Catching up is getting better with diligence!!!

Well I'm back in progress.... Whooooo that nasty bronchitis was a mess....so glad I'm finally feeling better.  I was sooo weak for a while though.  Anyway Physics and Chemistry are back in effect and moving strong.  Well sort of.  I am diligently working on a few concepts that allow me to comprehend more info and commit to memory as much as I can based on the reading material.  Also for I'm paying attention to things more this semester as I read and I thank God for a change in focus, alertness and comprehension....

I have learned to block out distractions at home and elsewhere.   The Library has been an absolute blessing and a home away from home....Cannot explain the pleasure of being able to get work done without distractions.  It makes a real difference when you can read and stay focused.  I'm just expecting great grades for every class.  Diligence makes the difference.  I study better at nite.  I'm really not a morning person but can stay up all nite to read and study.  I really enjoy night hours and the stillness when everyone is sleeping.  Seems so natural.

My chemistry professor is a mess...She is a little anal and really sort of demands a little too much.  It's a little crazy but she has this thing where she give .25, .5, and whole credit for assignments.  I don't know,  go figure....as long as I keep plugging away I'm expecting a good grade, especially when there are only two of us left in the class.....yep you read it right 2 of us left in the class....I'ts a little strange but what do I care.  Anyway, I turned in a few assignments and she actually critiqued every piece of it.  I thought that just having the answers correct meant more than anything....Oh well maybe it's me but some of them can demand so much....

The physics book we are using seems so inferior.  It really is like elementary reading.  I'm not sure if that is the most annoying part or the fact that the book itself has so much rambling in it that I skip most of that and get right down to the business of actual physics.  I was warned of some of the errors in the book and silliness.  The friend that I bought the book from took the class before me and said that it is not a good book...He actually bought other books to accommodate this one and learn more.  I just hope that I am not being short changed in the learning process because of this book.   I really do need physics for the MCAT and that's ALLLLLL....Medical School will not reflect on any of this science at all.  In-fact, during the basic science stage (first 2 years) the basic sciences do not include physics but advanced biochemistry and other medically related biomedical sciences.  Not basic physics...  Here is a list of typical 1st and 2nd year basic medical school sciences -

Typical Schedule for Basic Sciences:

First Trimester CODE DESCRIPTION LEC. HRS LAB. HRS TUTORIAL TOTAL CREDITS BMS100 Patient, Doctor and Community 20 10 30 02 BMS101 Gross Anatomy / Embryology 107 110 50 267 17 BMS102 Histology /Cell Biology 60 50 40 150 10 TOTAL 29

Second Trimester CODE DESCRIPTION LEC. HRS LAB. HRS TUTORIAL TOTAL CREDITS BMS201 Human Physiology 105 25 20 150 10 BMS202 Biochemistry /Medical Genetics 210 10 20 240 15 BMS203 Behavioral Sciences 120 30 150 09 TOTAL 34

Third Trimester CODE DESCRIPTION LEC. HRS LAB. HRS TUTORIAL TOTAL CREDITS BMS301 Neurosciences 105 35 10 150 09 BMS302 General Pathology 135 15 150 11 BMS303 Microbiology / Immunology 190 25 10 225 12 TOTAL 32

Fourth Trimester CODE DESCRIPTION LEC.HRS LAB.HRS TUTORIAL TOTAL CREDITS BMS304 Medical Jurisprudence 40 05 45 04 BMS401 Systemic Pathology 125 15 10 150 11 BMS402 Pharmacology 135 15 150 12 TOTAL 27

Fifth Trimester CODE DESCRIPTION LEC.HRS LAB.HRS TUTORIAL TOTAL CREDITS BMS403 Physical Diagnosis 90 75 165 10 BMS501 Introduction to Clinical Medicine 110 40 150 17 BMS502 * USMLE Step I Review 130 30 160 10 TOTAL 37

Back in Class and Loving It.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This feels natural and I am so ready to continue this semester.  I am doing everything possible to stay on track.  All was well except for this terrible bout of bronchitis the past two weeks.  My 5yr old was sick first and now me.  Well I am just grateful that I didn't get the full blast of strep throat and sinusitis and bronchitis like he did.  And all at once.  But believe me my chest was on fire for a few days.....whooo glad that part is over.

Never the less.  I will be moving forward this week by the grace of God.  I am behind in a few written and reading assignments in physics and chemistry. All is well though.  I have been really trying to solidify my math for physics and chemistry skills.  Sometimes it all looks like pure gibberish.  But I keep plugging away and not paralyzed in fear of "math failure".  After all it is only math right?...huh?

Thank God my husband is becoming more supportive of me going to school and finishing up these dreaded pre-reqs.  I'm sure that everyone would like to bypass this stage of preparation.   I believe that this only solidifies your science skills and knowledge.  I have come to have a great appreciation of things that I have come to master in science by sheer repetition.  The ability to recall concepts in your mind and make examples of them makes all the difference in learning.  My concept of learning is comprehension not memorization. Don't get me wrong, some people are great at memorizing.  I just believe that it has it's limits. If you are able to learn a concept then you will automatically commit it to memory.  Comprehension is better than memorization.  Less stress on the mind is less stress on my time and body.