Just thought of posting a summary on what this year's youth weekend was all about...
Now THAT is MY King! :)
The weekend was awesome! I honestly did not want it to end. And I just want to say a big thank you to anyone reading this post who made this youth weekend possible. Thank you. :)
Monday, 30 November 2009
Saturday, 3 October 2009
RT: Practice Makes Perfect
Summer has been rather busy with so much work to get done before turning a new leaf and start my final year at Uni. For a first time in a long time, I was actually excited to get started this year. Though the pressure really is at its best as the finals draw closer with every passing day.
For people with a voracious appetite for knowledge, 5th year can indeed be exciting. But the worrying hearsays regarding the tribulations I'm going to have to endure have commenced already. In fact, at this rate, I'm just really hoping that by June they won't get the better of me (especially in front of Dr. Parveen Kumar as, apparently, it does you know favours; 'specially if you're female like me).
Most people say the practical component to the final exams is the core reason behind all this terror. Though, in all honesty, what's scaring me the most is what will happen later...
But let's not go there and not think so much long term. Exams are an overwhelming reality as is and they have to be tackled very judiciously due to the heavy practical/hands-on compnent to them. And as stated in this very striking poster that inspired me to write this...
Still, all practice and no theroy, like I discovered yesterday at casualty whilst trying to learn something, is like sailing an "uncharted sea". Putting it in modern English... you feel utterly lost and confused in your sea of patient complaints and medicine problems... You would be asked very intimidatingly... "Allura tabiba, how are you going to manage this lady?" But whilst summing up the affairs of your brain, you simply draw nothing but a blank...
If you ask me... I think that is what really is scary!
For people with a voracious appetite for knowledge, 5th year can indeed be exciting. But the worrying hearsays regarding the tribulations I'm going to have to endure have commenced already. In fact, at this rate, I'm just really hoping that by June they won't get the better of me (especially in front of Dr. Parveen Kumar as, apparently, it does you know favours; 'specially if you're female like me).
Most people say the practical component to the final exams is the core reason behind all this terror. Though, in all honesty, what's scaring me the most is what will happen later...
But let's not go there and not think so much long term. Exams are an overwhelming reality as is and they have to be tackled very judiciously due to the heavy practical/hands-on compnent to them. And as stated in this very striking poster that inspired me to write this...
Still, all practice and no theroy, like I discovered yesterday at casualty whilst trying to learn something, is like sailing an "uncharted sea". Putting it in modern English... you feel utterly lost and confused in your sea of patient complaints and medicine problems... You would be asked very intimidatingly... "Allura tabiba, how are you going to manage this lady?" But whilst summing up the affairs of your brain, you simply draw nothing but a blank...
If you ask me... I think that is what really is scary!
Sunday, 21 June 2009
June 2009 and June 2010
Just a few thoughts of today...
1. June exams are over and passed Pathology.
2. Simon has reached his 300th mark on his blog. And I'm featured in his vlog... *embarrassing*.
3. Today it's Father's Day... It's suppose to be a nice family day today. Thing is, it is turning out to be anything but...
4. But that's not what my blog is going to be about. I just want to record a little something for myself... Though feel free to read through...
Last Friday was an ordinary day for most people. It was definitely an ordinary day for me, except for one thing... My best friend finished her 5th year medicine exams last Wednesday and Friday was the day she was going to discover whether she can be officially called Dr. Scerri. Problem was, results weren't due to come out before 2pm. I'm sure my friend's stomach was churning a lot more acid than usual... I know mine was.
So, I decided to keep myself occupied till the clock struck two. I then ran out of things to do until my sister came up with this big idea of going to Pavi supermarket to buy a BBQ at 1pm. Half an hour later, we were on a bus to Valletta to catch the 2pm bus at the terminus.
Then, whilst trying enjoy the bumpy ride on the 88, I get the phone call... The phone call I've been waiting to get since we become friends in 6th Form. Well... The news she brought was good... Very good indeed. After 2 gruesome years getting the right A level grades and 5 years getting beaten up at medical school... She is now a doctor, alongside a few other lucky ones. The blogger behind That Malignant Grin also surely has something to smile about. And I'm glad they do! I'm sure it was well earned.
Now... As we congratulate the ones that made it through medical school this year... We now wait in joyful hope for that person to be me... Hopefully next June... June 2010! But before that... Only God knows how much I've got to get cracking before I get there. *sigh*
1. June exams are over and passed Pathology.
2. Simon has reached his 300th mark on his blog. And I'm featured in his vlog... *embarrassing*.
3. Today it's Father's Day... It's suppose to be a nice family day today. Thing is, it is turning out to be anything but...
4. But that's not what my blog is going to be about. I just want to record a little something for myself... Though feel free to read through...
Last Friday was an ordinary day for most people. It was definitely an ordinary day for me, except for one thing... My best friend finished her 5th year medicine exams last Wednesday and Friday was the day she was going to discover whether she can be officially called Dr. Scerri. Problem was, results weren't due to come out before 2pm. I'm sure my friend's stomach was churning a lot more acid than usual... I know mine was.
So, I decided to keep myself occupied till the clock struck two. I then ran out of things to do until my sister came up with this big idea of going to Pavi supermarket to buy a BBQ at 1pm. Half an hour later, we were on a bus to Valletta to catch the 2pm bus at the terminus.
Then, whilst trying enjoy the bumpy ride on the 88, I get the phone call... The phone call I've been waiting to get since we become friends in 6th Form. Well... The news she brought was good... Very good indeed. After 2 gruesome years getting the right A level grades and 5 years getting beaten up at medical school... She is now a doctor, alongside a few other lucky ones. The blogger behind That Malignant Grin also surely has something to smile about. And I'm glad they do! I'm sure it was well earned.
Now... As we congratulate the ones that made it through medical school this year... We now wait in joyful hope for that person to be me... Hopefully next June... June 2010! But before that... Only God knows how much I've got to get cracking before I get there. *sigh*
Monday, 8 June 2009
Little Picture Composition
The above picture is actually quite inappropriate to put up here since this guy is just starting PATHology and I just finished mine... Hopefully for good.
Whilst many people believe (wholeheartedly) that I made it through, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. Because, you see, if success in my pathology exam, or any exam for that matter, were to depend on the amount of highlighter used on notes and books, I should pass with flying colours (pun intended). Sadly, medical school rarely works that way. And today was enough proof of that. (Yes, the rumours about getting a 20 mark question on a three sentence-long condition in the biggest medicine book are very, very true...)
Now, I have obstetrics and gynaecology on Friday and Paediatrics following Wednesday. And for those people who are still wondering what the hell the word obstetrics means, here's the definition in graphical format...
Sorry for the lame post, but I really wanted to blog even though I had nothing of substance to say... Too tired to type out a decent post.
PS: Murmur rocks! Well done Claire and all involved.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Murmur is OUT!
The MEP election campaign, with all the political drama and propaganda, has brought along with it much blog fodder. Sadly, now is one of the worst times to be on blogging mode. But, this entry is worth a mention... Nothing to do with the MEP elections... Far from it! And I promise to myself to keep it short...
MURMUR IS OUT!!!!
Cartoon has been drawn by Matthew Urpani and designed by Claire Vella who was editor of MMSA's magazine (Murmur) this year.
Can't wait to get a hold of my copy on Wednesday... *happiness* Even though I have a bitch exam coming up on that day! *sigh*
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Twitterific
As you may or may not have noticed, I've decided to form part of the Twitter community after the following sequence of events:
Having said this, exams start on Friday... Needless to say I'm lagging behind in studies. Hence, got to go. For Twitter updates, you can check the right margin (just under 'God's Twitter' entitled "Verse of the Day")
- Twitter has been first brought to my attention thanks to Robert Galea's blog.
- Miley Cyrus has admitted to E! News that she is Twitter obsessed... Thanks to Demi Levato.
- Those two points above made me want to delve into what this "Twitter" thing is.
- Discovered that many a medical student is twittering - it's infectious I suppose... but also...
- Things are starting to get a bit lonely at home now that I stopped having lectures for more than a week. (with Prof. Paul Cuschieri managing to turn our last lecture into a class reunion after such a long time of not seeing certain faces...)
Having said this, exams start on Friday... Needless to say I'm lagging behind in studies. Hence, got to go. For Twitter updates, you can check the right margin (just under 'God's Twitter' entitled "Verse of the Day")
Monday, 25 May 2009
Tomorrow's Doctors...
Our University class Yahoo Group has always been quite a hub of communication all year. All was done in an endeavour to keep ourselves updated with everything going on at medical school, from lectures to other leisure activities. But lately, the emails (in red) that are being sent are so shameful, that I thought they deserve a little mention. As implied in the previous sentence, some people know no shame whatsoever. (But repetition is justified, you know, for the sake of emphasis) It is during this crucial time of the year were people are asking questions regarding issues that have been dealt with many months before such as...
"I was wondering why the viva [oral exam] for pathology is held a day before paediatrics exam. Can you check with secretary whether this thing can be changed? [OMG! You've never had two exams in succession before?] i have heard from previous years that people end up failing their paeds exam or do badly. would a day or 2 make a difference for them? after all a viva in pathology never helped anyone but people still have to go and thus waste a day or 2 before paeds exam."
And whilst they're at it, these same people are, naturally, asking for the pharmacology past papers...
"Can anyone kindly tell me what past papers are available for pharmacology as last time i checked at papier i found only 3. (btw i checked a week ago)"
And... wait for it...
"Wasn't there supposed to be a full set of past papers?"
Kindly note that past papers have been put in the stationer's for everyone to photocopy ages ago by our class representatives. (Yes... We are so childish in our ways that we actually need the "prefect system" that one only finds in secondary schools in order to ensure that things are working in some order.)
And they are also asking for notes too, as though our class reps haven't done a good enough job to collect and distribute all notes available throughout the year. Naturally, these people would have found it pointless coming to the lecture since the PowerPoint used is, in 99.9% of cases, found in the Yahoo Group ready for everyone to download... And emails such as follows naturally ensue...
"Hi, does anyone have the notes from Dr. N. Spiteri about vaccines please? Thanks"
And someone rightly replied...
"sa fejn naf jien [as far as I'm concerned] we don't have any notes of Dr. N Spiteri, she had written them out on the white board"
Another bright mind sends an email on the same thread...
"Anyone typed them out and can send them on the server?" [:O]
Needless to say, no one really bothered posting anything on the server. And so, people continued their panick sequence with regards to the pharmacology that most medical students never touch until the last two weeks of the year...
"hi, [Yeah, hello there] does anyone have notes for gynae pharm pls? thanks"
"And what about ophthalmic pharmacology? Are there any notes? If not, can anyone kindly list very briefly what was discussed?" [You have got to be kidding me!!!!]
[And here come the email that bursts the bubble...] "Gynae and Obs notes werent given because of poor attendence + lecturer dispute with university."
The prompt reply?
"*******... [like lecturers are expected to give us notes!] [But... the persistence of some people never ceases to amaze me...] and what about ophthalmology?"
Now, I'm a very reasonable individual. There is no harm is asking the odd query here and there. But... To all those people who expect to be spoon fed, all so that they can stay studying comfortably at home whilst the rest of their colleagues go to lectures and ward rounds as asked of them... We are forth year medical students, who will hopefully manage to become doctors in around 12 months time... Supposedly respectable and responsible citizens of society, as our duties, after all, require us to be. So, next time, instead of resting on the Yahoo Group, come to lectures and do your job as a student properly. You are free to decide otherwise and just do your own thing, in which case, when notes are missing, stop sending the class mail and go sod off!
On a more sober note, the real doctors of tomorrow (i.e. the 5th years) are just a few minutes away from sitting their first written exam (at 9am and at 3pm). I'm sure that any prayers at this stage will be greatly appreciated. :)
"I was wondering why the viva [oral exam] for pathology is held a day before paediatrics exam. Can you check with secretary whether this thing can be changed? [OMG! You've never had two exams in succession before?] i have heard from previous years that people end up failing their paeds exam or do badly. would a day or 2 make a difference for them? after all a viva in pathology never helped anyone but people still have to go and thus waste a day or 2 before paeds exam."
And whilst they're at it, these same people are, naturally, asking for the pharmacology past papers...
"Can anyone kindly tell me what past papers are available for pharmacology as last time i checked at papier i found only 3. (btw i checked a week ago)"
And... wait for it...
"Wasn't there supposed to be a full set of past papers?"
Kindly note that past papers have been put in the stationer's for everyone to photocopy ages ago by our class representatives. (Yes... We are so childish in our ways that we actually need the "prefect system" that one only finds in secondary schools in order to ensure that things are working in some order.)
And they are also asking for notes too, as though our class reps haven't done a good enough job to collect and distribute all notes available throughout the year. Naturally, these people would have found it pointless coming to the lecture since the PowerPoint used is, in 99.9% of cases, found in the Yahoo Group ready for everyone to download... And emails such as follows naturally ensue...
"Hi, does anyone have the notes from Dr. N. Spiteri about vaccines please? Thanks"
And someone rightly replied...
"sa fejn naf jien [as far as I'm concerned] we don't have any notes of Dr. N Spiteri, she had written them out on the white board"
Another bright mind sends an email on the same thread...
"Anyone typed them out and can send them on the server?" [:O]
Needless to say, no one really bothered posting anything on the server. And so, people continued their panick sequence with regards to the pharmacology that most medical students never touch until the last two weeks of the year...
"hi, [Yeah, hello there] does anyone have notes for gynae pharm pls? thanks"
"And what about ophthalmic pharmacology? Are there any notes? If not, can anyone kindly list very briefly what was discussed?" [You have got to be kidding me!!!!]
[And here come the email that bursts the bubble...] "Gynae and Obs notes werent given because of poor attendence + lecturer dispute with university."
The prompt reply?
"*******... [like lecturers are expected to give us notes!] [But... the persistence of some people never ceases to amaze me...] and what about ophthalmology?"
Now, I'm a very reasonable individual. There is no harm is asking the odd query here and there. But... To all those people who expect to be spoon fed, all so that they can stay studying comfortably at home whilst the rest of their colleagues go to lectures and ward rounds as asked of them... We are forth year medical students, who will hopefully manage to become doctors in around 12 months time... Supposedly respectable and responsible citizens of society, as our duties, after all, require us to be. So, next time, instead of resting on the Yahoo Group, come to lectures and do your job as a student properly. You are free to decide otherwise and just do your own thing, in which case, when notes are missing, stop sending the class mail and go sod off!
On a more sober note, the real doctors of tomorrow (i.e. the 5th years) are just a few minutes away from sitting their first written exam (at 9am and at 3pm). I'm sure that any prayers at this stage will be greatly appreciated. :)
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