Coming down to the wire

I am sitting here counting down the days left of actual time in the classroom and I am in awe of how little time is left.  There are 9 days left of class, and I start my FINAL final exams on April 15.  I am both excited and slightly panicked at how quickly fourth year rotations are coming up, and as each day slides closer I am rapidly realizing that all the work I have put in for the last three years is going to come to a head very soon with my skills and knowledge being put to the test down in clinics.  I know that over my time in the class room I have studied, committed things to memory, and learned so much that will be useful to me in a clinical setting, but naturally I am also wondering just how much information I have managed to retain, and whether or not I will be on track with what I should know.

  

Last week, we had a meeting about what was to be expected out of fourth year, and how we will be graded.  No longer will we take a paper test that directly reflects the hours of lecture notes we poured over the night before.  Instead, we will be evaluated on our clinical skills, the way we interact with the clinicians and our peers and how we approach the cases that we face.  Each rotation has their own set of skills that you are required to complete to a level that both yourself and your supervising veterinarian deem to be at least of entry level veterinary competency.  Some of the task lists are a little daunting, but overall I have found that they at least give me some guidelines.  I think for myself the biggest challenge in fourth year is going to be being brave enough to interact with the clinicians and prove that I do have knowledge and willingness to succeed in this field.  I expect hard, long days with trying cases and I can work with that- but my greatest challenge will be overcoming residing in the comfort of my self inflicted "bubble".  For years now I have been the girl who sits quietly in the back of the classroom, not offering opinions or questions, having minimal interaction with professors.  I am maybe not proud of this fact, and I see it as an area where I should have been working to overcome this- but the comfort of being in my little secluded corner was easy.  Now, I will be entering an area where I am front and center in some cases, and I have to be able to present ideas and thoughts to clinicians.  I know I can interact with clients- I spent much time as a technician doing just that- but for someone who takes awhile to feel comfortable with new people- especially people who are as high up and important as the clinicians- I know this will be one of my greatest challenges.

Things on the rotation front are shaking out pretty well, though I admit to being a bit of a procrastinator.  I ended up dropping a Large Animal Medicine rotation from my schedule- in part because I wanted to fill the time with an external rotation, and in part because I did not want to do that particular rotation.  I know they say it is important to round out your rotations with as much as possible as you never know what you will be doing in the future- however I decided that for me I really wanted to use the time to fill in as many small animal opportunities as possible, given that this is what I want most.  It means I will have to spend some extra time studying large animal things for the NAVLE independently, but ultimately I think I will be happier for having arranged my schedule as I did.  I am currently trying to get an external rotation lined up in Hawaii next April, and barring any conflicts with the school and the clinic on the paperwork front it is looking promising!  I am nervous to be considering taking 3 weeks to travel somewhere where I know no one, and be alone (though many people have offered to come along with me if I do go) but I feel like that would be an excellent chance for a last rotation and to prove that I really can make it in the real world.  

Now that the semester is winding down, I have completed two surgeries with the help of a couple of my classmates- who have been patient and supportive!  I was the first surgeon in my group because I was most nervous for surgery and wanted to get it done with so I could stress a little less.  I ended up doing a complicated spay on a mature dog, which was very challenging but also an excellent learning opportunity in a lot of ways.  I spent the next three nights not sleeping convinced that she would have problems with her surgery site- but she did fine and in the end I was happy.  This last week I had another big dog that I neutered.  I was glad for the neuter because I now have at least done one of each of the basic surgeries a veterinarian performs, and he too was an excellent learning opportunity- but in a different way.  I learned I can stand on my own two feet and make some decisions (with good help from my group members).  I still am nervous during his recovery period, but a little less so than I was with my dog spay.  I have really enjoyed doing this surgery course, even if it has been a lot of work and stressful.  It makes my goals seem that much more obtainable, and tacking onto my previous statements about clinician interaction it has also allowed me to have more close contact with some of the clinicians which has helped decrease some of my worries for next year.  

In other news, I have lined an apartment up with one of my friends for the year next year, beginning on May 1.  We initially went and looked at a house- which was decent sized but not quite what we were looking for and the rent was a little higher than we wanted to be paying.  The perk was that the house was furnished so we wouldn't have been paying to do that as we both are leaving furnished cottages.  However, we found an apartment that is walking distance to school, on the top floor and at a good rent price so we took that.  I am looking forward to being able to walk every day to school, and will likely not bother to purchase a parking permit this year.  It will be very convenient when I am on call and have to be at school rather quickly.  We will need to furnish it- but I think we can piece together enough things to make it a functional living space without too many extra costs.  

Lastly- and maybe the most important- Burger Love has returned to the island!  This year brings 60 burgers but I am most looking forward to trying the ice cream burger again.  Last year the deep fried ice cream rolled in cinnamon that was on top of the burger was the craziest but most delicious thing I have tried.  This year their burger concoction is a burger, bacon and maple syrup sandwiched between two ice cream sandwiches and topped with a marshmellow and cherry.  Sounds strange and yet I cannot wait to try it!  Also this year my mom will be making her trip up and she will be here in time to try out a burger before it comes to a close at the end of the month.  This promotion is a great idea for both the beef producers here on the island and the restaurants, as the popularity of these concoctions has grown from year to year now, and it is also a great way to get out and celebrate winter coming to an end (well, sort of... we still have a lot of snow on the ground.)

The burger love burger I can't wait for... YUMMMM!  To see more check out www.peiburgerlove.ca