PT School: The Breakdown
I can't even begin to describe the expectations that I had about MCG's DPT program before entering on May 16th because this whole thing turned out to be completely different than what I anticipated. Sure, we work hard, and I've succeeded in digging out my "good student" skills (you know, studying a week in advance, not waiting until the last minute to get things done - the things that I did NOT do in undergrad! KT and Em can vouch for me there...) in order to get the grades that I need to succeed in this program. I'm happy to report that I made a B in my anatomy class, and I did well enough to not have to remediate my midterm in our main in-department class. But even in the two months that we've been in school, I've experienced sooo many things! I've dissected cadavers (more on that later), I've studied more for each test that I've taken than I ever studied for a single final in undergrad (Dishman and Duval's classes included), and I've been drunker than ever! That's right kids: we work hard, but we play harder! The future of American Physical Therapy is DRUNK, and I might be the leader of the pack (or, as they like to call me, the mascot, haha!) But all in all, I have really become infatuated with all of my classmates and look forward to what the next 3 years have in store for me. So far, this is my explanation of what the hell I've been doing the past two months:
1. CADAVERS - I know that I've talked to most of you in passing about my experiences with dissecting my cadaver whom we've affectionately gotten to know as Bob. My relationship with Bob was probably the most emotional experience I've had in my life aside from my Daddy's death. Like, seriously, I probably had close to 6 coronaries and 3 panic attacks in my adventures with Bob. Now, don't get me wrong - we got emotional, but for the most part, our sense of humor prevailed, thus preventing any emotional scars from forming. It's just that when you are forced to flip over a human body and have 5 girls (should have been 7 but LindSAY and I were having panic attacks in the corner) almost drop a dead human body on the floor, emotions start flowing. On top of that, you get 60-year-old dead balls (big ones at that, hence the name Bob) thrown in your face, and you get to walk around smelling like death each time you leave the cadaver lab. We dissected hands, feet, I had human skin and fat thrown at me, yellow juices squirted at me, and let's not forget the day we had to suspend Bob's arm from the ceiling by his thumb! It's just a wild ride, and I can't say that I really miss Bob all too much, but it's definitely an experience I'll take with me forever. Our dissecting table was great fun and we added enough humor to the cadaver lab to lighten everyone's spirits during such a morbid experience. We learned a lot, actually had fun, but I don't think I'll ever be doing that AGAIN!
2. STUDYING - Ok, let's get honest: I suck at being a good student. Sure, I make good grades, but that's just cause I'm a genius. Ok, maybe not, but seriously, I am way too ADD to stay focused on one thing for a very long time which is why I usually don't study very much and why I procrastinate. In undergrad, my average start time for studying for a test was usually the night before at around 11 pm. I got away with murder in undergrad, but the material on these tests is so intense that I had to kind of change my ways. Can you believe that my new average start time for studying for a test is a week in advance! Whoa! Ok, so I guess grad school is supposed to be harder than undergrad (afterall, when all's said and done, I will be making sure you all address me as DOCTOR) but who'd have thought that I would be able to dig out some studying skills like that?! Fortunately, the material is interesting so studying is actually....fun! (GASP!) Lets me know I chose the right career field, huh? And it helps when you have a boy that makes sure that I study, but that is a different story....
3. GRADES - this has got to be the number one thing that absolutely pisses me off. Don't get me wrong, my grades are good, but the typical personality type in our class is somewhere between "overachiever" and "has no life" which means that when grades come back, everyone gets interrogated about what grade they recieved and some of those people are really good at making me feel like a royal dumbass because, GASP, I made a B. Y'all know me - I get things done as effectively as everyone else, but I'm not about to sacrifice ALL my time just to make an A on a test. It happens sometimes, but I'm getting the same sheet of paper as the girl that graduates with a 4.0, so it doesn't really matter to me. Still, some people feel the need to compare themselves to everybody just to ensure their own self-worth, and it really is annoying. So you studied for a week straight for the test? Congratu-fucking-lations! I studied half the amount of time as you did and you scored 5 points higher than me. Whoop-de-freakin-do! Yeah, it's annoying. But hopefully they'll get over it...
4. THIRSTY THURSDAY/SURREY/WILD WINGS/ANY LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD VENUE - yep, that's where we roll 30-deep! Seriously, when's the last time that you walked into a crowded restaurant and requested a party of 30? With as much work as we do, it's essential that we take breaks to kill the brain cells that are overloading our brains! I do recall being very nervous about finding a crew that would want to go out and unwind with me, but it's so incredible how many kids just love to have a good time! We've put down alcohol until we've found ourselves in a drunken stupor after every anatomy test, usually starting with Happy Hour and then ending up at home around 1 or 2 am (for those of you scoring at home, that's about a 10-hour marathon drinking session! And it wasn't even Gameday!) We've had so many great times as a class, and I really have grown to love these people even in the short amount of time that we've been together! They make this whole experience worthwhile.
5. BOY - I can't elaborate too much, but yes, there's a boy. Yes, he's old. Yes, we have an amazing time together. No, I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon. He's in my program, we study together (yes, we really do study! Get your minds out of the gutter...), and he's been absolutely amazing! He has the right amount of patience to put up with me, and he still lets me have my fun. I kinda like him! ;)
Ok, so that's the breakdown. I hope to be around more now that anatomy is over with, so stay tuned! Love y'all!
"If it ain't PHYSICAL, it ain't THERAPY!"
1. CADAVERS - I know that I've talked to most of you in passing about my experiences with dissecting my cadaver whom we've affectionately gotten to know as Bob. My relationship with Bob was probably the most emotional experience I've had in my life aside from my Daddy's death. Like, seriously, I probably had close to 6 coronaries and 3 panic attacks in my adventures with Bob. Now, don't get me wrong - we got emotional, but for the most part, our sense of humor prevailed, thus preventing any emotional scars from forming. It's just that when you are forced to flip over a human body and have 5 girls (should have been 7 but LindSAY and I were having panic attacks in the corner) almost drop a dead human body on the floor, emotions start flowing. On top of that, you get 60-year-old dead balls (big ones at that, hence the name Bob) thrown in your face, and you get to walk around smelling like death each time you leave the cadaver lab. We dissected hands, feet, I had human skin and fat thrown at me, yellow juices squirted at me, and let's not forget the day we had to suspend Bob's arm from the ceiling by his thumb! It's just a wild ride, and I can't say that I really miss Bob all too much, but it's definitely an experience I'll take with me forever. Our dissecting table was great fun and we added enough humor to the cadaver lab to lighten everyone's spirits during such a morbid experience. We learned a lot, actually had fun, but I don't think I'll ever be doing that AGAIN!
2. STUDYING - Ok, let's get honest: I suck at being a good student. Sure, I make good grades, but that's just cause I'm a genius. Ok, maybe not, but seriously, I am way too ADD to stay focused on one thing for a very long time which is why I usually don't study very much and why I procrastinate. In undergrad, my average start time for studying for a test was usually the night before at around 11 pm. I got away with murder in undergrad, but the material on these tests is so intense that I had to kind of change my ways. Can you believe that my new average start time for studying for a test is a week in advance! Whoa! Ok, so I guess grad school is supposed to be harder than undergrad (afterall, when all's said and done, I will be making sure you all address me as DOCTOR) but who'd have thought that I would be able to dig out some studying skills like that?! Fortunately, the material is interesting so studying is actually....fun! (GASP!) Lets me know I chose the right career field, huh? And it helps when you have a boy that makes sure that I study, but that is a different story....
3. GRADES - this has got to be the number one thing that absolutely pisses me off. Don't get me wrong, my grades are good, but the typical personality type in our class is somewhere between "overachiever" and "has no life" which means that when grades come back, everyone gets interrogated about what grade they recieved and some of those people are really good at making me feel like a royal dumbass because, GASP, I made a B. Y'all know me - I get things done as effectively as everyone else, but I'm not about to sacrifice ALL my time just to make an A on a test. It happens sometimes, but I'm getting the same sheet of paper as the girl that graduates with a 4.0, so it doesn't really matter to me. Still, some people feel the need to compare themselves to everybody just to ensure their own self-worth, and it really is annoying. So you studied for a week straight for the test? Congratu-fucking-lations! I studied half the amount of time as you did and you scored 5 points higher than me. Whoop-de-freakin-do! Yeah, it's annoying. But hopefully they'll get over it...
4. THIRSTY THURSDAY/SURREY/WILD WINGS/ANY LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD VENUE - yep, that's where we roll 30-deep! Seriously, when's the last time that you walked into a crowded restaurant and requested a party of 30? With as much work as we do, it's essential that we take breaks to kill the brain cells that are overloading our brains! I do recall being very nervous about finding a crew that would want to go out and unwind with me, but it's so incredible how many kids just love to have a good time! We've put down alcohol until we've found ourselves in a drunken stupor after every anatomy test, usually starting with Happy Hour and then ending up at home around 1 or 2 am (for those of you scoring at home, that's about a 10-hour marathon drinking session! And it wasn't even Gameday!) We've had so many great times as a class, and I really have grown to love these people even in the short amount of time that we've been together! They make this whole experience worthwhile.
5. BOY - I can't elaborate too much, but yes, there's a boy. Yes, he's old. Yes, we have an amazing time together. No, I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon. He's in my program, we study together (yes, we really do study! Get your minds out of the gutter...), and he's been absolutely amazing! He has the right amount of patience to put up with me, and he still lets me have my fun. I kinda like him! ;)
Ok, so that's the breakdown. I hope to be around more now that anatomy is over with, so stay tuned! Love y'all!
"If it ain't PHYSICAL, it ain't THERAPY!"
posted by Stacy @ 10:06 PM
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