Ups and Downs of a Pre-Med Student: ACS Regional Conference, Tests (ugh), Unemployment Loss, Job Gain

So it's been a very busy month.  I'm actually snagging five minutes to pop in and fill in some of my craziness of the last few weeks.

1) Organic Chemistry is a nightmare. And this really sucks, 'cause I really LOVE Organic Chemistry!  It's like every molecule is a puzzle and I get to figure out what it's made of, how to name it, and how it looks in 3D.  Sadly, though, I'm not connecting well with my instructor.  My first quiz three weeks ago was a disaster.  Made so much worse since we were rushing to complete lab (all of us had only two balances to share!), and I had about three minutes between lab and lecture, and we were told we had fifteen minutes to complete the quiz.  My mind was rushing, I could not focus.  This is not like me at all.  I'm usually an excellent, very focused, test-taker.  Sure enough, when I got the quiz back, it was horrible (12 out of 25).  And I know looking back at it that if I hadn't been rushed, I would have gotten above 20.  Sigh. 

Then came the test two weeks later.  I read every chapter.  I attend lecture, take notes, really listen.  I also have additional books I read and problems to work on to help me really "get it."  And then the test comes, and suddenly it's like none of the problems we had in homework were hard enough, 'cause now we got the really hard problems.  66%.  This is NOT me.  Sigh.

So now I have to really double up and find the hard questions before the test so I can answer them all. This is a five unit class, but I'd swear I'm spending three times as much time on this one than on all my other five unit classes.  This should really be a ten or fifteen unit class.

2) Biology: Loving it, but spending all my time on O Chem and my research project left bio in the lurch.  And then my first test was yesterday.  I haven't gotten it back, yet, but I know it's not good.  I'm hoping for a B, but would not be shocked with a C!  I had an interview two days ago, and spent my weekend studying for my interview as my unemployment ended three weeks ago, though I was just notified last week.  So I have had major money problems on my mind through all this...

3) ACS Conference:  So my research project is finally complete, and I presented it last Saturday at the American Chemistry Society Western Regional Conference.  It was a fantastic experience and I received some great questions and comments.

4) JOB!:  I got the job I interviewed for two days ago!  I'll be an EMT for ProTransport 1 out of Palo Alto.  I start on October 30th.  So excited!!!

5) Pre-Med Club:  As Co-President, I'm trying to get us AMSA chapterhood again.  It's coming together!

6) UC Davis Pre-Medical Conference this coming weekend:  Looking forward to attending and getting LOTS of information to help me along to medical school.  Wish I had clones to make it to all the workshops!!

So, this has been the past month.  I'm sure there will be many more adventures to come in the coming weeks!!  Stay tuned!