AnneC.

Tomorrow (later), if classes will not be suspended, is our first day in our first ever clinical rotation for this year. You see, this year we as medical students, start our hospital work being in our Integrated Clinical Clerkship Year. We would mostly be assigned in the OPD, learning as much as we can on the skills, honing our clinical eye. In other words, this is the start where things should be more exciting, beyond the theories and the books. The past two months, have been an extension of last year, piles of transes to be read for an exam, weekly exams and who would have thought even assignments. and tomorrow/later (if classes are not suspended) would be the real start of ICC. In spite of the fact that most of my batchmates are really excited about ICC, the thought of 'real' freedom and a promise of a less toxic life. I'm kind of scared. And I guess we should all be. Because with this new type of learning environment, we would be meeting real life patients who need o...

last week, my brother texted me this very weird text message: "ate anne, bbye" and the paranoid big sister in me was of course anxious to find out what happened/is happening to my brother with that text. And so i called him and he told me that he was needed abroad the week after.  and tada! that weekend has come, and right now he's a four hour flight away from us :)  I'll definitely miss having him around, even though it would only be for some time (depends actually), it would still be different going home every weekend since he's not at home. actually, the thought of going home from the dorm is kind of pointless, especially if my parents are not here anyway.  I get shifted back to the time when I was also alone with just a kasambahay to help me get by day to day. considering the people at school as my true second family.  Nonetheless, I'm happy, because we are all doing each other a favor, my brother and me reaching our dreams to also mak...

This past two weeks, Ive been having a different kind of learning experience :) Being in the infectious diseases module last last week and the oncology module this past week, some of the many things i most learned about is HIV and of course cancer. But what made the past two weeks and the learning more special is being able to put a face in some of the diseases being taught to us. During our HIV workshop, we met B, a 22 year old who was diagnosed with HIV a few months back. He shared his experience in front of our class, recalling the different stages of DABDA (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance); and now living positively with HIV , trying to make a difference by sharing his story and making people aware. And he did make a difference, if not to all my classmates there, then at least to me. I admired his courage and i was definitely touched by his story. Then, just this week, our group examined, P who was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. Being more hands on with...

Alas! It's July :) A month has passed and yes I'm enjoying my third year in medical school :) Now here's a little something to summarize my busy busy month and remind myself of the great things that has happened :) What better way to start my month but by seeing friends from long ago. I met with my chemistry college loves, my high school best friend whom I haven't seen in years and my chemsoc loves as well. These people are true living proofs of what friendship is, and how true friendship should be. a relationship that can stand distance and time. and that after a long long time, even with the many changes in our lives right now, the friendship remains - even with a simple lunch, dinner or a game over monopoly deal. I feel so blessed to have  these people as my friends :) May 30, 2012 - my college buddies kate and me-an at our house with my creative drawing of our friends, rhoux shyne, shang and OG using my new ipad pen from robert. next time, let us be com...