Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Stages of Studying

Stage 1: Excitement.

Ooooh, new information! I love all this new information! This is the stage where I bother Josh incessantly with copious information regarding whatever subject I am studying.

Stage 2: Mild panic.

This stage varies somewhat, but usually the reaction is something like, "6 PAGES?! HOW WILL I EVER LEARN THIS IN TIME?!" But on my most recent Microbiology exam review, I thought, "Only 1 and 1/4 pages? HOW EASY!" Then I got to the last item on the list, it said:

For each germ know the following when applicable: name of the disease; virulence factors (enzyme, toxin, antigen, fimbriae, capsule, etc); stages of the disease; reservoir/origin; tissue/organ system affected; if the germ is fastidious or not.

DUDE.

Stage 3: Competence.


This is when I make my beautiful, brightly colored index cards. For the first exam this week (Microbiology) I wrote well over 100 cards. For the second exam (A&P II) I probably had just under 100 cards. Then I read the cards frontwards and backwards until I can no longer process the words, bringing us to...

Stage 4: DESPAIR!

It goes something like this, "I'll never learn this in time! NEVER! I can't remember one more thing! I've wasted hours studying because when I take the test, I'm not going to remember anything!" Wah, wah, wah. I give up, play Guitar Hero like a petulant child, and then go to class for the exam (where I find the brain power to review the cards one last time).

Stage 5: Relief.

The test is OVER! Hooray! I always have a skip in my step after the test is over. Last night I was felt sure I'd made over a 90% and tonight, I felt pretty sure I'd made either a 98% or 100%. We'll see about that tomorrow.

Stage 6: Elation!

Like when I checked my Microbiology grade tonight and discovered I made a 97 on that exam. Take that virulence factors! Take that agammaglobulinemia! Take that staphylococcus and the 7 notecards dedicated just to you!



PS: Speaking of staphylococcus, KayTar's biopsy site is infected and so we are headed to the pediatrician tomorrow morning. Oh life, you just think you are SO entertaining, don't you?

12 comments:

Lori at Spinning Yellow said...

I remember those stages! I was a big fan of writing & re-writing notes & facts, it is the best way for it to sink in. I think you always know more than you realize. Congrats on the tests.

And I hope K is ok, good thing she has a nurse-momma who knows what to do!

Jaden Paige said...

This post made me laugh a little... it is SOOOOO true! But you always do better than you are thinking you will when you're in the *despair* phase.

Let us know how things go with KayTar. Infection is so not fun :( But she's a tough peanut, I'm sure she'll handle it like a champ!

Anonymous said...

Oh no! I hope the infection is easily remedied.

And CONGRATULATIONS on your test! What a great feeling!

Ben and Bennie said...

I so don't miss studying for exams. And I'm just not going to think about what oral antibiotics will do to Kaytar's tummy...

InTheFastLane said...

You Rock!

Hope you get something to get that infection cleared up.

Jaden Paige said...

oh and ps.. I gave you some more awards :) You can grab them off my blog if you want!

Gwen said...

You're kind of a rock star.

I think I skip everything and head straight to ennui.

metro mama said...

Congratulations!

Mad said...

I am SO proud of you. Everyday I am proud of you.

As for the infection, couldn't the cosmic gods offer you one little, teensy break?

Run ANC said...

Dude. You smart.

Magpie said...

Somehow, the getting a 97 on the exam and the child getting infected are too eerie to process.

Congrats to you and fast healing to her.

Woman in a Window said...

Hope the infection clears up quickly.

um, you did forget a stage though. What about the peak in the window stage and then turn and run. Oh wait. That was me.