AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHH! (a.k.a. What-Did-I-Get-Myself-Into?!)

Wow… and I thought orientation week was going to be tough… is doesn’t have ANYTHING on the first week of classes.

To give you a quick run-down, I have:
Anatomy I from 8:00-10:00 every day
Microanatomy/Embryology from 10:00-12:00 every day
Introduction to Veterinary Medicine from 1:00-2:00 only on Monday
Nutrition from 1:00-2:00 Tuesday through Friday
Physiology I from 2:00-3:00 every day

That’s 20 credits. More than the average undergraduate student takes in a semester… at a much harder level. Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore. People aren’t joking when they tell you how hard it is. I mean, I KNEW it was going to be hard… but you just don’t really realize the sheer quantity of the material until you sit in on just one class.

I’m finding myself having little to no social life (although I am still addicted to Facebook and Skype)… as my mornings start at 6:30… grabbing breakfast on the run and going to school… sitting through classes… going to TA and tuitoring sessions (yes, I took everyone’s advice), and then going home… studying… having dinner… going to bed… and repeating the whole process the next day. Even on the weekends, I sleep in a little bit longer but then spend at least 12-14 hours studying and reading, only stopping for food breaks. I’m sure it’ll level out once I get myself organized… but until then, it’s a killer.

Honestly, I've had a few rough days... there are times where everything is great down here. There are other times when I feel like I just simply don't belong here. And sometimes, I'm just plain homesick. I know that it'll eventually all level out, but it's tough thinking like that sometimes.

We had our white coat ceremony last Monday. (I do apologize for the picture… it’s not the best one, but it’s all I have.) We were presented with our laboratory coat in a formal ceremony, symbolizing our commitment to pursuing the field of veterinary medicine. As a class, we recited an oath outlining our commitment to ethical practices, mutual respect, and all those other lovely values that they try to instill in us at a young age. I have to admit (as did several of my colleagues) that I got a bit teary during the preceedings of the event… not from fear or anything like that (although I have to admit that I’m still absolutely terrified that I’ll soon have lives in my hands), but from sheer admiration at myself for even getting to this point in the field.

As a more laid-back event this week, there was the Mr. RUSVM pageant. Essentially, it is a “beauty pageant” for the men of the classes—one is chosen from each semester’s class and they compete through 4 events/categories. Even the professors get involved in judging the event. This year, it was Decades (where they chose to represent their favorite decade), Extreme Travel, Talent, and Formal Wear. And yes, they even did the probing questions that you see in the formal wear of the Miss America pageants. Someone posted up a video of the opening dance sequence… HERE! Yes, that is OUR semester’s choice who missed the practice and was sitting there with the apple in his mouth for the whole first half. Fourth semester won… and it was a good choice from the judges… he was amusing.

Club sign-ups were this week too, and it was tempting to join SOOOOOOOOOO many… but I limited myself (being first semester and all) to only a few—Zoo/Exotics/Wildlife, Holistic Medicine, Association of Avian Veterinarians, and I’ll be volunteering with beach clean-ups for the leatherback turtle nesting season and assisting once a semester with the PAWS Association’s adoption events. And then, of course… Lindsey and I are hoping to somehow go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week as well.

… I have a long, busy semester ahead of me…

Until next week!