PART 1:
What a morning! I was surprised that I was able to find my way around the campus to the (vicinity of) the building I was supposed to go to. I had rushed to get into my car so quickly - and with about fifty things in hand, I had left the map I printed back in my room. So, it was useless.
I parked in the public parking lot across the street and walked into the main area.... The security guard eyed my ID (which I had hanging off my belt clip) so I showed it to her up close and she kindly gave me directions to the West Wing part of the building.
As Dr. A said, just "find us on the neuro floor." Okay, well that means I'd have to kind of wander around until I saw a group of people in a patients room. Well I did just that, and no group of people to be found. I finally went over to the nurses station and asked one of the nurses. He then took me back down the hall to a conference room and opened the door where Dr. A and about 12 residents sat around a table. It was one of those moments where the room just goes silent and they all turn to look at you like you are from another planet. Thankfully Dr. A spoke up while I just stood there like a dumbass not knowing what to do.
"This is Victoria, she is a student. She hopes to go to medical school one day." Light mumbling amongst the residents...
"..Yes.. hopefully one day."
"So today, she'll be joining us on rounds.." The residents look around the room and nod...
I finally sat down and let the resident who was presenting a case, finish.
As it turned out, they started rounds at 8AM on the radiology floor, but I didnt join them until 9:15 so I wasnt able to see as much. But the experience was fabulous! We saw 3 patients, all of whom had suffered from a severe stroke. At a few points I was unable to hear what the attending was saying since there were so many of us trying to cram into one room, I amongst others sometimes wound up overflowing out into the hall.
In any case, the rounds ended on the nuclear imaging floor. We went downstairs to check on an epileptic patient.
I'll have to admit, I'm surprised by how friendly the residents were. Friendly and receptive. I mean, not that I was expecting them to be nasty to me, but in walks some random student, I wouldnt blame them if they were offset by it. Completely the opposite response! They were all gathering around me, asking me questions like When are you applying? Do you want to go here? How did you get in touch with Dr. A? Are you almost finished with classes? So your really into neurology, huh? The list goes on....
One resident was even kind enough to give me the contact name of one of the pre-med advisors who organizes mentorship programs with the medical students and undergrads. :P
All in all, it was a great day. The residents bought me coffee and asked me to join them again next week at 8am when they start off on the radiology floor. I'll have to check with Dr. A :)
PART 2:
On a completely different - and slightly upsetting note - let's talk about my grades. See, all of the above that I just typed, all of my research experiences, my shadowing experiences, all of that means squat (in some respects) if i cant get the grades to support it! What good are all those great things on the side if I have a GPA of -0.55?? I'm working SO hard. Yes, I can be as smart as the other guy who brings home the A's, the only difference is that I have to work that much harder because I'm not a great test taker, I'm not a great regurgitator of information. I can write a killer essay, but I cant do a 10 page multiple choice question exam on the same topic!
I went to speak with my calc professor because I was concerned with my first exam grade, which, by the way, is completely horrific, it took me 15 min to come up with the guts to show my tutor. I expressed my concerns to my prof, told her that I was taking advantage of all of my help resources, I even have special testing accommodations, yadda yadda.... It wasnt like I was trying to squeeze out a few extra points on my test, I just wanted her "advice" on how I should proceed with this class.
She looked at me, arms crossed, and said: "Well what do you want me to do about it? Look, please dont burden me with this stuff. I just report the grades...."
Oh. My. God.
...I know..
Part of me wanted to cry, and the other part of me wanted to toss her through the glass door. I couldnt believe what I was hearing! What kind of a professor can sit there and say that to a student??
She went on to talk about how many other students have come in with the same problem and that she couldnt help them etc... she said that she has problems of her own - and I quote - "suicides, divorce, cancer, death, alcoholism.."
I'm sorry, that is sad yes, but what on Earth do YOUR personal problems have to do with the fact that this freakin course is pretty much the ONLY thing that is holding me back from getting my degree?! My GOODNESS people.
Im stuck with this professor for the rest of the semester needless to say.... I"m not going to give up though. I've been working hard, i'll just have to work harder. And once I work harder, I'll just have to work that much harder. It's not often you get two 2nd chances, and I'm not letting this one slip away.
