Nine weeks
have gone by. Wow! It’s hard to believe that I'm past half-way trough first
semester. I don't even know where to start. It is so hard to find the time to
write on the blog. I did have intentions of writing more often, but I know now
that is not going to happen. I can say so far, that my experience of the program
has definitely been the roller coaster I expected. During the first few weeks,
I was mostly excited. Just taking it all in, and being ecstatic that I've been
accepted to the program. When third week rolled in, the reality of how hard
this program is hit me. On top of that, a lot of energy was spent on:
· Meeting 29 new students and trying to get to
know everyone.
· Meeting all teachers, trying to figure them
out and know their style.
· Getting used to the schedule (each day,
classes start at different times).
· Getting used to the buildings and where to
go. (oh yeah, we did get lost trying to find the life-sciences lab. More than
once!)
· Learning to navigate the many different ways
to find the information you need, including checking the 101 email address we
have.
· Completing an endless list of mini online
courses, such as biohazard safety, fire safety, workplace harassment,
ergonomics, WHIMS...
I cannot
stress enough the speed of this program. The science aspect is very
challenging. Anatomy & Physiology alone is like learning to speak a new
language. Then, there is this whole other side of the program called
"The Social Sciences". It feels like I'm doing two separate
degrees, a science and social sciences one. It sure is a change of gear in my
brain, after studying 5 hours of A&P, to go on and write a reflection on a
60 page long document on the social determinants of health, I read the day
before.
Then, things
settled down. I started to get used to the routine, and so did my family. I
don't feel that the kids are being affected too much by my absence. Their dad
has been amazing at stepping in full-time. From helping with homework, to
driving to after-school activities, to carving pumpkins. From driving the
teenagers to work, to watching their first music live-performance, to filling
out school-trip forms. He has been there. Going grocery shopping, doing
laundry, and cooking meals; the list just goes on... What I'm saying is: I have
been incredibly lucky to be able to concentrate 100% on school, and it sill is
super hard. In my situation, I'm not finding that the program is harder
because I have kids. It's just hard. Period. I'm actually finding strength on my kids; It's their cute
smiles and hugs when I come home, and the cuddles at night when I crawl in bed
exhausted, that keep me going (yes... the little one has moved into my bed, and
I love it).
Everything
was under control until.... midterms came. Then comes another low.
MIDTERMS SUCK!!! There! I said it. I was fine while going through them, but really, what is it
with this low right after? I wish I had saved the candy I got during my
orientation week. My buddy sure knew what she was doing when she
included the post-exam candy in my welcome bag. I actually did well during the
exams, but there is just something about “after midterms” that simply suck. I
guess it’s just your body letting go after all the stress or maybe it is the
adjustment of becoming a university student and being tested all the time. All
the pre-requisite courses I took before, the semester I did in Practical
Nursing; nothing compares to this.
Things have
settled again and now I know what to expect for the finals. I have a plan. I’m saving all the
halloween candy my kids got last week. I’m learning to be
prepared. Also I am very excited about the "evening with Ina May" event that is
coming up. I feel I need to distance myself from academia for a night and
remind myself again why I am doing this.
