Still Going...

1 week left of my gross anatomy course. It is weird how I thought I
would never get used to the dead bodies, and now im so used to it I get
tired of dissecting. Its a great opportunity that a lot of schools do
not get the chance to experience, and its also fascinating but im happy
that it will soon be over.

If you ever get the chance to take a cadaver
anatomy course, be sure to relax and take it bit by bit. I think I did
myself a favor by not going overboard with studying obsessively; I gave
myself plenty of me time throughout. That helped me focus more the
times I did study.

Because we have a course together with physical therapy
students, there are 15 total bodies on our practical exams. We have
50-60 questions with one minute per question. Our lecture exams are now
100 questions, where our first was only 50. Our last exam is on the
lower extremity, which I personally believe to be a tad easier because
all of the muscles are bigger and easier to distinguish. Well, I should
be studying now since I took a loooonnggg break yesterday, ill update
soon. :-)

A Bit Overwhelmed

So last Thursday we began our Anatomy course....and our first Exam is
Next wednesday. Everyday we learn something totally new...while I
havent even finished teaching myself the material from the day before.
I am sooooo overwhelmed. Im also still getting used to the cadavers,
they smell bad and make my eyes burn...but the dissecting can be
interesting. (My table has a skinny). There isn't too much more to say
except that ill be very busy for the next 5 weeks....so wish me luck!!
Lots of it...

2nd day of OT School

Yesterday was my first official day of OT school!!!!!

So far we have done welcomes, tours, ID's, parking passes, advisor meetings, etc. Tomorrow starts our first day of Nature of Occupational Therapy. We have about 20 chapters to read between tonight and tomorrow night. :-( This class lasts about a week, and we have a 20 minute presentation, a 8-10 page paper, a final exam and a bunch of reading and tutorials to do.

Even though we have already started, Im still nervous. Ill probably update again next wednesday, when this class is over, and right before anatomy!! dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Sour summer...

So due to some technical difficulties at the new apartment...we still
have not moved in yet. Unfortunately the 2 weeks I was supposed to have
to relax and have fun with my friends and boyfriend will have to be
postponed until July 29th when my classes are over. I do have the
syllabus for our first class of the summer...Nature of OT. This class
is only a week and as soon as it is over, our gross anatomy class starts
that next day. Looking over everything we have an average of about 5
chapters to read per night, a paper, a project, and a final exam..all
crammed into a week. Wow...this sounds more like a
break-you-into-ot-school-bootcamp. I think ill begin reading this week
and highlight main points so that I can just refresh my reading the
night before each class. Im soooo nervous yet excited to be beginning
soon. More so just ready for our apartment manager (the sweetest lady)
to let me know we can move in. Well a week from tomorrow starts our 2
days of orientation...followed by a week of our intro class...and lastly
(uh oh) 6 weeks of intense, scary, and extremely difficult Anatomy.
Help..........

Wow...less than a month left until classes start. I know months ago I
was only waiting to apply...then waiting for a decision..and now in a
few weeks all of my thoughts and hopes will come to reality. Am I
really ready for this?

It seems like this year went by so quickly. I remember reading Patti's
blog about starting her first year of OT school like it was yesterday,
and now she is a 2nd year and Im a 1st year (lets hope this year feels
just as fast).

I just got the rest of my summer books for the Nature of OT and Anatomy
courses. They are biggg!! (Scared now!) I know anatomy is gonna be one
of the toughest classes of my first year, but I want to one day be able
to know the material like the back of my hand. Its fun to be able to
tell people different parts of their own bodies that they probably never
cared to know the name of or even thought of for that matter. I also
went shopping for new school supplies, highlighters and colored pencils,
etc. I love new school supplies! (Any OT's or OTS's with organization
tips for new students send them pleeeaaseeeee) I want to try and stay on
top of things from the beginning so that studying for exams and finals
will be just a tad simpler. Any tips at all will help :-)

Other than all that stuff...I had a relaxing day. My BF came home from
Iceland this past week. Its Been 4 months since I last saw him, we had
some time to just relax and enjoy eachothers company. We also did a
little school/apt shopping. I missed the little stuff...now ill have him
all summer until he leaves again for another 8 1/2 months...

On a good note...only a little over a week until move in. Opening a new
chapter soon...very soon :-)

Waiting Impatiently

So In a little over 3 weeks I will finally be able to move back to
Richmond. then about 2 weeks after...Classes Begin! Im really hating
to wake up for work in the morning....I haven't been able to concentrate
on my Job or my online classes, only counting down the days until
school. These next 3 weeks need to hurry by....ughhhhh!!
"And what you give me lets know that ill be alright" -JT

Open House

Yesterday was Open House for the accepted applicants. I had to wake up at 6 to get ready, and leave by 7 for the 2 hour drive. Erin and I had some appointments set up to view apartments, and we fell in love with the first one we saw. Itsa nice 2 br 2 bath thats only about a 3 minute drive to campus.

Anyhow, orientation started at 1230 and began with a nice lunch from the department. After lunch we were given a tour of the department and some of the OT areas in the VCU Hospital.

The fun part was the Q and A session with the current grad students. They relieved some of my stresses about financial aid and course load etc. I decided not to work during grad school so I can focus on studying and because Im the type of person who will be stressed out over a job that I dont enjoy. I also had the chance to meet some of my future classmates, who were all great and as excited as me to begin.

2 Days of orientation starting on June 2nd, followed by a short course on Nature of OT. Soon after we begin our gross anatomy!! Thats the only scary part thats coming up, lol.

Im looking forward to beginning soon, and moving in the new apartment with Erin. I think that we will have a good 2 and a half years ahead of us!! :-)