How has medical school been going for me? It's been over 3 months since I started, and now I'm only a month away from finals.

Academically, it's been going pretty well. I probably have a lower MCAT score, a lower undergrad GPA, and less experience overall than a lot (if not most) of my classmates. But it doesn't matter here. We're all starting over again from scratch. My MCAT score and GPA doesn't matter anymore, and it won't matter again for the rest of my life. So I've been performing just as well as, and sometimes better than, the rest of my classmates. I feel pretty confident about my academic performance for the next 2 years. It takes time and effort, but it's doable.

My stress level has generally been pretty low with the exception of a couple breakdowns. I'm just not the type of person to be chronically stressed. Medical school is demanding, but if I keep up with the demand, there's no need for stress. October is infamously known as "Red October" because we have a Biochemistry final, an Anatomy Practical, and 2 "quizzes." I put quizzes in quotation marks because they are 30-50 questions in length. So after the Biochemistry final, I had one week to study 3 weeks worth of material for the next quiz. That week was the most stressed I've been in medical school, and it's because I didn't keep up with the material. It's not like I slacked, it's because I was studying for the other exams preceding that quiz. I took that quiz last week and did really well, and now I can't even remember the actual stress I felt. I remember the fact that I was stressed, but I don't really remember how it felt to be stressed.

Clinically, I've gained some strides. I've successfully drawn blood 4 times now and have been unsuccessful once. That unsuccessful blood draw did take a minor toll on me, but a successful PAP Smear later that day helped me get over it. I've also done a digital rectal exam and breast exam. Since academics aren't what worries me, it's the clinical stuff. Because this is the stuff that really matters. I've decided to apply to become a co-director at Paul Hom Asian Clinic, and I'm excited to challenge myself and to learn so much. But I'm a little nervous about the responsibility. I'm proud that I'm not letting my nerves hold me back. I can't be afraid anymore. I'm going to be a fucking doctor.

There's not much else to say, even though there's so much I could write about. I'll try to update more often with various anecdotes and experiences in medical school. My life is really exciting, and I'm in a place in my life where I feel so blessed and appreciative of everything. I'm working towards a definite goal and it feels great.