I finished my second day of pathology elective. I saw as many prostate slides today than I have seen of microscope slides my entire life. I got a headache from eye strain throughout the day. So much materials to learn.
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Saturday, July 30, 2011
My Time At Harvard Medical School and The Importance of Reading
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| Me standing on the Quad in front of Gordon Hall, Harvard Medical School's Administrative Building Hey, long time no post. Last Thursday, July 28, 2011, I, along with my mom, my dad, and cousin went on one of Harvard Medical School's summer tours. We drove from New York to Boston. It took three and a half hours. But the arduous drive was worth it for me. I learned and saw some interesting things there and got to converse with three intellectual people, two of whom are Harvard Med Students. For those who are interested in getting to know more about Harvard Medical School, you're in luck because I took some picture while I was there. Though not comprehensive as the tour I took, my pictures, I hope, will help you get a clearer picture of HMS as a school of great resources. HMS's campus resides next to Boston's Children Hospital. Banners hung down from the nearby hospital lampposts stating that the hospital was ranked #1 in the nation, according to US News & World Report. Not only is HMS affiliated with the children's hospital, the school is connected with about 16 other hospitals throughout the Boston area. In the picture above, the white building with several colossal columns in the background is Gordon Hall. It contains the offices of financial aid, academics, and admissions. My family and I went up to the third floor and waited for the assistant director to begin the tour. Two lovely Harvard medical students volunteered their time to help us better understand the school. I felt thankful. After introductions among the several people that came to tour were made, we walked into the medical library. |
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| Banner of HMS I found on my way up the Third Floor of Gordon Hall |
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| Harvard Medical School's Identification on Gordon Hall |
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| Skull of Phineas Gage |
At the fifth floor of the medical library, various objects were put up on display. Above, is the actual skull of Phineas Gage. In the 1800s, Mr. Gage was a railroad worker who miraculously survived a railroad spike that impaled the back of his skull. In the picture above, the top of Mr. Gage's skull has noticeable protrusions made from the spike. According to friends and peers, his once happy demeanor changed into a grim, sullen personality after the tragic incident. This stark change of his temperament after the head injury prompted scientists to study Mr. Gage in order to find the connection between a specific part of the brain and one's personality.
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| SimMan |
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| Painting depicting the first surgery where Ether was used for |
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| A Massive Facial Tumor of a Man |
To talk to some of the smartest people in the world was an incredible experience. How they communicated impressed me. Every word spoken had a purpose and no unnecessary words were used. I wish to do that too. By reading, I believe, can communication be clearer.
I advise anyone who is interested in the medical profession to book a summer tour of Harvard Medical School.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Better Preparation for College
I felt guilty for oversleeping and not going to the Food Bank for my two hour volunteer work. I went to Woodbury Commons and tried to shop for clothes that suited my taste. I was looking for a denim casual jacket, two collared shirts, preferably of orange or yellow color, and boxers. I spent $12 on food there and burned a ton of calories from walking around for about five hours. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything of my liking. I felt like a Harvard admissions officer futilely searching for the student that would best fit their University. I arrived home with my feet sore.
Restlessness as I mentioned in my previous post has characterized my days. I can't believe that in fifteen days or so, I'll be about 1,000 miles south of home. I talked to my dad today, and he told me students go to college for different purposes. One person's purpose may be to have the time of their lives at college by trying to have the most fun as possible, while another's may be to study hard to go to a medical school. No one's purpose is right, but my purpose is the latter. That's not saying I'm not entitled to fun, but my focus should be geared towards academia. Call me a geek, but hopefully I'll be having a secure future. That way, I can raise a, hopefully,happier family, have the resources to fund passions I enjoy, like filmmaking, travel all around the world, and have the resources and time to discover new hobbies and passions. Though colleges seemed to desire students with unique extracurricular activities and leadership positions, medical schools admissions emphasizes higher GPAs and MCATS because these credentials shows students have what it takes to study complex ideas and knowledge at medical school. One article I read regarding the medical school admissions process estimated that a student's GPA and MCAT accounted for roughly 80% of his credentials. A former study couch potato, I used to think of extracurriculars and volunteer opportunities as more important to me than studying, but now I'm realizing studying and maintaining good grades is my utmost priority at college. Hopefully, I'll have time to socialize and attend dances too. I hope I make friends who share the same values as me and who like me for who I am. I used to, and honestly still am but not as much, get jealous of people who got better grades than me or participated more in class. But talking with my dad, I realized my purpose in getting good grades has changed. Whereas in middle school, my insecure self tried to get high grades so I could prove that I was smarter and hence a better person than others, now I try to get high grades so I could get a better chance at getting accepted to a medical school. My middle school assumptions that getting better grades equaled being smarter and a better person was erroneous. After all, good grades correlates more with hard work rather than IQ and just because someone has better grades than another, doesn't make he or she better than him or her. In fact, everyone's equal and no one's better than another because no is perfect- everyone is good at something and bad at something else. I should study hard for the Aleks chemistry modules and prepare in advance before college because frankly working hard towards medical school begins now. And at college, I set a goal of getting a 4.0GPA.
At college, my dad advised me that I join one club and one federal work study that involves community service because I will have arrived at Emory and trying to settle in. He suggested that I expand my involvements after I have begun feeling settled in. Though I initially disagreed, learning that I could join clubs during a semester and not just at the beginning, made me heed his advice. What's the club I should join though? Something I will love, hopefully. Film? Maybe. Dance? Maybe. Argentine Tango sounds sensual. Acting? Who knows? Singing? eh... I'll just sing on my own.
Restlessness as I mentioned in my previous post has characterized my days. I can't believe that in fifteen days or so, I'll be about 1,000 miles south of home. I talked to my dad today, and he told me students go to college for different purposes. One person's purpose may be to have the time of their lives at college by trying to have the most fun as possible, while another's may be to study hard to go to a medical school. No one's purpose is right, but my purpose is the latter. That's not saying I'm not entitled to fun, but my focus should be geared towards academia. Call me a geek, but hopefully I'll be having a secure future. That way, I can raise a, hopefully,happier family, have the resources to fund passions I enjoy, like filmmaking, travel all around the world, and have the resources and time to discover new hobbies and passions. Though colleges seemed to desire students with unique extracurricular activities and leadership positions, medical schools admissions emphasizes higher GPAs and MCATS because these credentials shows students have what it takes to study complex ideas and knowledge at medical school. One article I read regarding the medical school admissions process estimated that a student's GPA and MCAT accounted for roughly 80% of his credentials. A former study couch potato, I used to think of extracurriculars and volunteer opportunities as more important to me than studying, but now I'm realizing studying and maintaining good grades is my utmost priority at college. Hopefully, I'll have time to socialize and attend dances too. I hope I make friends who share the same values as me and who like me for who I am. I used to, and honestly still am but not as much, get jealous of people who got better grades than me or participated more in class. But talking with my dad, I realized my purpose in getting good grades has changed. Whereas in middle school, my insecure self tried to get high grades so I could prove that I was smarter and hence a better person than others, now I try to get high grades so I could get a better chance at getting accepted to a medical school. My middle school assumptions that getting better grades equaled being smarter and a better person was erroneous. After all, good grades correlates more with hard work rather than IQ and just because someone has better grades than another, doesn't make he or she better than him or her. In fact, everyone's equal and no one's better than another because no is perfect- everyone is good at something and bad at something else. I should study hard for the Aleks chemistry modules and prepare in advance before college because frankly working hard towards medical school begins now. And at college, I set a goal of getting a 4.0GPA.
At college, my dad advised me that I join one club and one federal work study that involves community service because I will have arrived at Emory and trying to settle in. He suggested that I expand my involvements after I have begun feeling settled in. Though I initially disagreed, learning that I could join clubs during a semester and not just at the beginning, made me heed his advice. What's the club I should join though? Something I will love, hopefully. Film? Maybe. Dance? Maybe. Argentine Tango sounds sensual. Acting? Who knows? Singing? eh... I'll just sing on my own.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Scary Sunday
I haven't written for a while because anxiety about going to Emory has weakened my resolve in doing daily routines I set up for the day, such as writing on my blog or working on the ALEKS chemistry module. The procrastinator in me, long dormant this summer, has reawakened. Realizing I have about only 16 days until I arrive to Emory University in Atlanta, I have been more restless. Today, I went to my Facebook page, replying to one of my friend's inquiry of how my summers been. I told him, besides the brutal heat, I've been doing well. The Food Bank, though not fun, has helped me be in shape and allowed me to meet interesting people. He, like I, is going to college this summer. After replying to my friend's question, I checked the Emory Students Group page I joined a few months ago. I observed that other Emory soon to be students have written on the wall. Some people even asked others for friend requests.
Looking at the wall posts, various types of questions abounded. One girl asked if anyone was attending the Train, Matt Nathanson, and Maroon 5 concert on September 1. Though probably an awesome concert, I replied that I didn't know my schedule. Another student kept soliciting requests for others to use a different social media website other than Facebook, specifically for college students. Someone asked who was doing premed. Another was asking about the shopping cart feature in blackboard. A post discussing who would be in Few Hall got me interested. Several people wrote down their room number. I wrote "my room is going to be 328". I asked permission to join the Fevans '11-12 group page, interested in not wanting to be isolated in my soon to be- whether I like it or not -community and support system.
I concede that I'm insecure about myself and who I am, and I'm pretty sure, tons of other colleagues, especially incoming freshman, are too. I hope that I befriend positive, secure, and hopefully confident friends and mentors throughout my years here, allowing me to mature and grow, and try to avoid the negative energy and vibes from others who could be bad influences for me.
My dad gave me good advice towards the car ride back from B&N tonight. He told me feeling anxious is normal for freshman like me who are heading towards college. I told him, I just wanted to get the orientation process over with and just feel settled in, but my dad, I believe rightly, corrected me, articulating my true feelings that belied the words I spoke: that I was afraid to confront Orientation and start moving in. He said I shouldn't try to procrastinate and loiter around as a way to avoid inevitable Orientation day because not going to Orientation was not going to happen anyway, whether I like it or not, whether I try to act like I care or not, it just ain't happening. That helped me calm down and accept my anxiety as normal.
At B&N, I read. A lot. Well, to the reader, my "reading a lot" may pale to your average reading quantity, but my current pace compared to my reading rate a couple of years prior is analogous to the height difference between a prepubescent 10 year old boy and that same boy who, four years later, has a growth spurt. I have been savoring reading now. I like reading the NY Times articles, especially those subjects that interest me. I can enjoy reading novels because a more concrete visualization forms in my mind as I read, making such an experience akin to watching a movie (and who doesn't like a good movie? :) ). I was reading a book on how to write a screenplay because I wanted to make a short movie before I go to Emory. But that doesn't seem likely because it has been hard for me to make a story requiring minimal props, actors, and time. Hopefully, my passion in filmmaking can overcome my practical worries and allow me to find an innovative solution in fixing this problem.
My color scheme for my room is green, but worry crept up into my brow yesterday as I wondered whether I bought too much green stuff: I bought an olive green shower caddy, a small olive green mural,a 4 x 5'11" kiwi green rug, an avocado green trashcan, a lime green lamp, and two kiwi green chairs. Why doesn't someone hand me a ring so people can conveniently call me "Green Lantern" instead of "Jason who ever so much likes green". I do enjoy looking at green than other colors because it stirs a calm feeling within me, a feature needed for me as I venture into a new environment.
I should sleep earlier today than usual because tomorrow I head to the food bank at 7:30 AM.
Looking at the wall posts, various types of questions abounded. One girl asked if anyone was attending the Train, Matt Nathanson, and Maroon 5 concert on September 1. Though probably an awesome concert, I replied that I didn't know my schedule. Another student kept soliciting requests for others to use a different social media website other than Facebook, specifically for college students. Someone asked who was doing premed. Another was asking about the shopping cart feature in blackboard. A post discussing who would be in Few Hall got me interested. Several people wrote down their room number. I wrote "my room is going to be 328". I asked permission to join the Fevans '11-12 group page, interested in not wanting to be isolated in my soon to be- whether I like it or not -community and support system.
I concede that I'm insecure about myself and who I am, and I'm pretty sure, tons of other colleagues, especially incoming freshman, are too. I hope that I befriend positive, secure, and hopefully confident friends and mentors throughout my years here, allowing me to mature and grow, and try to avoid the negative energy and vibes from others who could be bad influences for me.
My dad gave me good advice towards the car ride back from B&N tonight. He told me feeling anxious is normal for freshman like me who are heading towards college. I told him, I just wanted to get the orientation process over with and just feel settled in, but my dad, I believe rightly, corrected me, articulating my true feelings that belied the words I spoke: that I was afraid to confront Orientation and start moving in. He said I shouldn't try to procrastinate and loiter around as a way to avoid inevitable Orientation day because not going to Orientation was not going to happen anyway, whether I like it or not, whether I try to act like I care or not, it just ain't happening. That helped me calm down and accept my anxiety as normal.
At B&N, I read. A lot. Well, to the reader, my "reading a lot" may pale to your average reading quantity, but my current pace compared to my reading rate a couple of years prior is analogous to the height difference between a prepubescent 10 year old boy and that same boy who, four years later, has a growth spurt. I have been savoring reading now. I like reading the NY Times articles, especially those subjects that interest me. I can enjoy reading novels because a more concrete visualization forms in my mind as I read, making such an experience akin to watching a movie (and who doesn't like a good movie? :) ). I was reading a book on how to write a screenplay because I wanted to make a short movie before I go to Emory. But that doesn't seem likely because it has been hard for me to make a story requiring minimal props, actors, and time. Hopefully, my passion in filmmaking can overcome my practical worries and allow me to find an innovative solution in fixing this problem.
My color scheme for my room is green, but worry crept up into my brow yesterday as I wondered whether I bought too much green stuff: I bought an olive green shower caddy, a small olive green mural,a 4 x 5'11" kiwi green rug, an avocado green trashcan, a lime green lamp, and two kiwi green chairs. Why doesn't someone hand me a ring so people can conveniently call me "Green Lantern" instead of "Jason who ever so much likes green". I do enjoy looking at green than other colors because it stirs a calm feeling within me, a feature needed for me as I venture into a new environment.
I should sleep earlier today than usual because tomorrow I head to the food bank at 7:30 AM.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday: A Time of Reading and Packing
Today, overall, was a relaxing day for me, but an emotional day for probably many others. The Women's World Cup Final was held today in Germany, where Japan faced off against America. Though I yearned for America to win, Japan won. I did not feel devastated, however, because Japan's first world cup title hopefully could boost the sagging morale of the Japanese people who, on March 11, experienced a deadly tsunami unlike any other of its kind. I didn't watch the game because I get a headache when I watch intense soccer matches. Unlike a fastpaced goal scoring game like basketball, soccer takes multiple drives to get a fair shot, and that's not even guaranteed to go in. The rollercoaster ride of the ball about to go in, butnot going in, about to get tipped in, but then going out of bounds, about to rip through the nets, gets blocked by the sturdy goalie's hands, is enough to make me choose to go to B&N to read than watch the match.
I read interesting books at B&N. Social Intelligence is a fascinating read. Using MRI scans, scientists found that whenever someone is feeling happy, sad, or angry, the brain sends up neuron signals to mimic what the other person is feeling. Our feelings of empathy becomes even stronger when we try to physically mirror the other person's movements. I also began reading the Art of Conversation. The author laments that society today places face to face conversations in an abandoned corner due to more convenient emailing, texting, and videochatting, but this innate habit of humans, she insistently says, should not be ignored but should be emphasized, lest we as a society become more and more isolated. I read The Real Grey's Anatomy, a book detailing the actual lives of medical interns and which contrasts the true experience from the theatrical ones seen on the hit tv medical drama. The author went to Portland Washington's Medical University to shadow interns. Her frequent paragraph shifts detailing an intern moving onto a new task, alerted me to how busy interns actually are. One intern said that while in Grey's Anatomy, it seems like after the students depart from the hospital, they put on makeup and dress up neatly; in reality, she says, everyone has bags under their eyes and they don't have enough time to fix their hair.
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| My Start At Packing Clothes |
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Fevans and Adobe Production Premium
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| Few and Evans Hall (known collectively as Fevans), a residency for freshman at Emory University August 20th is when I'm moving into the third floor of Few Hall, where I am going to live in a single room, which is adjacent to a bathroom. I think it's a coed floor, though I did ask for a single sex floor. What's special about Fevans Hall is that its one of Emory's first year living learning communities. Living Green is the theme for Fevans. Here is an Emory student's recounts of the sustainability practices of Fevans Hall:
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| Adobe Cs5.5 for Mac Os, student edition I have held this treasure for a while now but am unable to use it yet because I need a Mac Pro with great system specs. My parents have yet to buy me a Mac Pro, but they promised, as part of a series of four gifts for my high school graduation/college initiation, that they would purchase it for me before August 20th. What is Cs5.5 Production Premium? It's a professional grade movie touchup software, that includes programs such as Premiere Pro, the elite editing program that James Cameron and his team used to make Avatar, Photoshop, and Adobe AfterEffects. As a student, I got around a 60% discount when I bought this program. Yay for being a student! Aww for having to do homework :(. I can't wait to use this baby to make better movies. |
Friday, July 15, 2011
Food Bank Friday
Philosophy is interesting but at times it makes my head buzz, and this is one of those times. But I didn't need to think too deeply today during my stay at the Food Bank. A lot of manual labor presented itself to me. I befriended the dumpster today, actually. Fed it about 100 pounds of moldy corn, 100 pounds of frozen old salad mixes, and 150 pounds of frozen moldy bread. Though considering what I fed it last week, today was just a little snack. Last week, I helped in throwing 1500 pounds of meat. Let it digest for a week under the consistently 90+ degree sunlight, and voila, your nostrils cry for mercy. Yum... I just ate chicken for dinner today.
I volunteer at the food bank because of various reasons. One, I get fit. Two, I meet interesting people. Three, I get experience talking to new people (I'm a bit shy and not indifferent when I hear the word social anxiety). Four, this hopefully gives me experience in volunteering when I plan to do community service down in Atlanta. Five, I can jot my hours so I could show medical admissions committees that I do, in fact, volunteer and do it a lot.
I volunteer for two hours Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, 9:30-11:30 AM. I thank my parents who have the heart to wake up that early and drive me there and back .
I feel bad, almost guilty, about throwing so much food into the dumpster, though I've heard rumors of maggots and flies hailing me as a Mother Teresa of their kind. I wish that I could somehow arrange a compost dumpster to pick up old, moldy food, so it can be made into soil. That would be great. I'm going to Few Hall at Emory, and that is a living learning community that emphasizes Sustainability. I think going to the food bank and seeing all the wasted food has given me more of an appreciation of efforts by other people in making the world a greener place.
Alas, nervousness spews slowly from within again thinking about college. A lot of people I've heard either directly or indirectly through videos are excited, thrilled, even ecstatic for some about going to college, but honestly I'm not. I'm just anxious. But that I am honest with myself will, I believe, help me a lot when I actually acclimate at Emory.
Below is an image of an audacious surfer conquering a man eating wave.
I like this picture because it depicts my hopes of who I want to be. I want to be fearless like that guy, able to look death in the face and tell him, "look, I sure don't want to get hurt, but I will be willing to do that if that's in the way of doing what I want to do." If you magnify the picture, the surfer is giving the middle finger. I admire that too. To me, that symbolizes his being himself: he doesn't let what other people think of him affect what he wants to do. To be myself is one of life goals.
I have more respect for doctors now because I understand better how much hard work they put in as a college student in order to try to get into med school, their diligence paying off after they got accepted. I'm working on the chemistry modules that are going to help me be prepared for Gen Chem 141. It's a lot of work: writing notes, reviewing, memorizing, doing actual problems, but the main thing that's getting me going is my goal of getting into med school and my dream of wanting to become a doctor. That mindset gives me more discipline, strength, and motivation.
I don't like oxidation reduction reactions.... And today, for some bizarre reason, they told me to take another assessment that tested what I already had learned. Lucky for me, I couldn't find the notes I had ridden in the beginning of the summer
:(. Saturday is going to be one busy day for my mind as I try to rehash the things I memorized.
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