My Summer Vacation

While most of my classmates traveled abroad for recreation and/or participating in something “medically related”, I had a far less eventful (but successful) summer break.

At the end of block 6, I had set two goals for the break:

• Go through First Aid and review the “high yield” material we covered in the first year.
• Three-a-days at the gym to try to get back into before-medical-school-shape. Keep in mind that before this summer break, I hadn’t been to the gym since November 2009 (when my membership expired).

When it comes to classes, I’m probably a little too laid back. I distinctly remember one week in block 5 where I skipped most of the lectures (even “mandatory” case conferences :oops:) and didn’t even go back to video stream them. That particular week, I spent more time playing computer games and basketball than sitting in a lecture/watching a recorded lecture/studying anything medical. Not too proud of it, but oh well… it’s in the past.

However, when it comes to preparing for the USMLE Step I, I’m a self-proclaimed gunner and proud of it. Judge me, label me, whatever… doesn’t make a bit of difference. In the end, that three digit score says a LOT about what kind of residency one is “competitive” for. The time I’ve spent reading First Aid has helped me remember a lot of the tiny details, provided useful mnemonics, and showed me what I can expect to learn as an MS2. :mrgreen: Upperclassmen from other schools have also been generous enough to provide me with their insight on how to properly study for this monstrous exam.

I’ve also stayed honest with my workout routine having gone to the gym every single day multiple times and reclaimed much of the cardiovascular endurance and strength I had going into medical school. I really need to establish a proper workout routine during the next six months, so the regression I had as an MS1 doesn’t happen again. :shock:

Now I’m three days away from beginning my journey as an MS2. Speaking of which, I have a cheesy smile on my face as I write this, because it’s my first entry filed under the category “MS2.” If things like this excite me, you realize how boring my summer was. ;-)