Holy Cow

Whoa is how I feel at the moment. Currently I am on radiology and feel like I am a such a little fish in a big pond it is sad. Really, I am overwhelmed and amazed at how much people know and how much I don't know. I have some serious hard learning ahead of me...that is for sure.

Today I saw radiographs, CTs, upper GI swallow, CT guided biopsies (2) and learned much, much more. Plus, I read my first entire chest xray correctly today...without any help at all. Although it was all normal, I still had to look at all of the components of the chest xray and convince myself that everything was actually just fine. Small win for the little third year medical student.

I definitely have to be more assertive. I know that I am quiet and soft-spoken, but I really don't want people to think that I don't care, because I really, really do, it is just that things are so new and intimidating that I will have to try extra hard to ask appropriate questions, speak up when I don't understand, etc., etc.

Basically my schedule has been: sleep, drive, lecture, sit in a dark hole all morning, lecture/lunch, sit in a dark hole all afternoon, drive, eat, read, sleep, repeat. I put in 10 hours yesterday and 9 hours today...and this was supposed to be an 'easier' rotation, phew. At least I am learning lots! I call this hard learning (vs classroom learning which is definitely soft learning).

Well, off to bed to catch some zzz's and do it all over tomorrow!