I found a newspaper article that really summed it up nicely, I'll post it:
First off, I'm MOVING.
I know, I just moved to Arizona three months ago, so why am I moving already? Well, my advice to you all is to always look at the apartment or house you intend to rent. Get a feel for who the neighbors are, and take the time to ask current residents what they think of the complex. I did none of those things, and I really made a mistake in choosing my apartment for vet school.
My upstairs neighbor has been a nightmare from day 1. He seemed decent at first, but I noticed that my two dogs were extremely uneasy around him, and I started coming home at random times to check on them. Several times I observed my neighbor standing in front of my windows waving his arms and yelling at the dogs to make them bark. Once they were barking, he would tap on the window and curse at them for barking.
One time, I was home and caught him peering through the window looking for the dogs. I tried to brush off these incidents, but after catching him cursing at the dogs and peering into my home, I had to complain to the complex. They issued a cease and desist, but he seemed to only become upset that I had complained and proceeded to yell at the dogs every time he passed the window.
When another neighbor, an elderly man, confronted him for driving erratically around the parking lot, he lashed out and threatened physical harm to the old man. It was at that point I decided that I needed to move. The complex refused to waive the lease break fees, despite this being an issue of my safety. I spoke to the local police and notified them of the situation as well, so they could be aware of any incidents that may occur.
This whole experience caused a lot of stress and affected my ability to study. Instead of being able to enjoy my apartment, I live with cardboard over the windows, and spend most of the time in the bedroom. The neighbor has only gotten more violent and tried to annoy me further by stomping around his apartment, moving furniture, and making noise at all hours of the night. Because I could no longer focus on school and I constantly feared that he would hurt my dogs or myself, I chose to break the lease. I will be moving on the 24th to a complex right next to school, and will actually be living right by my friend Kelly.
Although this is an expensive decision, I feel that my safety and my dogs' safety is most important, and I no longer feel safe here. Because I am currently living off loans, I can no longer afford to go home for the holidays, which breaks my heart, but my family kindly understands why I had to make this decision. They started a fundraising page for me to help me pay off the rental complex.
If you would like to help, please consider donating or sharing this page with your friends and family. I would appreciate any little bit of help, especially if it meant that I could go back to Minnesota for Christmas.
To view the fundraising page click here.
Secondly, one of my dogs became deathly ill at the beginning of October. One afternoon, she began vomiting. Now, Georgia is a pig when she eats, so vomiting is nothing out of the ordinary for her. However, she continued to vomit every half hour for about four hours (on my couch, of course. Still working on getting the smell out). Then, she began urinating frequently, very large piles of clear urine. I called the Companion Animal Clinic at Midwestern, where I go to school, and after speaking to the veterinarians on staff, they told me to bring her in right away because her symptoms were so serious.
When I put her on the scale, I saw she was down to 12lbs. When we moved, she weighed 17lbs, meaning she had lost 5lbs in only two months. This was concerning, especially when we observed how dehydrated she was. The tech, Sean, (who was AMAZING, by the way) immediately took her back and got her on subcutaneous fluids and took blood and urine. The vet examined her and chose to put her on amoxicillin to begin dealing with any infection that may be present, and also gave us some cerenia, which was to help with her nausea. We also got some canned food to stimulate her appetite and help her start eating.
The next 24 hours were horrible. She continued to urinate every few minutes, and couldn't get comfortable. Finally, Dr. Bennett called with the blood and urine results. She diagnosed Georgia with pyelonephritis, which is an infection of the kidneys. They found both E.Coli and Klebsiella bacteria in her urine in amounts over 100,000 per ml, which is indicative of a very serious infection. She also had proteins in her urine, meaning her kidneys were really not working as they ought to be. We switched her to Baytril, which would battle both bacteria, especially the Klebsiella, which is known to be a resistant bacteria to many antibiotics.
The vet put her on a month of medications and wanted to see her in a month to recheck her blood and urine. I made her appointment for November 9th. She seemed to get a lot better, but her appetite still wasn't that great, and she seemed almost depressed during this time.
On the evening of the 7th, Georgia could not settle down and get comfortable, and that continued into the night of the 8th. She began pacing and wandering around the bedroom every five minutes, and at one point seemed to be weaving her head and stumbling. She fell about four times before I made her sit next to me and I held her while she slept for about an hour and a half before she began pacing again. Needless to say, neither of us got any sleep. When I brought her to the vet the next morning, she was down to 9lbs. To go from 17lbs to 9lbs in three months is bad, but to go from 12lbs to 9lbs in four weeks is horrible. Her muscles had begun wasting, and she was exhausted.
However, her bloodwork and urine cultures all came back normal, so she was on the mend. She will be on a kidney health diet from now on, which is a prescription diet. We are hoping that she will gain about 3-5lbs back and she seems to be eating the new diet well, especially the canned food.
 |
| Waiting for the doctor |
 |
| Her hump of fluids. She jiggled when she walked! But she felt a lot better after she got re-hydrated |
 |
| She finally started snuggling with me, so I knew she was starting to feel better! |
 |
| Lots of rest, food, and television. She watched a lot of COPS and Law and Order SVU |
 |
| Hopefully we won't have to see one of these for awhile now! |
These two issues caused a lot of stress and anxiety for me during the past quarter of school. I am hoping that next quarter will be much less stressful, and that I can finally be happy and maybe begin to enjoy Arizona a little.
Another issue that has caused me stress has been my parents divorce. I debated a lot whether I wanted to bring this to public and discuss it, but I figured maybe someone else is going through this, and I want them to know that they are not alone.
Although I am an adult, this was one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with. My parents never got along when I was a kid, and I remember praying they would get a divorce many times. Unfortunately, timing was not on my side, and they finally decided that a divorce would be a good idea, right when I got accepted to vet school.
I was angry about that for a long time, and I guess I am still angry, and I will be in therapy for awhile to handle my emotions with this. I couldn't understand why this had to happen right when I was getting ready to pack up and leave my home. I felt like they were breaking up the only home I had ever known. I will admit, it made it a lot easier to leave because I just wanted to be away from the bitterness and constant fights.
My final months in Minnesota were the hardest times I have ever gone through. The fighting was vicious, and loud, and I cried more in those months than I have my entire life. I cried most of the trip down here, even. Anyway, I was angry and felt that I could not enjoy what little time I had left in Minnesota. With my mom buying a new house, and packing up the entire house, I felt pushed aside. I felt like she was taking this moment of joy away from me.
I held a lot of things in during the past few years, and I'm only starting to deal with my thoughts now that I am on my own. I feel strange because I want to go home, but there isn't a home to go to. My room is empty-I took everything with me. My dad lives in a relatively empty house. It's weird. Another thing that makes me anxious about going home is figuring out how to deal with my parents. I love both of my parents. I'm closer to my dad, but I still want to be supportive of my mom too. I don't know how to balance my time between my parents. I don't know where I will sleep when I return to Minnesota.
It is hard when parents run each other down in front of their children. I found a newspaper article that really summed it up nicely, I'll post it:
I found those a long time ago, and kept them to remind me that this is a common thing. There are millions of other kids that go through this too. So if your parents are fighting or divorcing, it will be okay. Please don't feel alone. And most of all, don't hold the hurt inside. Talk to someone. So many of my friends have let me vent to them and cry to them, and I honestly don't know how I would have made it though without them there to hold me up.
And parents, if you are in a relationship, marriage, situation in which you find yourself hating the parent of your child, please remember these things. When you put down your child's father or mother, you are insulting that child. Half of that person is in your child. Don't make your child feel like they are bad too. It's damaging. If you are hurting, go seek help from a therapist. But lashing out against your co-parent in front of your child is not acceptable. Your child shouldn't have to feel forced into the middle. Don't put them there.
Anyway, that was what was going on with my life the past few months. I hope you forgive me for my lack of posts, but I am back and ready to roll!
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
First Finals
Well, I survived the first quarter of vet school. I'm officially 1/12th of a DVM! My first quarter was tougher than I expected, I'm not going to lie. A lot of unnecessary stress came from my living situation (which I will explain in a separate post), as well as stress with my family in Minnesota. I am relieved to be finished with the first quarter and am looking forward to a fresh start.
That is one thing I always loved about school, new semesters brought the opportunity to start over and correct the mistakes you made in the past. Plus, new school supplies! (does anyone else love school supplies as much as I do?) As part of the new quarter, I am setting some goals for myself to help me do better:
1. Write Notes in Class.
Before, I mainly just typed notes on my iPad with the Notability app. It is a great way to take notes, but I am the type of person that really retains information better when I write it out by hand. That being said, I also want to make the effort to not write every detail of what is on the power point, but rather use the lecture time to focus and take notes on what the professor is actually saying.
2. Preview the Lectures Before Class
Bouncing off Goal 1, I want to try to write out some notes from the power points before class, then add to them in class. That way, I am more familiar with the information, and I can better understand it and ask questions in class if I have any.
3. Study in Groups
I had previously been studying with an awesome group of girls, but I wasn't performing as well on exams as I wanted to, and I think a lot of the reason was that my study methods were not efficient. I was relying on writing things several times and repeating the information, and listening to others repeat the information. However, I was never prepared for the exam questions. During finals, I met up with a different group that had prepared note cards with questions and we asked the questions back and forth, and that really improved my grades on the finals. That being said, I think it is important to mention that everyone studies in a different way, and that you should never feel pressured to study with a group just because they are your friends if their method doesn't work for you. I was so worried that I would offend my friends by not studying with them, but in the end, they were supportive and really understood that I needed to study in a different way from them. We are still close friends and I am looking forward to hanging out with them outside of studying.
4. Make Notecards
Again, bouncing off my previous goal, making notecards is a form of active learning that has always helped me, but I was making them in the wrong way. For instance, I was writing things down, but not phrasing them as questions. Thinking of questions helps you anticipate what the exam will be like, and I think that can minimize a lot of anxiety that is associated with the exams.
5. Stay Ahead
The biggest issue I had this past quarter was that I didn't listen to the Dean when he said, do NOT get behind in your classes. The way our schedule was set up, we had one exam per week, usually on a Monday, so the entire week I studied only for that class. Sure, I was prepared for that class, but I got waaaaay behind in my other courses so when it came time to study for those exams, I had to go back and pretty much re-learn the material. Advice: LISTEN TO YOUR DEAN. They have been where you are, and they know what they are talking about. Plus, they want you to succeed and they want to help you as much as possible. My goal going forward is to really focus on looking at that days lectures and making my notecards, and then looking at the next days lecture to prepare. This may be a little more time consuming, but it will help prepare for the exam while not neglecting the other courses.
Vet school is hard, they weren't lying. But it can be fun, too. With a little preparation, finals don't have to be scary.
How did your first semesters or quarters go?
That is one thing I always loved about school, new semesters brought the opportunity to start over and correct the mistakes you made in the past. Plus, new school supplies! (does anyone else love school supplies as much as I do?) As part of the new quarter, I am setting some goals for myself to help me do better:
1. Write Notes in Class.
Before, I mainly just typed notes on my iPad with the Notability app. It is a great way to take notes, but I am the type of person that really retains information better when I write it out by hand. That being said, I also want to make the effort to not write every detail of what is on the power point, but rather use the lecture time to focus and take notes on what the professor is actually saying.
2. Preview the Lectures Before Class
Bouncing off Goal 1, I want to try to write out some notes from the power points before class, then add to them in class. That way, I am more familiar with the information, and I can better understand it and ask questions in class if I have any.
3. Study in Groups
I had previously been studying with an awesome group of girls, but I wasn't performing as well on exams as I wanted to, and I think a lot of the reason was that my study methods were not efficient. I was relying on writing things several times and repeating the information, and listening to others repeat the information. However, I was never prepared for the exam questions. During finals, I met up with a different group that had prepared note cards with questions and we asked the questions back and forth, and that really improved my grades on the finals. That being said, I think it is important to mention that everyone studies in a different way, and that you should never feel pressured to study with a group just because they are your friends if their method doesn't work for you. I was so worried that I would offend my friends by not studying with them, but in the end, they were supportive and really understood that I needed to study in a different way from them. We are still close friends and I am looking forward to hanging out with them outside of studying.
4. Make Notecards
Again, bouncing off my previous goal, making notecards is a form of active learning that has always helped me, but I was making them in the wrong way. For instance, I was writing things down, but not phrasing them as questions. Thinking of questions helps you anticipate what the exam will be like, and I think that can minimize a lot of anxiety that is associated with the exams.
5. Stay Ahead
The biggest issue I had this past quarter was that I didn't listen to the Dean when he said, do NOT get behind in your classes. The way our schedule was set up, we had one exam per week, usually on a Monday, so the entire week I studied only for that class. Sure, I was prepared for that class, but I got waaaaay behind in my other courses so when it came time to study for those exams, I had to go back and pretty much re-learn the material. Advice: LISTEN TO YOUR DEAN. They have been where you are, and they know what they are talking about. Plus, they want you to succeed and they want to help you as much as possible. My goal going forward is to really focus on looking at that days lectures and making my notecards, and then looking at the next days lecture to prepare. This may be a little more time consuming, but it will help prepare for the exam while not neglecting the other courses.
Vet school is hard, they weren't lying. But it can be fun, too. With a little preparation, finals don't have to be scary.
How did your first semesters or quarters go?
Monday, October 26, 2015
White Coat: The Official Welcome To Vet School
So, again, I am sorry this is overdue, and I will get around to explaining myself at some point. But today I want to share one of the biggest moments that vet students will ever experience: the White Coat Ceremony.
Midwestern University's Class of 2019 White Coat Ceremony took place on October 2,2015. This was the moment when we lined up, and our Deans helped us into the coats that would mark our official acceptance into the professional world of Veterinary Medicine. I'll admit, I was a little nervous that I would trip, but everything went well. I don't have much to say, other than I'm happy to be part of this class, and I am looking forward to the next time I get to cross that stage, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Midwestern University's Class of 2019 White Coat Ceremony took place on October 2,2015. This was the moment when we lined up, and our Deans helped us into the coats that would mark our official acceptance into the professional world of Veterinary Medicine. I'll admit, I was a little nervous that I would trip, but everything went well. I don't have much to say, other than I'm happy to be part of this class, and I am looking forward to the next time I get to cross that stage, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
The End of a Quarter
First off, I need to apologize for my lack of posts. There have been some personal things happening that are taking a toll on my mental health, as well as my physical health. I will explain everything in a later post, but for now I want to tell you all about the end of first quarter.
In less than two weeks I will be 1/12 of the way through vet school. While that seems like a small fraction, it is crucial to focus on the small victories in this ever-so-stressful field. With finals week just around the corner, I think it is important to discuss some strategies for maintaining motivation, as well as sanity during this time.
Finals Survival Tip 1: Get Organized.
Throughout the quarter, we were fortunate enough to only have one exam per week to study for, but finals week (also known as hell week) consists of four exams in four days. The key to not losing your mind is to organize your materials and make a plan. I am a huge fan of making lists, so I make lists of all the lectures I need to study, then schedule them all in my planner. And yes, I do still use a non-electronic planner to manage myself for the most part. I write down what I need to study/complete each day, and plan around every event I can think of. I may even tend to go overboard and schedule in when I am doing laundry and when I am cleaning the apartment. And you better believe I scheduled when I am planning to work on this blog. Scheduling is the key to not becoming too overwhelmed.
Finals Survival Tip 2: Balance Your Schedule
Don't schedule an entire day of studying anatomy. You will only get burned out and frustrated. The best study methods require studying every subject, every day. Now this doesn't mean you don't get to take breaks, but try to work on each subject for a couple hours (or whatever time you do have), and make sure to switch to a different course if you become bored or frustrated with the current subject.
Finals Survival Tip 3: Take Breaks
The fastest way to burning out during finals time is to study 14 hours a day, without taking time for yourself. If you start to get tired, get up and have a snack, walk the dog, or hell, take a little nap. You're probably not going to retain very much with a tired brain anyway, so there is no sense in wasting time trying to force yourself to study. I will admit, this took me some time to get used to practicing, and I am so happy that I allow myself to have some free time each day. For instance, as I write this, I'm watching my favorite show and having some popcorn and doggy cuddles. When the show is over, I might go back to working on physiology, but I may also just relax and go to bed early. You may wonder, how is that possible? Shouldn't I be spending as much time as possibly reviewing for finals, and I ask you, why? I have two weeks to prepare, and I am taking a few lectures each day to review. I'm not going to sacrifice my health (mental or physical) to cram for an exam. I think too many students do this, and it harms them in the long run. With all of the drama that has been happening recently, I've learned that health is far more important than a grade, and as hard as that is to put into practice, I think the benefits of practicing that mindfulness outweigh the risks of being stressed.
Finals Survival Tip 4: Get Help
If you aren't understanding something, now is the time when you need to seek help from your classmates, professors, or tutors. The earlier you address your confusion, the better off your studying will go. Every topic seems to build on the last, and there is quite a lot of cross-over in first year veterinary courses. If your physiology professor isn't helpful, try asking your anatomy professor, or vice versa. The faculty are there to help you, and they want you to succeed. One thing I love about my school is that there is a strict open door policy with the faculty. If you have a question and their door is open, you are free to come in and talk to them at any time- there are no office hours. This shows how dedicated the faculty are to helping students succeed, and they know how difficult the material is, they had to learn it a lot better than we need to learn it. So don't be afraid, ask your questions and get help early.
Finals Survival Tip 5: Remember Why You Started
When things get tough, it is important to look back at why you started this journey. We all made this choice to go to vet school (and there will be plenty of times when we question this decision, I know) so we need to be able to handle the bad times with the good times. Maybe you wanted to be a veterinarian because you love animals, or maybe you wanted to make a difference, or maybe you are just in it for the money (wait, what money?). The point is, we all came to the same decision, and we are all in this together. Embrace your vet school family. These students will be our colleagues one day. They will be the people we call for advice, the people we refer our clients to when we are stuck on a patient's diagnosis, and the people we will invite to our wedding. Remember that, and know that we are all in the same boat, but we all have an oar to row with.
I hope this post helps you during your finals week. What methods help you face this challenge?
In less than two weeks I will be 1/12 of the way through vet school. While that seems like a small fraction, it is crucial to focus on the small victories in this ever-so-stressful field. With finals week just around the corner, I think it is important to discuss some strategies for maintaining motivation, as well as sanity during this time.
Finals Survival Tip 1: Get Organized.
Throughout the quarter, we were fortunate enough to only have one exam per week to study for, but finals week (also known as hell week) consists of four exams in four days. The key to not losing your mind is to organize your materials and make a plan. I am a huge fan of making lists, so I make lists of all the lectures I need to study, then schedule them all in my planner. And yes, I do still use a non-electronic planner to manage myself for the most part. I write down what I need to study/complete each day, and plan around every event I can think of. I may even tend to go overboard and schedule in when I am doing laundry and when I am cleaning the apartment. And you better believe I scheduled when I am planning to work on this blog. Scheduling is the key to not becoming too overwhelmed.
Finals Survival Tip 2: Balance Your Schedule
Don't schedule an entire day of studying anatomy. You will only get burned out and frustrated. The best study methods require studying every subject, every day. Now this doesn't mean you don't get to take breaks, but try to work on each subject for a couple hours (or whatever time you do have), and make sure to switch to a different course if you become bored or frustrated with the current subject.
Finals Survival Tip 3: Take Breaks
The fastest way to burning out during finals time is to study 14 hours a day, without taking time for yourself. If you start to get tired, get up and have a snack, walk the dog, or hell, take a little nap. You're probably not going to retain very much with a tired brain anyway, so there is no sense in wasting time trying to force yourself to study. I will admit, this took me some time to get used to practicing, and I am so happy that I allow myself to have some free time each day. For instance, as I write this, I'm watching my favorite show and having some popcorn and doggy cuddles. When the show is over, I might go back to working on physiology, but I may also just relax and go to bed early. You may wonder, how is that possible? Shouldn't I be spending as much time as possibly reviewing for finals, and I ask you, why? I have two weeks to prepare, and I am taking a few lectures each day to review. I'm not going to sacrifice my health (mental or physical) to cram for an exam. I think too many students do this, and it harms them in the long run. With all of the drama that has been happening recently, I've learned that health is far more important than a grade, and as hard as that is to put into practice, I think the benefits of practicing that mindfulness outweigh the risks of being stressed.
Finals Survival Tip 4: Get Help
If you aren't understanding something, now is the time when you need to seek help from your classmates, professors, or tutors. The earlier you address your confusion, the better off your studying will go. Every topic seems to build on the last, and there is quite a lot of cross-over in first year veterinary courses. If your physiology professor isn't helpful, try asking your anatomy professor, or vice versa. The faculty are there to help you, and they want you to succeed. One thing I love about my school is that there is a strict open door policy with the faculty. If you have a question and their door is open, you are free to come in and talk to them at any time- there are no office hours. This shows how dedicated the faculty are to helping students succeed, and they know how difficult the material is, they had to learn it a lot better than we need to learn it. So don't be afraid, ask your questions and get help early.
Finals Survival Tip 5: Remember Why You Started
When things get tough, it is important to look back at why you started this journey. We all made this choice to go to vet school (and there will be plenty of times when we question this decision, I know) so we need to be able to handle the bad times with the good times. Maybe you wanted to be a veterinarian because you love animals, or maybe you wanted to make a difference, or maybe you are just in it for the money (wait, what money?). The point is, we all came to the same decision, and we are all in this together. Embrace your vet school family. These students will be our colleagues one day. They will be the people we call for advice, the people we refer our clients to when we are stuck on a patient's diagnosis, and the people we will invite to our wedding. Remember that, and know that we are all in the same boat, but we all have an oar to row with.
I hope this post helps you during your finals week. What methods help you face this challenge?
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Thoughts on Finances and Mental Health
This week we had two lectures on financial planning. Midwestern is unique in that they provide veterinary students with financial advice and resources the very first quarter of classes. They even have assignments for us to complete in which we construct a budget for ourselves, and then follow up with us next year to see how we did. This was an excellent tool in beginning to think of how to conquer the $300,000+ debt I am accruing.
My head is currently swimming with information about IRAs, investments, stocks, bonds, and budgeting for post-graduation and retirement. But one thing about today's lecture really stood out to me as a clear issue within the veterinary/business/financial field.
The financial adviser that spoke to us mentioned the importance of obtaining disability insurance once we graduated. With the physical risks involved, especially in those who choose to work in large animal medicine, it makes sense that we should safeguard ourselves in case anything might happen. However, he mentioned that the AVMA GHLIT (Group Health and Life Insurance Trust Programs) offer disability insurance to veterinarians. Awesome, right?
Except for the details in the fine print which state (in layman's terms): If you are disabled and unable to work in your current position, they will pay you disability, but you cannot return to work in the veterinary field.
uh, WHAT? Isn't the point of disability insurance to protect you if you are injured on the job, and then help you return to your job? Essentially, if an equine vet was, say, kicked in the head and could no longer handle the physical demands of the job, he or she could not work in a small animal practice, work in another low-key veterinary environment, or even teach within veterinary academia.
Now, the AVMA is awesome for a variety of sources, but I wouldn't trust them to insure me once I am practicing. Thankfully, Mr. Bonnett explained a variety of other options for insuring ourselves after graduation, but again, I was shocked when he told us to watch out for our medical history.
We rely on physicians to help us maintain our health, but who knew that our medical history could prevent us from being insured? Mr. Bonnett said that conditions listed in our medical history could put us at risk of being denied insurance at all. Mainly, things concerning mental health.
This is where I grew angry. How can insurance companies NOT protect us when we work in a field in which mental health is a growing concern. We all know of the term "Compassion Fatigue", but for some veterinary professionals, we are more inclined to be predisposed to mental disorders.
Veterinary students have the third highest rate of suicide in professional programs. Veterinarians are in the top ten professions with high risk of suicides. With the recent suicide of Dr. Sophia Yin, as well as several student suicides throughout the United States and the UK, dialogues concerning mental health are finally being brought to light. It seems to me that with the high risk of mental disorders prevalent in the veterinary community, more needs to be done to protect us, but also to bring awareness to the issue, rather than stigmatizing it and hiding it from discussion.
Mental health conditions are not something that we should ever be afraid to disclose or seek help for.
Yet insurance companies force us to hide our struggles in order to be protected, and that only worsens the problem.
I'm going to get really personal here, so I hope that is okay, and I hope that if any of you are struggling, you will find the courage and hope to get help. I suffer from moderate to severe anxiety and depression. I don't take medications for this currently, for the very reason that many professionals never seek help: it puts us at risk of losing our insurance benefits, because we have a "pre-existing" condition. With this information presented to me today, I became scared. What if I can't get help when I really need it? Vet school is stressful. We are sleep deprived, our brains are fried, we have very little social lives, and we take a full load of difficult science-based classes. Right now, I am managing. But what if things get worse? Sure, we have counseling available on campus (which is an excellent resource; I recommend therapy for EVERYONE), but what if I need more help? What if my panic attacks become regular, and I need a medication to help me LIVE? Why should I be punished for trying to live like everyone else?
The problem we face as veterinary students (and honestly, as adults), is that mental health has become a topic that no one discusses. But it is something that needs to be addressed, and talked about, and we need to make resources available for everyone that needs them. We can prevent suicide. We don't have to suffer alone, either.
I don't know what I can expect as far as insurance when I get out of school, but I do know that I'm not willing to sacrifice my mental health to obtain it.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Diving in Deep
Well, I have officially been a vet student for nearly a month, and it seems that time has flown by. Classes run from between 8-9 am until 4-5 pm, and I have grown to really appreciate the hour long lunch break each day. Although I live about five miles from campus, I manage to run home to walk the dogs and grab a bite to eat before heading back to class. The one downside to having the break is that I tend to nod off in whichever class follows lunch. (oops!)
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| Sonja likes having me around for lunch |
The first weeks of classes went well. I'm taking Veterinary Anatomy, Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Biochemistry, and Practice of Veterinary Medicine. I have to say that so far, my favorite class is Practice of Veterinary Medicine, because we are already learning clinical skills that we will use every day in practice.
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| Our first PVM skills lab: Running a code and CPR |
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| Jerry is in cardiac arrest! |
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| 100 compressions per minute |
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| Intubation is key in making sure your patient has oxygen. (Thanks, Bryan!) |
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| Dallas is a healthy pup, and a very friendly patient. |
While PVM has been a blast, the exams in the basic sciences have been tough, I will admit. I've had exams in Anatomy and Physiology, and I have a Biochemistry exam on Monday. I actually have an exam every Monday until finals week (goodbye weekends!)
The instuctors here at Midwestern are truly phenomenal. They have a strict open-door policy, meaning you can go to them any time for clarification or help with any of the concepts covered in class. In addition, they are genuinely happy with their careers, and want each student to succeed. My favorite is Dr. Graves. He lectured a few times in PVM, and he is perhaps the funniest person I have ever met. Here are a few candid bits from class I jotted down:
In addition to being in class nearly 40 hours per week, I've also joined several clubs as well as a study group with two other students. The first club I joined was SCAVMA, which is the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association. I am looking forward to learning more about this club and all of the benefits it will offer. I also am a member of SAVS (Student Association of Veterinary Surgery), SCAAFP (Student Chapter of the American Association of Feline Practitioners), and will be joining ECC (Emergency and Critical Care) club next week.
Two Saturdays ago, I went with SAVS to The Carillons Senior Community in Sun City, Arizona. We performed basic grooming and practiced our physical exams on the resident's pets. I really enjoyed visiting with the residents there. So many of them are well into their 80's and 90's and are still so active. I hope that I am that busy when I get to that age!
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| Ready to do physicals and trim some nails! |
I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks will bring, and I will keep you updated on anything new and exciting here at vet school!
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