Lone Star State Incoming

I can't believe the year is over and I'll be back in Austin in less than a week. With classes concluding, I've had plenty of time to explore New Orleans. A good friend of mine spent a few days here and I got to show her around. We walked 15 miles in two days... All in all, I've loved my experience in New Orleans. I've made some good friends, lived in a cool city, and grown a lot as a student. I'll be taking biochemistry this summer and am planning to begin my TMDSAS application within a few days! Hopefully by this time next year, I'll be in medical school on the road to becoming a doctor. Regardless of what happens, I'm ready to start the next chapter of my life.

Community Service Hours:

Habitat for Humanity - 8 hours

KIPP's Leadership Primary - 17 hours

Soil samples - 2 hours
Sci High Charter School volunteer program design (for Dr. Beckman) - 3 hours

Total: 30 hours

Post Shelf Life

It's been a week or so since the Pharmacology Shelf exam. I'm thrilled to be done with the exam, but a little sad that the year is coming to an end. Classes are winding down with only one more exam left to take before graduation. I cannot believe that it's been nearly a year since I arrived in New Orleans. I've made an entirely new network of good friends and met some wonderful professors. It's strange to think that in almost exactly a month, I'll be back in Austin...

In other news, I've started working on a new project recently. It involves introducing a club to the New Orleans Charter Math and Science High School (Sci High). The program should include in some capacity the opportunity for graduate students to mentor high school kids while teaching them about cool science concepts. The details have not been worked out yet, but the tentative plan is to host several classes that address different aspects of a science topic (like physics for instance) that concludes with a culminating event (possibly building bottle rockets). I'll be meeting with the Sci High administration soon and I am hoping that this program can be made a reality.

Over the course of the last month, I discovered a path through medicine that seems perfect for me, namely, physiatry. I could take my love of sports medicine and exercise programming to the next level while establishing long-term relationships with patients. One of my concerns about the evolution of the medical field is that time spent with patients is decreasing and the paperwork load is increasing. With physiatry, it seems that I would have ample opportunity to work with patients, address their concerns and be personally rewarded by their progress. So although I'm struggling with the idea of leaving New Orleans, the future seems bright and I'm ready to embrace the next step in my life.

Shelf Exam Incoming

Second semester is flying by at an alarming rate. Our Principles of Pharmacology course just ended and the Medical Pharmacology shelf exam is on the horizon. It's finally setting in that I have to figure out a plan for next year. At this point in time, I'm deciding between continuing to work in the test preparation field or venturing into pharmaceutical sales. If I choose the teaching route, then I think I'm going to focus my efforts on tutoring rather than working in the classroom. In Austin, prior to relocating to New Orleans, my work/life balance was completely lopsided. I'd really prefer to choose my own hours and have the flexibility to take classes over the summer. I recently learned that several of the medical schools that I'm planning to apply to require it. In addition, the biochemistry that I was exposed to throughout my MCAT teaching career and this Pharmacology program seems critically important for success in medical school.

I was also excited to learn how easy it is to take online classes. A peer in this program introduced me to edx.org where I can sign up for classes that cover pretty much anything. The ease of access to a structured course blows my mind. I've been considering learning basic HTML so that I could compile my ideas on a webpage. I love rehabilitative medicine and sports medicine and often read articles that I find interesting and useful. My plan for the future is to start putting together a resource that not only I can use for exercise/rehab program development, but that I can share with friends. The opportunities seem limitless.

Overall, this month has been a highly productive one, filled with reflection and planning for the future. 

Back in the Mud Again

It's been nearly 7 years now since my spinal injury. It's truly hard to believe. I received a multilevel spinal fusion surgery in 2008. At the time, I was under the impression that I would never walk again. Since then, I've recovered the use of my legs, but I've still felt limited. As a fitness addict I've always wanted more in the gym. Since my accident, I've restricted myself to single leg exercises in order to reduce the spinal load. However, recently, It became clear that my inability to do squats and deadlifts was not due to my spinal fusion, but rather could be attributed to a lack of flexibility. For the last month, I've focused on improving my flexibility with the goal of accessing these key strength exercises. As of three days ago, I was able to do my first deep squat. When something is taken away from you, you want nothing more than to get it back. I finally have restored my body to the condition it was in before the accident. I told myself when I moved to New Orleans that big things would happen. Classes have been going well. I can already tell that I've learned a lot and feel significantly better prepared for med school. I'm a firm believer in taking care of mind and body. I could not be more satisfied with how things are going.

Even more exciting, I've begun spreading my love of  fitness to the rest of the pharmacology class. My friends  regularly come to me with questions about their workout routines. I probably tell them more than they want to hear. I've gotten a few of my closest friends to do my training program with me. Not only does the company make the whole experience more enjoyable, but it's rewarding to share such an important aspect of my life with them. Overall, I've loved my experience in New Orleans and I am pumped to see what's to come in the next few months.