Well, day 1 of orientation passed... i'm honestly a bit intimidated. While I know that I'm not the worst student that was admitted, I'm more than aware that I am no longer in the top echelon of students in my class... it's relieving knowing that I'm finally in a competitive environment like this, but a bit unnerving--I may be a stellar student, but the SPH is also about learning necessary job skills--specifically, "networking". I have no trouble being friendly--I do have trouble going up to complete strangers with no reason other than to introduce myself and make small talk. This was really evident yesterday, as tons of people started talking to each other while waiting in line for lunch, and I was uncomfortably standing there, trying to find a conversation to slip into, or for someone to approach me... talk about feeling like a left foot in a crowd of right feet. This Greek girl came and sat with me at lunch (far removed from the actual site--because there was no space), and afterward I tried to start up a convo with this girl Erin who has been all over the world (this girl is amazing--she spent the summer in Antarctica, she worked in Kenya, she was on mainland Thailand carrying her friend with advanced muscular dystrophy on her back when the tsunami hit--she's a phenom!). We wandered back into the auditorium, and Erin sat on my right. To my left was Elizabeth, mother to a 10 year-old and an 18 year-old graduate of RPI (!), an optometrist who works with people going blind from various diseases. There are two practicing physicians down the row--they're doing a residency in preventative medicine. Our program is littered with physicians from foreign countries who want to learn how to prevent disease instead of treating it while it's happening. For every male student, there are at least 5 female students. With the exception of the gender ratio, the class is wonderfully diverse, with talented people from different backgrounds and different dreams... it's exciting, intimidating, and motivating... in under two years, I will have tools and opportunities presented to me like never before. < begin cheese > TIME TO KICK IT UP A NOTCH! < /end cheese >
They told us to be prepared to work on Monday--no fluff in this school. I hope I can handle this... I hope I can handle the job on top of it (I have to let my boss know that I can't work all day on Friday due to a mandatory seminar that I was only informed of as of yesterday--ugh).
Let's hope day 2 of orientation is at least a bit more productive...
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hopeful
gizoogle still amuses me.
They told us ta be prepared ta work on Monday--no fluff in this school fo' real. I hope I can handle this... I hope I can handle tha job on top of it (I hizzle ta let mah boss know that I can't work all day on Friday due ta a mandatory seminar that I was only informed of as of yesterday--ugh).
Let's hope day 2 of orientation is at least a bit more productizzles.
Re: gizoogle still amuses me.
I haven't taken micro though.
We need to go and procure some pints/cups of coffee at some point...
I'm so VERY VERY PROUD of you!!!!!
My little girl growin up... :: sniff :: ...goin off to kill people...
I want to meet this Erin girl! Wait... I want to BE this Erin girl! Tell me everything you learn.
More importantly, I want to hear what the schoolwork is like when I get back from elle ey. I love you soooooooo omuch
Don't get all criz-zazy in tha south central. Make it home in one piece, fo shizzle!
side note: killing people would be an interesting component to public health though... certainly would make it easier understanding their cause of death!