Hey everyone! I’ve really missed sharing updates here. While I had a post in draft waiting (behind another post that just went up this week), I thought I’d catch you all up on this whirlwind year.
Leadership Roles & Basic Sciences
When I last wrote, I was in my second term of basic sciences at SJSM, with three terms ahead of me. Life kicked into high gear when I was elected President of the Student Government Association! My plate quickly filled with:
- Presidential duties
- Curriculum committee responsibilities
- Training Director position with SJSM Anguilla Red Cross
- Full course load of basic sciences
Looking back, those months are a blur. Some days I still wonder how I managed it all!
White Coat Ceremony
In late April, I hit two major milestones:
- Passed the NBME CBSE, clearing me to schedule Step 1
- Participated in our White Coat Ceremony
Unlike many schools that hold the ceremony at the start, SJSM celebrates this milestone after completing basic sciences. This timing felt perfect – it truly marked how far we’d come. As the former class representative and president, I was asked to speak at the ceremony. Despite the nerves, it was an honour to represent my class.
Celebration and Step 1
After the ceremony, I took a brief break with my parents in Sint Maarten (the Dutch side of Saint Martin) before heading back to Canada. Then came five intense weeks of dedicated Step 1 preparation, culminating in taking the exam on June 3rd. While the exam was challenging, the waiting period afterwards was even more anxiety-inducing! Finally, on June 18th, I received the news I’d been hoping for – I passed!
Looking Ahead: Clinical Rotations
Now I’m preparing for my next big adventure: clinical rotations. I’ll be starting Internal Medicine on August 26th! While excited, I’m also a bit nervous. I’ve been researching study strategies (Reddit has been invaluable for finding tips from high Step 2 scorers) and planning my approach.
Coming Soon on the Blog
Stay tuned for upcoming posts about:
- My Step 1 study routines
- Basic sciences preparation strategies
- Clinical rotation experiences and study resources
- And much more!
Want to chat? Drop a comment below or email me at slp.to.md@gmail.com. Looking forward to sharing this next chapter with you all!
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