Whirlwind

After this crazy whirlwind of a semester, I finally have a chance to sit down for a post-semester wrap up. I am quickly coming to realize that writing a blog to chronicle my experiences with nursing school may not have been the best idea. I have a feeling that there will be numerous long stretches of time with nary an entry. After all, there are crazy body parts and their functions to memorize, you know.

I waited to post about the semester until I knew my grade, which was revealed to me yesterday over the glorious world-wide web. The last time my heart was in my throat that much while waiting for a site to load was when I checked my UT art history application status, and we all know how that turned out.

Thankfully, I earned my A in Anatomy. I wouldn't have been shocked with a B, but might have felt a wee twinge of whatever is an eloquent way of saying "ripped off." I worked SO hard for that A. I'm estimating here, but I don't think I am too far off the mark when I say that prior to each test, I must have studied thirty-ish hours, cumulatively. That's not counting any studying and/or homework and reading done prior to test studying. All of this is just to say that I busted my butt (er, buttocks, to be anatomically correct), and reaped my reward. God is good.

I rather enjoyed this past semester, and really enjoyed my professor. She turned out not to be the monster described on RateMyProfessor.com (imgaine that). Instead, she turned out to be the kind of professor who makes her students responsible for their own learning. She is not one to spoon feed, but come to think of it, I'd prefer that my medical professionals not have been spoon-fed through their educations...wouldn't you too?

Anatomy was an endlessly interesting class for me. I've always, always been captivated by the human body, and how it works, how it breaks down, and how, occasionally, it is perfectly capable of repairing itself with little to no medical intervention. Again, God is good. Never once was I bored this semester, and never once did I think that I'd have prefered to be in bed, rather than in the classroom. That last bit might be hyperbole, but more often than not, I was thrilled to be there.

I take my level of interest in the class as sort of a "sign" that this is the path that I've always been intended to go down, and I find that comforting. I can remember one point during the semester, when I was driving to the coffee shop to study (you try memorizing body parts with two hounds in the house), and I very briefly wished I were not going to memorize muscles and nerves, but instead, Old Masters and their chef d'oeuvres. I rationalized, however, and realized that how I feel about studying the body is not completely different than how I felt about studying art. I feel like it's such a priviledge to peer into a microscope, and see all these cells swirled together. Who gets to do that?! Even more, I feel like I'm unlocking a secret when I learn what those cells are doing, and what their "parts" are doing, and isn't it AMAZING that here we are, living and breathing chef d'oeuvres of these cells!

It's akin to standing in front of a Rembrandt, close enough to be able to see the crackling of the pigments. Who gets to do that?! All of the colours are working together to create different colours, to create shadows, to create lines and forms and eventually, a portrait...a realistic representation of a human being; a glimpse into what life was like six hundred years ago. To be able to study that is also a priviledge indeed.

I don't know that studying the body affects my emotions as much as art does, but I also think that it's not a fair comparison. I'm sure that once I begin my clincal rotations and hospital work, I will meet people and see things that art simply can never touch.

Next semester will be exponentially more demanding on me. I'm set to take the rest of my -ologies: Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology. Twelve hours. Please start praying for me now. :)

I'll also be starting a new volunteer venture next semester, with an organization called The Care Communities. TCC assigns a team of volunteers to work with a terminally ill patient, and assist them with tasks such as upkeep of their homes, grocery shopping, trips to doctors, etc. Most of the folks receiving care from TCC are cancer patients, or individuals with AIDS. I'll admit that it scares me a little to work with a terminally ill person, and to create that attachment and bond that will, inevitably, be disrupted one day. However, as a future nurse, I feel like that's something I just need to grow accustomed to. After all, we're ALL going to die one day...these people just happen to know how they will. I am eager to bring some energy and vibrance into someone's life, even if it is through something as mundane as mowing their yard. I'm also excited to potentially be paired with an AIDS patient, as that is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm not 100% sure what options there are for nurses working with the HIV/AIDS community, but I feel a bit of a calling in that direction these days. It's hard to explain, and it might not be where I wind up, but it's something that I feel strongly about right now.

Two of my friends are also going to become TCC volunteers, and we have asked to all be placed on the same team. I am SUPER excited about the opportunity to work with these ladies, as I know that they are positive, compassionate individuals who have much to give. We get training in early January, and will hopefully begin our service soon afterward.

I will still be volunteering with AMOA as well. I can't turn my back on that place! AMOA has been a great place for me to get my art fix, and I have had an
amazing time meeting new people and working with the community in that venue.

So I think that's it for now! Anatomy went well, and I'm looking forward to a successful, yet stressful spring semester. I'll be submitting my application to the ACC program before March, and if I don't get accepted the first time 'round (it is INCREDIBLY competitive!), then I'll likely try to find work in a hospital setting. But cross your fingers that the first time is the charm...I'd rather get going sooner than later!