An update! Sorry for not writing anything for so long.

So to follow up from my last post, I made some decisions.  I got rid of the hospital position, because I did not like it. I also quit my job.  So life is very different!  I am very much enjoying not working.  I thought I would have a lot of spare time, but it turns out I was wrong.

An opportunity came up for me to join student council, and I was able to take it.  I am really enjoying it so far. I have got to meet a group of amazing people, and the experience is really great.

As of a week ago, I have submitted all of my applications.  I applied to U of A, UBC, U of C, McMaster, Queens, Ottawa, Western.  I am so anxious about interview invites!  UBC is inviting in two weeks!!  My interview predictions:

• Confident: U of A, UBC
• Hopeful maybe: UBC, Queens
• Long Shot: McMaster, Ottawa, Western

I will update with results.  Promise it won't take two months.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for an article for me to write about premed stuff, let me know.  To all the other premeds reading this - good luck!

Decisions, decisions!

This guy will love me no matter what I choose.

Right now, I have a lot of difficult decisions weighing on my mind.

As I referenced in yesterdays post, I have been considering leaving my volunteer position at the hospital.  I find myself very bored at the position and I have started to dread Thursday nights.  I work the 8-midnight shift - I used to be quite a night owl, but that has changed and midnight is way too late!  I know that I can request a shift change, but I don't want to ask for a new shift and then leave shortly after.  I have been at the position for a year and know that long term commitments are valued.  

The local distress centre has contacted me regarding an application that I have submitted and I have an interview with them next week for a crisis line volunteer position. I would not start until mid-October.  I do not plan on volunteering at the crisis centre and the hospital at the same time.  I want to leave the hospital now, but I think I should either wait a month or just suck it up and stay for the rest of the year.

I turned to the internet for advice.  Medaholic says 'doesn't matter [if you enjoy it], just do it!'  In contrast, Cal Newport (study hacks) abohrs the 'laundry list' of extracirruclars and reccomends a 'zen valedictorian' approach that is characterized by under-scheduling, focus and innovation.  I am torn between two big concerns: 1) my non academic portion of my medical school applications and 2) my sanity and enjoyment of life.

The other big decision that I am pondering is whether I should leave my job or not.  This was not an option until very recently, and it is a pretty cool possibility.  I have been at my job since 2005 and it makes up a significant portion of my non academic experience.  I work at a caring profession and am in a leadership position.  My employment is fairly accommodating with my education, and I am scared about not having an income.  All positives aside, I have been feeling very burnt out with my job for the past many months, and the politics have been grating at me.  It has become very clear to me that I am not a long term fit at the position.  I was planning on leaving this job in a year and had not really considered being unemployed this upcoming academic year.  Again, I am torn between the same two concerns: 1) nonacademic activities and 2) happiness.  Some financial things are being sorted out and then... well, I will have to make up my mind about what to do!

Recently, I read an interesting article about 'decision fatigue'.  Basically, the article talks discusses a concept called 'ego-depletion'.  Research suggests that we have a finite amount of willpower and that the decision making process is mentally taxing.  After making a lot of decisions (regardless of importance), we become fatigued and the quality of our decision making decreases.  So how am I going to make up my mind?  I think I will talk to a couple of friends and mentors, go for a run and then try not to think about it for the weekend.  I find that I make the best decisions if I sit on them for a while.  Assuming financing is in place, I will make up my mind on Tuesday and not any sooner!

Countdown: 6 days, 19 hours and 45 minutes...

...until my first class of the fall semester.

I am so excited! I feel much more grounded when I am in school.  I have been thinking about my organizational plans, and I am making a goal to achieve a better school/work/life balance this year.  To accomplish this, I plan to:

• use Google calender (which syncs with my phone) to plan my life.  I will review my day on Google calender in the morning with breakfast and plan my day in my daytimer.  I am going to use a 'time blocking' strategy rather than a to-do list.
• start my projects early, and finish them before the deadlines.  I will work in a lot of small chunk rather than a big push.
• fix the holes in my knowledge immediately - no teaching myself at exam time
• drop the activities that I dislike (hospital volunteering) and try not to over commit to other things.  This will be tough, because I feel like I should be at the hospital volunteering for med school, but I really do not enjoy it (I get very bored).  I have applied to a number of other volunteer positions and am waiting to hear back.  I think I will be starting as a crisis line volunteer in October.  I am allowing myself one other position.

As a (perpetual) student, September is the start of my new year.  So, it seemed like a good time to set some goals for the upcoming year.  I would like to share some of them with you:

• run a half-marathon (October 1st)
• run a full marathon
• do EC's that I like
• achieve a 4.0
• spend more time with my family
• get into medical school.  This last one, I do not have too much control over.  I will do my best on my application and (hopeful) interviews.  Past that, it is out of my hands.  But, I sure am hopeful!

That is all for now.  Until next time!

P.S. it is 256 days and some hours until May 15, 2012.

First post!

Hi! This is my first blog.  I plan on chronicling my pre-med journey and the parts of my life that I consider interesting here.

Photo: My dogs Ringo (left) and Sigmund (right)

To introduce myself...

I am a 20-something fourth year psychology student.  I am applying to a number of Canadian medical schools this year.  In my free time, I love to run.  I have wonderful, supportive husband, two dogs that I love immensely, and a large fish tank that constantly distracts me from studying.

Through mostly my own making, I have known more failure and pain than most of my peers.  Because of these experiences, I have learned a lot about the value of self-examination and humility, and I pride myself on being someone who is persistent and learns from her mistakes.  I have a lot of personal experience with 'what not to do', but today I believe things are going pretty well.

I look forward to this experience!