My my my, it sure has been a long time.
I started my second semester on January 10th, so I’m about 2 weeks into my second semester. Honestly this semester has held a plethora of new experiences. I’m off campus now, so I drive to school everyday now. I live about 10 minutes away, by Alabama A&M University, so it’s a nice drive. I live in a house with 2 other guys, and that has been cool. The only problem I’m having right now is the food situation. I’ve had to hide bread inside my room because friends of ours will just come by and eat up everything. Now I like to have people over like anyone else, but these people have meal plans on campus, I don’t, so the food they are eating is my sole means of sustaining myself. I’m venting right now, I’m sorry. For all those who are thinking of moving off campus, just take things like this into consideration. Financially it was a great move, since I only had to pay $400 instead of $5,000 to clear this semester; but it does come with its downsides.
Academically so far, this semester has been cool. This semester I’m taking:
Genetics
Genetics Lab
U.S. History II
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry Lab
Physics
Physics Lab
Volleyball (lol, it’s the only PE that fit my schedule)
Health Principles
So it is a pretty packed semester. I don’t know, but I think that it is in my personality to take on too many responsibilities and extracurricular activities. I’m playing basketball intramurals, I’m developing the alumni website for my biology department, I’m working in the NAPS office, I’m still an officer for the Oakwood Biomedical Association, etc, etc. I’m not complaining, because I like to do these things, but it gets hectic sometimes. It is looking like my most challenging class this semester will be genetics. The teacher doesn’t give normal multiple choice exams. She gives multiple multiple choice exams where the answer could be A, or A, B, and C, or just B and D; and if you don’t circle all of the correct answers, then the whole question is completely wrong; no partial credit. Anyway, only 5 people in the past 6 years have gotten an A in her Genetics class, so this semester should be interesting.
Having a car has completely changed my college experience. Being able to drive my girlfriend to Olive Garden, or go to the movies whenever I feel like it, is wonderful. I finally feel like a man now.
The Tsunami in Asia was such a tragedy. We better get our relationship with God right, because He is coming soon. I just can’t believe the body count over there. NAPS, the mission group that I am a part of, is leaving to give aid in Sri Lanka tomorrow. Please keep them in your prayers. I really want to go, but I can’t just drop school and go. Its times like these when I wish I was a doctor, so I could help over there.
I was watching the Discovery Health Channel, and they have this show called “Trauma: Life in the ER”, where they follow a trauma doctor through the course of a normal day in their lives. Well, I was watching it the other day, and Dr. Johannigman, the doctor I shadowed at the University of Cincinnati was the doctor that the Discovery Channel was following. It was so cool to see a doctor that I had shadowed all summer, on TV!!! Anyway, I e-mailed to tell him that I saw him on TV, and he took a long time to respond, but it was for a good reason. The following is a series of e-mails that I sent him, and he sent me:
—-DoctaJay:
Hey Dr. Jay, this is DoctaJay. I was watching the Discovery Health Channel the other day, and I saw you!!! I just wanted to tell you how cool it was to see someone who I had shadowed on TV!!! Hopefully one day I’ll become big time like you,lol. Anyway, thank you for your patience with me this past summer, and I encourage you to continue mentoring people like me; you have no idea what an impact you make on our lives. Talk to you soon Dr. Jay.
—-Dr. Johannigman:
DoctaJay,
Great to hear you. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to see the special since I was heading over to Iraq. I am now stationed over at an Air Force Base in central Iraq and flying medevac from the hospital here. Look forward to staying in touch with you and keep aiming high
jj
—-DoctaJay:
Hey Dr. J. I saved that segment of the show onto my computer, so I could mail you a copy (if you wanted to watch it) on a CD-R if you give me your address. I’m quite shocked to hear that you are in Iraq. I thought that once you gave your 4 years back to the military you were free…I guess that isn’t that case. Anyway Dr. Jay; please be careful, and thank you for everything you showed and taught me. Also, thank you for serving our country.
—-Dr. Johannigman
DoctaJay,
thanks for saving the segment for me; our PR folks have done the same so I’ll get a chance to see it when I come home.
With respect to me being in Iraq. I have voluntarily remained in the Reserves since my four years of active duty were over. It has been a tremendous opportunity that I would never have traded. I have been to places and been able to see and do things that I would never have experienced on the civilian side. I currently have the privilege of helping to care for the young men and women of our services and you couldn’t ask for a better job. I am assigned as a member of a CCATT team (Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Team). Our job is to move the critically injured/wounded from the far forward areas of Iraq back to more capable facilities. In the current situation this means our three person team (doc,nurse and resp therapist) takes the patient from the combat hospital here in Iraq and packages them up for a flight to Germany. The flight takes about a total of ten hours and it can be a great challenge to stay on your toes and take good care of the patient during this time.
I’ll bring home lots of pictures and will show them to you when you come out to interview for Medical School.
my new e-mail address out here is
**************@***********
best wishes
doc j
Needless to say, I was quite shocked, but then I was proud, because I knew someone who was willing to risk their life for our country. It got me thinking whether I would want to go through medical school through the military. My mom already said that she would break both of my legs if I tried to go, but it seems like a great opportunity. What do you guys think?
Anyway, I have to study, so I’ll keep my postings up to date now. O yeah, by the way, it will be me and my girlfriends 2 year anniversary on February 14th!!! I’m not exactly sure what I want to do; do any girls or guys out there have any suggestions? God Bless…Peace.
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