I definitely meant to post before now, but...just never really got around to it. Orientation took place all last week. Pretty boring, but it was nice to get to meet other people in my class. One thing I noticed that is definitely a downside yet a plus of being in GPPA is that we tend to neglect the need to branch out. Day 1 and 2, pretty much hung around with people that I already knew - Jon, Amit, Ruchi...being comfortable with people diminishes the urgent need to meet new people. But after making an effort, it was nice to meet other members of the class from all over the place and all ages.
As expected, it turned out to be mostly Asian people. The first two days I actually talked to someone I've known since 4th grade quite a bit, but I think perhaps he felt a little out of place being the only Caucasian and then after those two days I really haven't said much besides hi. Eh. Had a discussion with a couple other people while on the boat cruise about this. Even after only four days of meeting one another, it seemed like our class had already pretty much divided itself up based on ethnicity. You could see the Hispanic groups, the Black groups, the Caucasian groups, the Asian groups. Ah well. Hopefully it'll get better as we start classes.
I also really really learned how I'm a terrible people person. Very very introverted. I always considered myself that way, but hearing it come from someone else really hit home. Honestly, I had a terrible time on the boat cruise. I couldn't bring myself to go out and dance with the sweaty sea of people on the tiny dance floor, and I thought too much about how to have a conversation with people I kind of knew. I think I'm okay with meeting new people if it's one or two new people in a larger group of friends I'm with, but reverse it and I'm dead. I hope med school will be okay...
Along the lines of being an introvert, how is it that Joe, who is a complete extrovert, and I get along so well? I asked him and it seems it's just inexplicable.
I'm driving down Taylor street, parking in a lot past my classes and then walking about 3 blocks to class. Am I lazy? Probably yes. There are so many of my classmates living even farther away and taking public transportation...
Well. M1 starts tomorrow. Biochemistry and Physiology!
It has been quite a while since I've blogged. The last couple being on Xanga probably months and months apart. I'm pretty sure the quality of my writing has also plummeted since I've stopped, a reason I'm going to try this whole blogging business again. But another reason, equally important, is that it's a nice chronicle of my life. Looking back on my past blogs is pretty embarrassing. The things that I thought were life or death situations, the things I cried over, the things I got infinitely angry about and even the people that I thought were important - all seem petty now. I'm sure that if I look back on this blog in a few years, I'll probably think the exact same thing. Still. It's a nice chronicle, even if it is childish.
Even though I have refused to believe it, I didn't even attend my LAS graduation even though my mom and brothers drove up for it, college graduation is a milestone. In some ways, due to the path that I've decided to take, it doesn't seem like much will change. I will continue with another 4 years of school just a mile away in the opposite direction. I will continue to live in the same apartment that I've been in for the past 4 years. I will continue to study in the same way, with the same multitude of colored pens and highlighters as I have before. But other aspects of my life, definitely, will change.
I think that it's because I didn't even have this part of my life before. Or rather that I had it, but it wasn't as prominent as it is now. The past year has brought so many changes, as will the coming year. If you ask me whether I could have predicted to be where I am now, a year ago, the answer would be a definitive "no." But I'm pretty sure it has made me a more well-rounded person. At least I hope it has.
I'm excited for the change, the departure from the cozy niche that we created, the dive headfirst into intense medical education, but I'm also extremely extremely scared. After graduating high school, I thought - "From here on out, everything is really important for my future." After graduating college, I have the exact same thought. But I think...I'm right this time. And that is scary.
Yay future. Yay medical school. Goodbye any social life I have accumulated this past year, which really isn't that much, but I still liked it.
I wonder if I read this in a year I'll think that I was overreacting. Or maybe I'll read it after I graduate medical school and think "No no no, NOW it's important." But I don't think I will. Since after medical school I go to residency. Which is determined by things during medical school. Ah-ha. But. Maybe I'll read it in 10 years! And then I'll think that this is all just childish drivel.
