Day 59: Failure is success if we learn from it**2 min read

Today’s inane image of the day:

Couldn’t say no to a photo of more fall colors!

I apologize for the long hiatus — examinations this time around were brutal. At this point, I recognize that I was not studying as effectively, nor was I studying the right material, so it was kind of a lose-lose on all fronts. Furthermore, I hate to admit it, but I am still trying to figure out a good way to learn everything.

If you haven’t inferred by now, I did very poorly on my BFCP1 Final Exam. While it came as a huge blow to my ego yesterday when I received my score, I knew in the back of my mind what the outcome would be after I walked out of the room on Monday.

After blowing off some steam at the gym, I took care of laptop problems [R, our computer guy, is awesome!], ended up running into Dean Folberg and having an impromptu meeting with him [2 months in, and I still think Dean Folberg is an inspiration], and topped off my day with a uplifting visit from a friend. I’m not sure if there’s a delayed reaction coming, but I definitely took the exam news extremely well and have just been focused on moving forward with a new study style.

If you’re a current medical student — how do you study? I have seen many different ways, but I just thought I’d put it out there.

Before I end, I did want to put it out there that I am not sure how I feel about being an engineer prior to medical school [prior to this, I discuss it here]. I am starting to see that there were a lot of basic science courses that I should have taken to help me through this process, but never ended up doing because I had more than enough engineering classes to take in order to graduate. Furthermore, I feel like I was slightly spoiled by the problem solving aspect of engineering — our exams only required memorization of a formula at most… so memorizing a whole textbook in 4 weeks is proving to be a transition.

Anyway, my updates may be a bit sporadic this week because 1. I need to study, 2. Mike is coming into town, 3. my best friend is coming into town 4. our class President is hosting a dinner for us, 5. I need to catch up on the rest of life [e.g. cleaning…].

Today’s medical school fact of the day: The name of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in humans is the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). – Immunology lecture slides

** Quote in title from Malcolm Forbes

4 thoughts on “Day 59: Failure is success if we learn from it**2 min read

  • October 12, 2011 at 1:15 pm
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    “As kids we’re not taught how to deal with success; we’re taught how to deal with failure. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. If at first you succeed, then what?”
    – Charlie Sheen

    Glad you’re blogging again. It’s cathartic, plus I enjoy reading it. Good luck with studying this week! 🙂

    -CodeBlu

  • October 13, 2011 at 5:00 pm
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    Hey! This is Fred.

    I decided I’d be Mr. Look-on-the-bright-side
    about you possibly rethinking engineering as
    your pre-med.

    While engineering might not be the best for
    med school, per se, it’s pretty great for being
    a doctor. [Ask Grotberg! Ahaha!] Booksmarts and
    photographic memories only get you so far, but
    great critical thinking and problem solving
    skills (comme le engineering) gets you farther
    when you’re trying to critically think and
    solve patients’ problems, non? Because patient
    problems are rarely “out-of-the-book;” people
    are complicated.

    Anyway, I hope you’re doing well!
    [And this is the second time I’m posting
    this because the dreaded “Post Comment”
    and “Back” button combination killed my
    first better draft.. wawa]

  • October 17, 2011 at 12:16 am
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    Long time no update =(. I really hope you are doing ok.

    Christine

  • October 17, 2011 at 12:43 am
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    @CB: As I mentioned earlier and I will say it again — I am not a fan of Charlie Sheen, but I did enjoy that quote. Anyway, I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU MIGHT BE MY CLASSMATE COME THIS TIME NEXT YEAR! w00t! Congrats again. =)

    @Fred: I appreciate the dedication [i.e. re-typing your comment b/c of the “Back” button!] and your positive thoughts. I think I was just looking for something to blame and engineering seemed to be the easiest thing. But good thinking bringing up Dr. Grotberg — he’s definitely a good example of an engineer-physician. I hope you’re doing well!

    @Christine: I was literally writing my update when I got your comment! Thank you for your concern — it means a lot to me.

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