May 7, 2011
1 down, ? many to go
I’m done with first year of med school!! Was actually finished this Tuesday, but I’ve been too busy being a couch potato to write anything. It was only recently when I was looking through graduation pics of senior friends that I was like “holy crap! It’s been one year since I graduated.” It certainly doesn’t seems that long at all, but seeing younger kids in cap and gown impresses on me the time that has passed since I was in that position. Of course, that inevitably takes me back down the road of nostalgia, and I can only say that I’m glad I’m going back to Old Nassau this year for Reunions.
But First Year, yes you are done. All in all, it was a good time. I did very well in my classes, made some good friends who I love hanging out with, and found a church where I love the pastor’s sermons. Plus, our small class of 34 has really become like family to me: meaning in it, there’s the crazy one, the lazy one, the one you know you’ll always have a good time with, the chatty one, and a couple of oddballs. But we’ve all bonded this past year, and I’m excited to move on to 2nd year with these people. I’ve really come to see how doing med school in Bloomington has been a blessing. Nevertheless, I’m super ready to have a blast this summer, the last big break I’ll get for who knows how long…
March 4, 2011
notes from hospice
It’s weird that although i’m totally comfortable with dead bodies now, the dying still unnerves me. I had a hospice rotation today, so got to follow a hospice nurse as she visited one of her patients. The patient, AM, was diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma less than two weeks ago and is now bed-ridden and given a diagnosis of less than 6 months to live. (Just FYI: pancreatic cancer is one of the fastest progressing cancers and extremely difficult to treat. A few weeks to months is about the right time table from time of diagnosis to death.) AM’s husband is taking care of her right now, but they’re both in their 80′s and he has medical problems of his own. It’s both incredibly sweet and sad, and if I allow myself to dwell upon it too much, I think I might cry. I mean, this is a couple who’s been together for 63 years — they’ve done life together, and obviously still love each other a lot. It’s heartbreaking to think what the husband’s going through as he watches his wife slowly slip away. After living with and loving a person for that long, how do you handle life on your own after that? I can’t help but think forward how-ever-many years, to when I’m old and about to kick the bucket… will I have to watch my husband die? Or vice versa? Now that really makes me want to cry. And in AM’s case, its not even that she’s not willing to go. I think both of them have accepted it and are at peace with the diagnosis. But that doesn’t make it any less painful. And while I don’t fear death in the sense that I know it is God I will be going to, the pain of leaving people behind, or worse (in my mind), being left behind, isn’t diminished by the fact that I believe in heaven and eternal life. I guess that’s why its easier being the one who dies, because you wouldn’t have to suffer the rest of life on earth, but get to be in the presence of God where there is no weeping.
August 5, 2010
down memory lane
So I came back from China not only with a lot of new (ie. recent) pictures, but with a bunch of old ones too. My paternal grandfather had been digitizing a lot of old pics, like from when I was a baby, even back my dad’s baby pictures, most of which I’ve never seen before. And I remembered sometime during senior year (or was it before?), there was talk (among who? i don’t remember) about seeing each other’s baby pics. So I thought I’d share. And maybe if you’re nice, you’ll share too after you read this. 
September 22, 2009
time flies doesn’t it?
So senior year has officially started… I’m still getting used to the fact that I (we) are SENIORS. The other day at JSG leaders meeting, we were praying for the junior class, and I did a double-take: wait, aren’t WE the junior class? Ha, not anymore…which means we’re seniors!?! Ahhhhh… so weird.
Life has been quite hectic so far, and classes haven’t even contributed their share of stress yet. My first weeks were spent thinking/doing 60% of the time Triple 8, 20% Manna, and 20% Spelman/where my next meal is coming from. Even though I’ve been running around constantly, it’s been fun, if a bit tiring. Being AD of Triple 8 kind of chains me to my email, as there’s always something to plan/organize/remind people. People have always said senior year is busy, but I guess I didn’t realize how busy until now. Whew…it’s crazy! Where will I fit in thesis!?
Living in Spelman is soooo amazing though. I think it’s something about the apartment style of the place, but when I’m here, I feel like I’m off campus, which is remarkably relaxing. It feels more like a home than any of the dorms I’ve lived in in the past, and its a huge blessing (plus lots of fun) to have so many friends/Manna people in one building. And now that all four of us are settled in (mostly), we undertook a project to better decorate our common room. 26 had painted their room yellow last year, and we wanted to do something to the walls too. And, since we are doing Hebrews in SSG this year…
A picture is literally worth a thousand words (or more…).
