Life On The Other Side

    I did it! I am done with USMLE Step 1! (assuming I passed... I hope I passed...) I think I did okay. I tried to stay as calm as I could while taking it, but it's hard not to have palpitations when taking a test that matters so much. Also, I was nice and calm until we had to get metal detected/turn out all our pockets/roll up our sleeves to get in and out of the room each time. Hard not to get nervous when they make such a huge ordeal out of the whole thing.

    Oh well! It's all over, and now I just have to wait for that score. One thing that surprised me was how fast the 8 hours went by! I was worried I would be burned out by the last few sections, but I had so much adrenaline running through my veins that I could have done another few sections haha! The whole day only seemed like two hours in my mind. Later, when I saw BF, he gave me some flowers to congratulate me. He is so sweet.

     Well, time to take care of all of the life chores I have been putting off and actually plan some stuff for my vacation to Peru with J! It feels weird to not be studying today... I almost feel guilty! I'm sure I'll get over that REAL quick! Also, how poetic is it that I earned my Starbucks gold card with the last coffee I got before my test!

12 Days To Go

   Not a whole lot has changed since the last time I posted.  Today is day 23 of my study hibernation.  It's weird because I feel anxious that I am running out of time to study, but I'm also exhausted and just want to get the next 12 days overwith, all at the same time!  I've been relatively calm for the most part, which is good - I've only started to feel anxious in the last couple of days (when I realized how many questions I still have to do in my Qbank), and no "freak outs", thank goodness.  I think one of the key things that's been keeping me going is studying with other people, mainly BF.  BF and I have been playing this cute game.  Whenever we study at a coffee shop, every time one of us goes to the bathroom, the other one will leave a cute post-it hidden in the other's study materials.  Then we'll find it a few minutes later and giggle about it.  It's pretty fun :)

Found this under my FIRST AID book

   I don't like to study in the same place for too long, because I start to get restless and can't focus.  So I split my days in half, and rotate around between school, the library and several coffee shops around town.  I've been photo-documenting my study adventures for the future, so I can look back and think, "Man, what was studying all day every day for Step 1 like?"  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of any of the numerous sleeves I have ruined with highlighters, being the hot mess I have been. (Warning: these are boring pictures of studying...)

Coffee Shop with sister

Home with Baby Z

Library (gunner habitat)

Secret patio at school

School (hey look, it's BFs hand lol)

*$

Coffee shop that reeks of bacon

We made an "IUD of trust" with our laptops (yep,  I'm going crazy)

People being social while I'm having a one-on-one time with WORLD

Raining outside

Saturday - wishing I was out there

*$

Me creeping on BF

Studying at BFs (yeah, I'm getting fat. The stress eating has come out full-force)

I insisted we take this picture lol

One day we decided to wear red lipstick just for the hell of it

   I haven't been doing my nail therapy as often as I anticipated, mainly because I have been studying at coffee shops a lot, and it would be rude to smell up the place.  But here are some of my nail salon adventures:

Oh yeah, and Mama J took this super creepy picture of me from across the coffee shop, then proceeded to edit it to be even creepier

Ready For Finals?

So today, after month of no coffee, I finally got back on the coffee train.

My sweet, sweet espresso machine and I were blissfully reunited.  Like the sticker that I accessorized it with?  I feel like it describes me well.  

I homeschooled yet again today (I love doing that).  Not only did I go over the lecture I missed in 1/4 the time, but I also ran a bunch of errands, went to a great lunch time MSFC talk, and went on a wonderful jog down T street (where a lot of my "fall" pictures from a few posts ago were from).  I just love Sacramento sometimes.  The people here are so damn friendly!  I went to the post office in Oak Park today to pick up my diploma from UCLA, and every single person there smiled at me and told me to have a nice day, workers and customers.  Also, when the worker handed me the envelope, he holds his hand out for me to shake it and says "Congratulations!"... I asked him how he knew what it was, and he just said, "I've been doing this a long time".  And how fun is it to run down a street where everyone who is out working in their yard says hello to you and smiles as you run by?  I could get used to this!  I was also very entertained on my jog by very funny animal habits.  I saw dogs sitting on window sills, but the funniest thing I saw was a huge wolf-like dog laying on the roof over a porch.  I actually stopped and did a double take because it was so odd looking.  I should have taken a picture, but I didn't want to stop too long.  Maybe I will catch him up there again some other time?!

Also, had a wonderful dinner and coffee date with my big sib.  She always gives such great advice.  :)

And yes... next week is finals.  *sigh* too bad my mind is already on winter break.  At least I'm not too stressed... more apathetic and tired than anything.  Hopefully they go by fast!