Thursday, August 30, 2007

Dreams

I was ruminating today on the topic of dreams. Not dreams as in nighttime, REM state, etc. I never remember those. I was thinking about goals, aspirations, where-you-see-yourself-in-twenty-years kind of dreams. As eloquently stated in Pretty Woman: "Welcome to Hollywood...what's your dream?!"

I've been lucky in that I was raised with a "sky's the limit" mentality. Whatever I wanted to do, I could -- just put in the hard work, and it'll pay off.

I had an experience recently, where I wanted to tackle something that I have never done before and have no knowledge about: putting on a fundraiser. I have a big dream for this -- it's going to benefit the group I worked with in Kenya, that works with HIV patients. A cause to which I've dedicated my life.

So, I starting asking people with experience, people who have done this for a living. They all said, "Great cause, great idea, you can't do it if you've never done it before. You'll waste your time. You won't get the support you need." I kindly thanked them for their time and their opinions, and I kept moving on. Several residents have also dedicated themselves to this project, so we all just kept moving.

I just got word today that a big institution is going to sponsor our event -- lend their name and their credibility to a bunch of people who have no idea what they're doing, but are doing it all for the good of the less fortunate.

We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but naysayers beware -- we're moving forward!

So, I ask you, all the way from Hollywood: what's YOUR dream?

Friday, August 17, 2007

The Wait Begins...

3 days ago I took my Boards. It's a situation similar to the Bar for lawyers. You have to pass it to be certified. It covers all of medicine. Yes, ALL of medicine. It's a bit daunting.

Studying began nearly a year ago, when I starting reading the MedStudy book series. Everyone seems to use them, and I was very happy with the organization of it all. So, throughout last year, I'd read different sections. Then a few months ago, I starting rereading, at a quicker pace, trying to pull out what I felt was essential. Basically the whole book is highlighted.

Then, I started doing practice test questions. Lots of them. I felt as prepared as I could have been, given all the rest of life that had to go on during this time. Life doesn't stop for the boards.

The test itself was l-o-n-g. 240 questions. 4 sections of 60 questions each. 2 hours per section. Sucked. Being stuck in front of a computer for 8 hours. No watches, no phones, no personal belongings. They didn't even let me bring my chapstick in there! I'm so bitter.

But, it's done. I will have to wait 8 weeks or something like that for my results. I'm hoping for a fat "P" -- no need to ace this thing, just pass.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Another test?!?!!?

That's right, another test. Just one week from tomorrow, I will sit for my boards. And I mean SIT -- for 8 hours, in front of a computer screen, answering any and every question about...medicine. All of it. Oh, the joy. I want to poke my eye out with my pencil.

When will the madness end?!?? When will They realize that I can look up any answer that I don't know on my palm pilot in 15 seconds. I don't need to memorize charts or medication side effects. I CAN LOOK THEM UP when I need them. Gone are the days of 3000 page Physician Desk Reference books on medications. Gone.

Regardless, They have got me by the throat and they are squeezing a board exam out of me. Let's all have a moment of silence and say a quick prayer that I'll come out victorious. If not, well, I was the top seller of Girl Scout cookies when I was 11. [Well, not really, but I was close.]