I am sure some of you are wondering what the title has to do with PA school. Hopefully, I can express my feelings well enough that will tie it all together.

Since PA school, I am amazed by the friendships I have lost but also gained. I had friends going into school that I figured would give me the most support-- only to find they really could care less. Or, they would say "well, I figured you were so busy that you wouldn't have time to talk." PA school is busy, but it doesn't mean I don't have time for friends or to sit down and talk. It's sad that friends disappear when you become busy with something like PA school. Do I like studying all the time..No. Do I have to study all the time? Yes. Is this a time where I need friends and support the most? It sure is.

My father and mother always said that I will go through life only being able to count my closest friends on one hand. I truly believe that. These are not just friends you can call up on a whim. But, friends that you can trust with out a doubt and who will be there for you through the good and bad times.

In November, I was going through some personal stuff in my life. I fortunately have made one good friend in my class who I can trust with out a doubt. You see, most of the people in my class are married or have significant others so they spend their time with their significant others. I was fortunate to have my friend by my side. She listened to me cry, listened to me complain, did her best to make me laugh and I am so thankful for her.

Lastly, I also have to thank my family. Family will always be there for you. Even when those friendships do dissolve. They have supported me through PA school every step of the way so far.

Wednesday the 16th was the end of my first semester. I can't believe it. The semester really did fly by. I stayed strong through the semester, but by the time finals week came around, I was just exhausted. Finals week we had 5 finals in three days. 2 on Monday, 1 on Tuesday, and 2 on Wednesday. The last few weeks of school were busy. I was studying for exams and also decided to participate in the Nutcracker. I didn't think I would be able to dance while I was in PA school, but I made the time to do it and I am happy that I did. It feels good just to get out on the stage and forget about anatomy and physiology for a while. Dancing in general just makes me happy.

Next semester consists of:

Pharmacology II
Medical Pathophysiology
Human Behavior and Psyche
Physical Diagnosis II
Surgical Principles
Genetics
Trilogy course which consists of OB-GYN, Geriatrics, and Peds

There are 16 weeks in the 2nd semester and 10 weeks in the summer semester. I know it is going to go by fast, but I am prepared for the road ahead of me. The 2nd years say the rotation year is much much better. I have enjoyed this semester...ok maybe not so much the 45 exams, but I have enjoyed learning a lot of it.

Right now we are on holiday break which we get 3 weeks total. It is a really nice break but I am already feeling anxious like I should be studying for something. I am trying not to think about it by just spending time with my family. My sister and her husband came down from Chicago with my two nephews. One nephew is 3 years old and the other just turned 3 months today. It is the first time I have met my youngest nephew who is such a sweetheart.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and a merry christmas. Lets all remember what this holiday is about! Below is a picture of my baby nephew and me. :)

We are more than halfway through our exams. Exam #27 occurred today. For the next few weeks, we all will be breathing and living neuroanatomy, anatomy and physiology. Our next 6 exams are in these subjects. I believe we have 18 exams left until the end of the semester which makes me very excited because in October alone we had 14 exams so I believe I can handle these next 18 exams.

I have decided that since I have some downtime (yes only some) and that I will be performing in "Experimental Dance" at University of Tampa. This is a show I have done since my freshman year and even the last two years as an alumni. I am so so excited to be doing this show and even choreographing a piece. My piece is inspired by my grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimers disease. The movement in the dance will often repeat itself but will have one aspect that will always change- much like an Alzheimers patient. The music also has strong notes and soft notes which represents the mood swings that comes with Alzheimers but also the ups and downs that come along with a family member that suffers from this disease.

The music I am using is from Yiruma, "River Flows In You" if you all are interested in hearing the music. :) I will try to put up the video from the actual performance which is happening on November 12th.

I basically have one rehearsal to teach two other girls this piece within a four hour time frame, which I am hoping I can get it all done in that time and have it looking the way I want. I am so excited!



The picture above is me dancing to a piece in 2009

First I want to apologize for not updating this since school started. When I started this blog, I wanted to journal every day..while I am sure it is possible, and I have seen it done, it's not possible for me. My sincerest apologies for not updating this sooner.

I am in my 6th week of PA school. So far, we have had 14 tests. This month alone we have 14 tests. We have 5 exams next week alone. School keeps me busy but I am still trying to fit in as much "free time" as possible to give me time to keep me sane. PAs that have been through school have always said study study study. However, they also mention to still take time and do things that are fun and for yourself. Yesterday alone was a 12 hour school day for me, and then we had a big neuroanatomy test today. A fellow classmate and I studied from about 9pm to 2:15am, then slept, and woke back up at 6. This would probably be the least amount of sleep I have gotten in the semester thus far.

PA school is hard, and you do study a lot, but it is do-able. There have been some times that I thought I couldn't jam my brain with any more information. However, I also know that I want to LEARN the information so it stays in my brain. I am not studying to cram or memorize to just forget about it 2 weeks later--Each test builds on the previous one.

For those pre-PAs out there who read this, I will give you an idea of what our week consists of.
Mondays: 10-5 Physical Diagnosis, Physiology, and Microbiology
Tuesdays: 9-9pm Anatomy, Problem based learning, PA role, and anatomy Lab
Wednesdays-Pharmacology, Neuro, physiology (we are just finishing up pharmacology for the semester so we are gaining some time there).
Thursday: 9-4 Anatomy and Physical Diagnosis Lab
Friday 9-12 (half day!) Anatomy and Microbiology

Our weeks are definitely busy, so it leaves for all of your free time to study. I study with a group of girls normally. For me, studying with a group helps because we are able to not only quiz each other, but sometimes, one of us may forget to study a certain aspect of what we are being quizzed on. Our tests are online, normally around 30-50 questions and timed. We get a minute and half per question, just like you would on the PANCE board exam.

I hope everyone is getting some great interview dates and maybe I will be seeing some people soon!

Stay strong, and stay focused!! If you are meant to be in PA school, it will happen!

I was reading my pastors online journal tonight and I was really inspired by one of his entries. Feel free to check out his blog after you read below. His blog is http://www.garysjournal.com My hope is that my classmates can do this for me when I am bleeding..you will get the point after you read below.

Ever noticed how a cut doesn’t hurt until you see the blood?

We had a houseful of friends over Sunday night, and those of you who were here will recall Calleigh (my 5-year old daughter) coming in from the backyard crying. She had been running barefoot when she stepped on a sharp rock, peeling back a chunk of skin on her big toe. I picked her up and sat her in my lap when someone noticed that her foot was bleeding.

And then Calleigh discovered she was bleeding. That’s when things got crazy. At the sight of blood, “crying” transitioned into “hysterical shrieking.” Beth and I carried Calleigh and her siren screams upstairs to the bathroom to wash out the wound, which caused her wailing to go up another couple decibels. In order to keep our guests from being too distracted by this little calamity, we closed the bathroom door, but I’m sure they could still hear my little girl yelling things like, “Stop touching me!!!” and “Leave me alone! Why are you doing this to me???”

Beth and I began to laugh (without Calleigh seeing) because of what it must have sounded like to everyone else in the house. I swear, we were not sawing off her toe…without anesthetic. We were simply running water over her toe, dabbing it with a tissue and putting a Band-Aid over it.

Back to my point… we all have blood. But it freaks some of us out to actually see it. We recognize that we all have blood – and need blood – but we don’t want to see it, ya know.

I think sometimes our struggles and failures and inherent weaknesses are like blood. Deep down we know that everyone has these struggles, blunders, weaknesses, and the like – but we don’t like it when life cuts us in ways that causes this “blood” to show.

I have a confession to make: I bleed. A lot.

I regularly mention – somewhat in joking fashion – that I laugh at the title of “pastor.” One of the reasons it makes me laugh is because I know that I bleed just like everyone else. I have bloody failures and flaws and shortcomings and insecurities. I can be running along gracefully fulfilling my call one minute, and then get tripped up the next.

And when I do, my blood shows.

What I don’t need is for you to approach me with a Band-Aid. Instead, and this may sound weird, I just need you to tell me it’s okay to bleed. And consider bleeding with me.

Back to Calleigh’s traumatic bleeding accident… A couple hours later that same night it was time for Calleigh to go to bed. Her fatigue was getting the best of her as she began crying again about her toe – it hurt, she was embarrassed by how it looked, she couldn’t sleep because it might start bleeding again.

I laid beside her and let her cry and complain. Then I began telling her of a time a few years ago when my toe was bleeding. I shared the story about the time I tripped, stubbed my toe, and it began to bleed. I was embarrassed but some of my friends helped me find a Band-Aid. We applied pressure, put Neosporin on it, wrapped it up and sat there for a while. And my friends sat there with me.

Tears about her toe gradually turned into, “You hurt, too, daddy? And you bled just like me?” She relaxed and soon we drifted off to sleep.

Sometimes when you are bleeding you don’t need a Band-Aid. Instead, you just need someone to tell you that it’s ok to bleed.

Jesus is described as “a man of sorrows” and “acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53). Despised and rejected, Jesus bled.

I grew up thinking of Jesus as a giant Band-Aid. But one of the things I’ve grown to really love about Jesus is that sometimes He doesn’t hand out a Band-Aid; instead He simply says, “It’s ok to bleed.”

Christian community is when we bleed together. It’s not a small group of people who gather to fix one another, or to share the latest remedy that worked for your grandma. To me, this is what healthy community looks like: Sit beside me, and let me bleed without it freaking you out.

And know that you are welcome to bleed with me.

I just realized I had never blogged about my first meeting with my classmates at the end of June...so I am sorry about that!

I met 9 of my classmates at the end of June. We got together and had dinner which was a blast! I do have to say it was difficult talking to people at the other end of the table but I am sure we will make up for lost time once school starts! :) Many of us compared interviews and who we interviewed with. We also just talked about our lives in general. It just felt good being around people who want to do the same profession as me! I really think God has blessed us to be with each other as a group and I really see us all helping each other out (Click images to make larger).


Between June and now, I quit my job June 25th in order to take time off before school started. It was really important to me that I would have time with friends and family before this 27month journey called PA school. I went down and spent 3 weeks with my parents. I spent quite a few hours in the OR (operating room), with my father. On one of the cases, I actually got to scrub in and stand at the table. The patient had broken his femur while he was bowling. This was the first time I had ever stuck my hand inside a living human body. I first felt the layer of fat, then the man's muscle and surrounding tissue, and lastly bone. It was quite the experience, and weird to be standing next to my father in his domain.



Now back in Tampa, I am finalizing details for school. I have all my supplies I need. Scrubs have been bought, batteries and bulbs for my otoscope/opthalmascope have been bought also, documents have been faxed and scanned, immunization record is on its way. Things are getting down to the wire. Am I scared..not really. It is more of a nervousness. I want to be successful at my profession. I dont want to be a good PA, I want to be a PA that someone will remember for a lifetime.

My car broke down yesterday--so it has been a struggle these last two days. My car just turned 8 years old. I truly love her but she has been such a pain this past year and a half. I am thankful it broke down now before school started but I was in no shape to be paying up for costly repairs. I cried yesterday morning about it because it is just a stressful time. I know God has a reason for this but we don't always understand His ways. It is just one more hoop I will have to jump through and I am sure it won't be the last hoop with my car. Being that I live on my own now, asking my parents for help is never ever a thing I enjoy doing. I would rather be broke than ask my parents to pay for my car. I am responsible for my car..but am in no shape to have 750 dollars to pay for it either. It is just something I would rather not do.. However, I need a car, so I have to get it fixed.

On a lighter note, this past week has been spent with friends. I saw two movies this weekend, Salt and Despicable me. Great movies and I loved both of them! I also attended a pot luck dinner at my friends house which was great. I love home cooked food! I also met with a group of classmates again on July 24th. We went bowling and had an awesome time!! We all bowled a great game the first round, decided to do a second round but we were all much too interested in talking than the game! :) We decided to go grab a bite to eat. It is such a pleasure getting to know my classmates in a relaxed atmosphere. I hope that we continue to do so once we are more in a stressful environment. We just have to remember, we are all in this together and we all have to support one another.

44 days until PA school and we received our packets in the mail today that include our health packet information for physicals and our class schedule. I am not sure what else, because I dont physically have it in my hands. I am visiting my parents until school starts. A fellow classmate of mine typed out our schedule so I could see it. It is a lot but I definitely think it is a fair schedule. (Ok on a side note I cannot figure out how to post the schedule due to I am new to the mac and dont know how to save the graph as a picture). I will come back and edit it to include the schedule.

On a side note, my mother and I went shopping for white coat ceremony dresses today. I almost chose a beautiful dress but a) it was way over-priced and b) it was poorly made. So, I did not purchase one. I will however keep looking for the perfect dress. My mother swore "tribal print" was in, which I do believe her. However, when looking back to those pictures 20 years from now I dont want my future kids to go, "MOM!!! What were you thinking?"

I have lots of stuff I want to touch base on. 1. What computer I bought 2. Upcoming dinner 3. Cancer/costs. 4. Exercise/ways to keep fit in school.

1. Well I decided to purchase the macbook pro! I am super excited and can't wait to receive it. I got a macbook pro 320 GB, an 8GB iPod touch, and a printer for around 1500 dollars. The touch is on rebate and so is the printer. :) I also am debating between an external hard drive or doing online storage like mozy or carbonite. I will put up another poll so you can let me know what you guys think :)

2. This coming Saturday, I will get to meet my future PA class--some of them. A little less than half of us are meeting and I am so excited to meet everyone!!!


3. According to the AAPA, many cancer survivors are putting off treatment due to costs. The researchers suggest that "all together, more than two million of 12 million US adult cancer survivors did not get one or more needed medical services." Previous "studies have concluded that the uninsured account for about four percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases, and about four percent of cancer deaths." However, I think many people put of treatments to many diseases due to costs. It is horrible what healthcare is costing people. Some people lose all of their retirement due to healthcare costs.

4. I am a dancer..I have been dancing my whole life. Not only is it my stress reliever, it is part of my life and who I am. Needless to say, I don't know how much time I will have to dance in PA school if any. However, I think it is important to keep that stress reliever within reach because I will never know when I need it. Thus, I have taken up running just in case. Running is not my favorite..but it is a form of exercise that I will just have to deal with. What are ways you guys stay fit and healthy?

Don't forget to answer the poll :)

Ash

Yesterday, was my first FAPA meeting and what a delight it was! I attended the meeting with my mentor. We listened to a Pulmonologist speak about asthma and the different types of steroids and/or inhalers a patient should use.

I am glad I went and will continue to do so once I am in school. I think it is a great opportunity for PAs and PA students and even physicians to attend these meetings. Not only are you able to network, but you are able to meet fellow PA students. What an awesome opportunity.

I also wanted to touch base that I think every PA school should have a mentor/mentee program. At school we are assigned mentors from the class above us. This is so if we have any questions, we can ask them at any time and they will answer us. Not only do the mentor/mentee's help each other out but you also can lean on them in a time of need once school starts. How cool is that?

My mentor is awesome and I couldn't me more thankful for her! She has set me straight and has answered all and any of my questions whenever I needed.

I received my stethoscope yesterday in all of its glory-- in the known Littman cardboard box.

I decided to order a Littman Cardiology III stethoscope in plumb color with my name engraved on the tubing. We were told to wait until we received our mentors from the class above us to discuss our supplies but I knew I wanted this steth and I did a lot of reading about it.

I compared the Littman S.E II and the Cardiology III. The only "downfalls" of the III, if you really want to call them downfalls, was that people said it was 1. heavy 2. you heard every little noise.

The SE II is lighter and less costly but I guess you don't hear as much acoustically compared with the III.

Either way I went with the III because I don't/wont mind a heavy stethoscope and secondly why would I not want to hear every little noise of the human body. How awesome is that?

Here she is..and yes she is beautiful! :) :)

This topic has been weighing heavy on my heart today. I am amazed by how much sickness is involved in every day life. This post isn't to depress but to merely express my feelings about the situation.

When I was 5, my grandfather passed from prostrate cancer. Then at the age of 13, my mother was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Something I didn't quite understand at that age. I know many of my friends who suffer from anxiety and the list goes on of people I know who deal with different diseases or sickness.

However, one of the hardest things I had to deal with is someone that I loved and dated that had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma half way in to our relationship. I remembered where I was standing as I received the news over the phone. I backed myself up into the corner of the kitchen and listened to him tell me these words. I could tell he was upset but didn't want to deal with it as he said, "Well, I am going to go play some basketball." I stood shocked..basketball??

You see I knew this could of happened..but we as humans always hope for the best in relationships. He had been previously diagnosed when he was 21, did the chemo, then went into remission. This time around, no chemo--he wanted alternative.

Alternative medicine is not something that has been programmed in my noggin. Do I think there are some great uses for it? Yes. However, I also think it should be used with the medicine we have today.

We struggled back and forth, cried together, laughed together, prayed for one another, and loved one another. We would do anything for each other. I even told him if he needed a bone marrow transplant I would donate my marrow. To make things more difficult, I lived in FL and he lived in Louisiana. I could go on and on about our story.

So how does this tie in to being a PA? Well, I have this incredible urge to help people and when I can't, it makes me sad. In this situation, my ex boyfriend (yes, we broke up after realizing it was best for the both of us). My ex, was in control of his own body and his own decisions. No matter how much I begged, cried, pleaded that he do something else, in the end, it was his choice.

With patients, I will be able to educate and walk them through, but I won't ultimately be making decisions for them...its their own.

In August, it will be one year since the break up. To this day he says he is doing fine..not in remission but as healthy as you can get with having cancer. To this day I am still asking about this treatment and PET scans. He is an amazing person with an incredible heart and faith in God like you wouldn't believe. I honestly have learned so much from him..especially to put my faith in God more than I ever was.

What are your thoughts? How do you deal with diseases and sickness?

Sometimes people question if they are taking the right path to the career that they have chosen. On May 14th, I did my first venipuncture. For my readers out there who may not know what that is, it's drawing blood from a patients vein. I know this may seem like a little task that is done everyday to all sorts of people. However, for me it was a big step! Not only do you want to make sure your patient is comfortable, but you also want to make sure you get the vein on the first time so you don't have to stick them again.

I was fortunate enough to have an MA here at work volunteer herself. She was so patient with me and walked me through everything. I used a butterfly needle much like the one above.

I was nervous and held the needle close to her vein while the tourniquet was on her arm. I kept repeating "I don't want to hurt you." Finally, I got the nerve to just do it. I counted down "3, 2,1" and in slid the needle in her vein.

Once it was in and I saw the blood go in the tube, I got a little too excited and let go of the needle to say "yay." She quickly corrected me by saying, "keep ahold of the needle because you don't want it to slide out."

You would think I won the lottery because of how excited I was!!! I can't wait to be a practicing PA. WOowhoo! Who knew sticking a needle in someone could be so joyful. ;)

This was it, my last interview. I had already done 3 previous interviews. Two in NY and one at Nova Jacksonville. My goal was to stay in Florida, because after all, I call Florida home. For privacy purposes, I am keeping my school name private.

Rewind to November 2009: The acceptance to Touro came at a difficult time in my life. I had already put my $1500 deposit down, but something didn't feel right. Everyone around me was excited, but I was not. Don't get me wrong, I was more than thrilled of being accepted into school, but I don't know if my heart was prepared to move to NY. I had the choice of going in January 2010 to the school in Long island, or waiting until August to start the school in Manhattan. I made the decision initially to go in January, plus the school months were shorter at that campus. I started looking for apartments, cost of moving, etc, still something didn't feel right. (Remember, I had only been accepted to these two schools and was still waiting to hear from Nova). Then, November 10th, I decided to defer my acceptance. Touro rejected my deferment but said they could transfer my deposit to the other campus and I could start in August at Manhattan. Great I thought..and this put me a little more at ease.

November 11th, I received my interview invite from my current school. I was beyond thrilled and knew my deferment was the right thing. I set my interview up for January 29th, 2010.


January 29th: Same blue skirt suit I had fallen in love with in the Dillard's dressing room, same pearls, and hair slicked back in a pony tail. I had prayed that God would guide me through this because this is where I wanted to be. I knew if it was in His plan, He would keep me here.

I got to the school early and I was sick from being nervous. I drove to the nearest dunkin' donuts to calm myself down. When I arrived, everyone was already there crammed in a small conference room with water. "Was I late," I thought? I was on time according to the clock on the wall.

There were 11 of us that day interviewing...what were the odds I thought? Only 24 accepted and 11 interviewing today.

We were all moved into a conference room and I quickly sized up my competition. We were all in this together and we were all going to be here for at least 4-5 hours. The ADCOM explained we would be split up in groups. Group 1 would go into single interviews, group interviews, and then we were to switch with Group 2. After that, we would go on a tour of the facility, sit in a classroom, have lunch with the current students, then have a financial aid meeting.

The ADCOM called out the students into groups..and she couldn't decide if I should be in Group 1 or Group 2. The paper said Group 2 but she said I really belonged to Group 1. She said "I know you're interviewing first Ashleigh with _______ (I will need to leave this blank due to privacy, I will name this person AJ) Yikes!"

"Did I just hear her say Yikes," I thought? That only raised my nervousness by 10 notches.

It was time, and I was first to single interview with AJ. AJ make me nervous..Yes. Was AJ intimidating..yes. Did I feel confident in my answers..Yes. AJ didn't seem to like my personal essay what-so-ever. AJ also asked me to relax and I said "Ok" with a smile on my face and didn't move a muscle. AJ said it again, and literally sat back in the chair..so I did the same.

AJ: "Did you write this paragraph?"
Me: "Which paragraph AJ?" (after all there is a lot of paragraphs on my application).
AJ: (Reads the particular paragraph)
Me: "Yes, I wrote my whole essay."
AJ: "Have you ever taken an English class?"
Me: "Yes, I did a lot of writing in undergrad."
AJ: "Well why don't you want to be a doctor?"
Me: I said, "that's a tricky question AJ, because essentially I have to say why I don't want your job since you are a physician."
AJ: He laughed, "I guess you are right."
Me: I give AJ my answer
We go on for about 15 minutes. AJ doesn't really ask me many questions. AJ said every question they really wanted to know was either in my application or written in my letter of recommendations. I figured that was a good thing. :)

I wait for the rest of my group to finish, and get the chance to talk to the other applicants as we wait to do group interview. We switch rooms and do group interview. Just some advice for pre-PAs out there, if you are doing a group interview, do not answer the same question with the same answer as everyone else. Make yourself stand out...

Campus tour was great and I really liked the atmosphere of the campus and the ADCOMS and students. The campus is small, so I don't have to trek across the campus. The school is all in one building. What I really love about the school is everyone in the building is there for science or medicine. How cool is that? The library is all based on science and anatomy etc. There is even a clinic downstairs that public or students can use or that we will get to practice in one day. We even got to go into the cadaver lab which was the first time I saw a cadaver... It wasn't really what I expected.

Lunch was great because we got to ask questions with the current students. I talked a lot with the current president of the 2011 class. At the end of the summer, we will be assigned with someone and they will be mentoring us and giving us advice. I can't wait to see who I get. :)

February 3rd, 2010 I found out I was accepted. I was so so so excited. I was literally running around the current office I work at trying to find someone to tell! It was 7am and no one was here. I called my mom too!!

1600 people applied and only 24 accepted. It just so happens, 6 of us were accepted out of the group I was with.

I couldn't be happier with my school!!

On Friday, I received a package from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)--I joined about two weeks ago along with Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA). For those who know nothing about these organizations, I would encourage you to take a look at their website. They have great articles, symposiums, and just general information about PAs. They also have a great student rate if you are already accepted into a school and the membership lasts the entire time you are in school. I paid $75 for AAPA and $50 for FAPA.

You would think I was a little girl in a candy store when I got my package from the AAPA. I received some brochures, a pin, and a maxwell quick reference guide!! I thought "Yes!!! The first things to go on and in my white coat." Plus the maxwell reference guide has a pocket eye chart on the back, something that is required from our supply list.

So what is Maxwell quick reference guide you may ask? It is only described as your medical bible. It has six different sections in the book and it is very small and lightweight. The red section is for ACLS Algorithms. The orange section is for labs, drug levels, fluids, equations, tubes, unit conversions. The yellow section is how to write notes. The green section is for delivery notes, APGAR scoring, glucose tolerance, etc. The blue section is for history and physical exam. The purple is for a neuro exam, mental status exam, glasgow coma scale and dermatome maps.

Little things amuse me..what can I say? :)



PS: Happy Mother's Day!!!

I received my supply list a couple weeks ago in the mail. We will most likely be spending around $700-$1,000 in supplies. I'm sure some of you are wondering what exactly does a PA student need for school (I will include the list at the bottom if you're interested) ??

We also received a letter about computers. I think I will be running a poll on my blog about which computer you guys have/think would be best-make sure you vote! The school recommends a dell and they also have a contract with dell--aka we get a discount! That is nice, but I called and ran a price check on the certain specs they want us to have and the computer ran at about $1300.

If I chose to go with apple, which I have never been a mac user, I could run into compatibility issues, and a more expensive computer.

I know the students both have macs and dells in the classroom but I really need decide which one will be better. Any thoughts? Feel free to leave comments. :)

Supplies:
We recommend you purchase the following materials prior to your arrival:
• Taylor Reflex Hammer and/or Buck Neurological
• Pen Light
• Retractable Tape Measure
• EKG Calipers
• Safety Pins
• Cotton Balls or Q-tips
• Alcohol Prep Pads
• Mints or Breath Strips
• Hand Sanitizer
• Case/bag for your medical supplies
We recommend you speak with your student advisor further about the following supplies:
• Stethoscope
• Adult Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Cuff)
• Ophthalmoscope/Otoscope
• Tuning Fork (128Hz & 512Hz)
• Pocket Eye Chart
Other items the school recommends that may be nice to have:
• Protective Eyewear
• Utility Shears
• Tourniquet
• Latex Gloves
• Tongue Blades
• Medical Tape

PA school is becoming ever so near-113 days. Yes, I am counting down. I receive an email or a piece of mail from the school about once every two weeks. It's weird to think that in 113 days I will be meeting all my classmates. I am part of a small class..24 to be exact, 8 boys and 16 girls. Many of us are already friends due to facebook. We have all been in contact and even plan to maybe meet each other before school begins.

Today, I was talking with a classmate of mine from undergrad. We were actually partners with each other in Microbiology lab. Who would have thought both of us would be in PA school? She is attending another school and started in January. I was talking to her about the class work which made me curious about what my curriculum would be in the fall.

22 credits. Yes you read it right..twenty-two credits!! How intimidating. My curriculum is as follows:

Research Methodology 2
The Physician Assistant Role in Modern Health Care I 1
Physiology 4
Neuroanatomy 2
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3
Gross Anatomy with Lab 6
Physical Diagnosis I 3
Clinical Pharmacology 1

Stressful..yes. Exciting? Yes. Scary? Yes. So worth the reward in the end? Totally!!

In November of 2008, I was fortunate enough to go to the Dominican Republic over Thanksgiving Break to give to those in need. Let me just say that those kids touched my life in more ways than one.

It's truly amazing how much we take for granted. Education, shelter, clothes, 3 meals a day, jobs, etc.
The impact of driving to Barahona shocked me. People sit outside their homes and talk in the moonlight since electricity is minimal. Often, they would be sitting around a candle.

As the group and I took this four hour bus ride to Barahona, I looked up at the sky and saw beautiful stars. It looked like someone had taken a salt shaker and sprinkled the sky with these stars because they were everywhere. At that moment, I thanked God for my family and the people I was sharing the trip with. (Click on pictures below to make larger).

The village of Algodon



A house in Algodon


Algodon was the worst of the villages pictured above. One of the girls, Joanne, who was 18 would come to our casa everyday. She would cook for us and talk to us about her village--Alogodon. I was fortunate to get to know her more when I became ill on Thanksgiving day. Even though I didn't speak Spanish well, and she didn't speak English well, We would find other ways to communicate such as pointing and trying to figure out the translation. We would still just laugh at ourselves. It's amazing how much you can learn about a person in a few hours. She lived with a big family with many brothers and sisters like in a house pictured above. She had lively spirits and kept me laughing when I was feeling awful. This picture was taken the night I was feeling pretty sick..


Joanna and me


One moment I will never forget is driving up to Los Robles and meeting my host family for the first time.



Los Robles


The family that I met had 5 children. The father worked in the fields planting plantains while the mother was rarely home. She was a maid in Santo Domingo (4 hours away) and would come home once a month or every two weeks. The oldest child was 10 and the youngest child was 5. The 10 year old did all the cooking and cleaning for the family. What a huge responsibility to take on at such a young age. I was able to witness this process the second day I was there. He would start a fire, and place the little food they had in the pot to cook.



Their kitchen


The 5 year old and I became close. Her name was Violet and she was very shy and quiet. She only told me her name the first day I met her. However, she would never let go of my hand. She had the most beautiful smile and loved looking at herself in the camera. If any other child tried to come up and grab my hand she would fight them off and claim "Mi Americana" --My American!



My violet holding my hand :)


When we had to leave I felt horrible for not being able to drop her off at her house. I had to leave her at the school and I had actually asked the translators if I could take her back to her house. To my surprise they said no. I said what do you mean? She's only five? They said the children find their way back home easily. Even 2 year olds are left to find their way back home. I felt like I was leaving my own child and prayed that she would make it back safely.

The next day we went to visit Los Robles Violet was not in the house when we arrived. I figured she was off playing with some friends. The little 10 year old boy was actually cooking for the family which was hard to watch. Some people helped him so he could play with the children later on instead of cooking. As we were watching, I looked down the hill and saw Violet running towards the house. I spotted her before she saw me-- but when she saw me..she had a HUGE smile on her face. It was a moment I will never forget. She started running up the hill in her bare feet but I told her to go around since I didn't want her to get cut from all the glass that was scattered across the hill.



The cutest thing.




Walking with Violet and her friend through Los Robles.


The hardest moment I had to face was leaving violet for the second day. I knew I wouldnt see her again. As I knelt down beside her to say goodbye and explain to her that I wouldnt see her again, tears rolled down my cheeks. Since she was 5, I didn't think she would understand. Of course more people would come through the village later on that week or month, but I hated leaving her.

My hopes for this trip was that I made an impact on someones life there in Barahona--the people there made an impact on me each day. I will close with a song (and pictures) that has touched my heart for years now. I first heard it when I was in 8th grade...but I think the message speaks for itself.

A world full of church members watch as the hours go by
Sands of time have gotten in their eyes
Blinded to the cries of a hurting world
They cannot see the pain in their lives
Keeping the truth all to themselves
Content as they can be

Theres a famine in the land
We've got a pocket full of seeds
Theres a famine in the land
Got a pocket full of seeds
Could you give the bread of life?
And the hope that Jesus brings

Living water flows through your heart
Could you quinch the thirst of a friend in need?
Theres a famine in the land you've got a pocket full of seeds.

Jesus said my "house is full, but my field is empty"
Where have we all been at work in town?
We've been sitting around the table
Feasting in the house of plenty
While the hungry world looks in from the outside
Keeping the truth all to themselves
Content as they can be

Theres a famine in the land
We've got a pocket full of seeds
Could you give the bread of life?
And the hope that Jesus brings

Living water flows through your heart
Could you quinch the thirst of a friend in need?
Theres a famine in the land you've got a pocket full of seeds.

Barahona


Saying goodbye

My first interview was September 14th, 2009 with Touro college, NY. I had one at 8:00am with the Long Island campus, and one at 1:00pm with the Manhattan campus. I remember it like yesterday. It was chilly in NY and not only were the VMA's going on but it was also fashion week. My father was in NY with me so I had the support I needed. The previous day I had a front row seat watching Jersey Boys on Broadway. It kept my mind off the interview.

I was sick to my stomach the morning of. The nerves were getting to me and I knew it. I didn't know if I would make the hour and half drive to long island without getting sick. My father tried to calm me down but it wasn't helping. As soon as we got there I ran to the bathroom and tried to calm myself down.

I was dressed in my navy blue skirt suit that I had fallen in love with 3 weeks prior in the Dillard's dressing room. My hair was slicked back in a pony tail, and I felt the cold pearls around my neck--the same pearls I walked with at undergrad graduation.

I took a breath and walked out of the bathroom and up the two flights of stairs to the main office of where I would be interviewing. I saw books everywhere, desks were scattered in the middle of the room and it looked like an absolute mess! "Sorry for the mess" I hear, "We are re-painting the walls." A sigh of relief, thank goodness this is not how it normally is. I was told to take a seat. I make sure to sit properly with correct posture and feet together. I wait another 15 minutes..while the ADCOMs review my application.

I go over the questions in my head while I wait. I didn't feel unprepared--I knew certain questions they would ask me. I had prepared myself for that. I was lucky to have some PA's as friends but I was also engrossed with Rodican's book of "Getting into The PA School of Your Choice." I also did a mock interview with my friends and family. I think this really helped me.

I heard my name called and I walk into a small room..a room meant to be the office break room. I was somewhat confused, but took my seat anyways and brushed the crumbs off the table. I sat at the head of the table while the two women sit on each side.

I felt confident in my answers. Elaborate enough, but short and sweet.

The last part was an essay, which I felt pretty confident about. Touro uses scenario types of situations for the essay so that was easy for me. I turn my essay in, shake their hands, and out I go to meet my father.

Relief hits me until I realize I have another interview at 1:00pm with the Manhattan campus. We race back to the city, just in time to grab some lunch and then head to the next campus. This campus is totally different, only a building with a old wooden desk that a security guard sits at. He checks my ID and tells me to proceed to the elevator. The elevator was old, green, and I was pretty sure I was going to die inside of it. It would shake and rumble and I figured if it was my time to go-- well then so be it.

I got lost inside the building. There were multiple hallways, and it didn't seem like any of the students I passed would lend a helping hand. I finally found where I needed to be and was told to wait in a hallway. I waited for almost 45 minutes. This made me nervous because I had a flight to catch to come back to Tampa. Tick tick tick.

Finally interview time comes. These ladies were a little more intimidating and would often try to catch me off guard to see how I dealt being under pressure. I didn't exactly realize this in the interview though and figured they just didn't really like me. Nevertheless, I was as confident as I could be even though I wanted to cry inside. Questions were racing through my head at 100 miles per hour. Did I answer that ok? What are they even trying to ask? Do I look ok? I hope I have nothing in my teeth?

Two weeks later..acceptances to both.

I applied to school back in late June of 2009. Not only did it take months to apply, but countless hours of research and organization of where I wanted to go. The application itself was 15 pages long. I had to gather volunteer information, human contact experience, work experience, medical experience, extracurricular activities, and the list goes on. I also had to figure out who I would want to write my letters of recommendation (LOR). That really wasn't hard since I already had a mentor/professor from college that I knew for 4 years. I also knew I could get the doctors I currently work for the write one each--so that made my 3 LOR's.

As far as my personal statement (PS), that had been in the works for years. I knew sooner or later I would have to write something for PA school. I molded it into what it is today and really think it weighed heavy in my application.

Looking for schools wasn't easy. I would find a school or call them ask them questions only to go back to their website 2 weeks later. There are just so many schools out there and I realized I needed another form of organization--Thank you excel! I organized my excel chart by school, tuition cost, average GRE, when the semester started, length of semester, etc. This really helped me narrow my choices down to 10 schools. Of course I didn't do this for every PA school out there, but ones that I was interested in.

Example of my excel chart




The schools I applied to: Nova southeastern-Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Orlando campuses, Salus University, Drexel University, NYIT, St Johns University, Touro College (all campuses), and my current school.

Patience is a virtue while waiting for letters to come in the mail. I obsessively checked my email and the mail box. Every day I would rush home from work to see if I got a letter in the mail. I think I probably ruined the lock on my mailbox because now the key doesn't want to come out sometimes.

I interviewed at 4 schools: Touro college: Bayshore campus, Manhattan campus, Nova jacksonville, and my current school.

I will talk more about my interviews later. It wasn't until February that I knew which school I was attending. I couldn't be more pleased with the decision I made.

Many of you are probably wondering why I wanted to be a Physician Assistant. Here is part of my story. I will not post all of it..but it will give you a vague idea.


When I was younger, I would often play with the kids in the neighborhood with my Hello Kitty purse around my neck. In it, I carried miscellaneous themed band-aids and a bottle of Bactine to treat anyone who fell down and was hurt. As I grew older, I would often follow my father who is an orthopedic surgeon on his rounds. I remember the pure excitement I felt when I shadowed my father for the first time in surgery. I quickly realized I not only felt very comfortable in the medical environment, but had also found the missing piece of my life. Shadowing my father was good, and quite rewarding, but not nearly enough.

My motivation for becoming a physician assistant (PA) has solidified over the years of clinical experience, and my recent trip to the Dominican Republic. I have a passion for serving those in need of help and alleviating the suffering that people endure. I want to be a PA because this profession would encompass all of the things I desire in a career. I enjoy helping people and this profession will allow me to help not only individuals but also make a difference in the community.