Another semester has begun! And, I might add, it's off to an auspicious start. The classes are interesting, the workload is light, and opportunities abound.

My goals for this semester are to work harder with school and be more involved on campus and with service.

In thinking about last semester, I realized that more than anything, I was trying to avoid stress. As if it were the plague. So I dabbled and procrastinated, and generally had a great time. Didn't really feel like a medical student at all (as far a busyness was concerned), and was proud of that silly fact. In retrospect, I realize that my mindset was foolish.

Grades aren't an issue for me at all. I'd be fine with continuing to get the grades I got last semester. Not superb, but they're adequate. The issue is with stewardship of my time. As I see it, I've been blessed with this tremendous opportunity to make a difference, and the least I can do is put forth my very best effort. I no longer want to view the minute details as unworthy of my attention. There's no way I can remember everything, but if I only see most of the material once, and some of it not at all, I won't learning like I should.

So I want to prioritize school more. But it just so happens that our schedule if fairly light this semester, so I'll still have a lot of free time. What to do with it?

Of course, I'll continue to run and work out. (An aside - I find it odd that some people are surprised when I answer in the affirmative when they ask me if I'm still running. Of course. I guess it's just a fad for some people. Oh well. Maybe it's the way I'm wired, but exercising will always be a significant part of my life, until I'm old and decrepit or mentally ill). I also want to read. Just random stuff, whatever I'm in the mood for on any particular day. I'd like to be very involved at the Free Clinic as well. I applied for a spot on the clinic's Board of Directors for next year, and we'll see how that pans out. There are about 10 different positions on the Board, and I told them I'd be happy to serve in any capacity, although my top three choices were research chairman, student volunteer coordinator, and physician volunteer coordinator.

A cool thing. An e-mail was sent out a while back to all the MD/PhD students here at school calling for two people to attend an APSA (American Physician Scientists Association) conference up in Chicago in late April. Of course, I'm a newbie and have no abstracts to present, so I didn't respond, thinking that upperclassmen would jump at the opportunity. A few days ago, got another e-mail literally begging two of us mudphuds to go. Apparently, our administrators really want our school to be represented at these things. So, I look at my schedule to see if April 23-25 in Chicago works for me. Three tests on the 26th. Not a problem (hehe). Let's go to Chicago!! All expenses paid travel and hotel stay (nice hotel, too!), plus the opportunity to hear big-name speakers from top schools around the country (one is Francis Collins). How could I turn that down? So, little old me, an M1, gets to go to a big conference. I'm excited.

I could go on, but it's tired and I'm late (for you, Dad)

Ta-ra then!