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Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the long absence! Time has madly rushed by and I’m still coming to terms with the fact that winter break is here. As I sat on the plane home yesterday (see picture below), I couldn’t believe that I was already flying back home for break. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been away for ~5 months.

Home Sweet Home

The past 5 months have been incredible and I wouldn’t exchange those 5 months for anything in the world.

Here are a few reflections from the past few months:

1. Don’t underestimate the value of Flextime Quizzing. When I was deciding between schools, Flextime quizzing wasn’t a huge part of my decision making process.  However, Flextime Quizzing has made a huge impact on my quality of life at medical school. It’s given me the flexibility to take a day off when I’ve been feeling sick or to travel to other places to see dear friends. It’s given me the opportunity to explore the beauty of Michigan and to call home to let my parents know that I’m doing okay. It’s also given me the opportunity spend time with friends at the medical school and to take the time to enjoy our current experiences as medical students (including Michigan sports!). I know that without Flextime Quizzing, my medical school life would have been significantly different. (See some pictures below of what Flextime Quizzing has allowed me to do)

Seeing Lake Michigan for the first time!

Visiting college friends in NYC.

Surprising Katrina for her birthday!

Building "Gingerbread Houses" (It's actually a rocket ship.)

Watching Michigan Hockey!

2. Studying is still the same. Yes, you do have to study in medical school and it can still feel like #thestruggs sometimes. However, it’s incredibly rewarding to leave an 80 question anatomy practical with the realization that we know so much more than when we started medical school 5 months ago. Anyone want to know what muscles flex the leg and what nerves innervate them? Anyone?

3. We still have a lot to learn. As we’ve engaged in small group discussions and shared our thoughts about various topics in medicine, I always arrive at the same conclusion: I still have a lot to learn. It’s great to be at a place where the diverse views and perspectives challenge my own pre-conceived notions and biases and that we have the opportunity to engage in these conversations. Many of us may have written about how our experiences have given us “cultural competency and literacy” in our medical school applications. (And, it is true that our class is collectively filled with people who have had many different life experiences.) However, I think that we’re all realizing that we still have a lot to learn when it comes to cultural literacy and in understanding how to work with a variety of people.

And, of course, we still have a lot to learn in general…can’t wait for the GI tract anatomy dissections when we go back to school…

Now, back to eating the rare commodity that is my mom’s home cooked meals…

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Britta