Being back home, I have come to realize how much this place means to me. That phrase of "there is nothing like home" is right on the money. Tonight, a handful of my favorite people met to celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest friends a person could ask for. There is something about the feeling a person gets when they are in a familiar place or in the presence of familiar people. I have met a lot of people in my lifetime and I'm going to meet a lot more, but spending time with those people who you grew up with or with whom you've graduated with holds a little more weight. Of course, there are a select group of people in my life that I happened to meet over the course of one weekend and I fell in love with them immediately and those individuals know exactly who they are. It just goes to show the impact people can have on my life and the impact I can hopefully have on theirs.
And then, it started to make me wonder what would my life be like without those that I love around me? Would I be happy or fulfilled with my life? Of course, the obvious answer is absolutely not. Those people that I love and that love me make my life worth living. However, there are individuals within this world who are under the illusion of believing that no one loves them or that they have no one to turn to. It is these people I worry about and these people that I wonder how they will feel the fulfillment I feel at this moment and every moment I think about those people I love. So, what do I do? I can't grant every person devoid of fulfillment a group of individuals who love them. But, I can continue to befriend every person who comes across my path and allow them to see the importance of friendship.
One of my favorite quotes of all time: "Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters." Personally, I don't think that quote needs any further explanation. It is those people in your life that make it what it is.
So, to all those amazing individuals who I have been lucky enough to have known and the pleasure of distinguishing them as a friend, thank you. You have made my life so much happier and so much easier to live in a world where most of the time hatred outweighs love, caring, and friendship. May God bless each and every one of you to continue to make difference in people's lives as you have made one in mine.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Spring Semester....Check
After escaping from my final exam yesterday with only minor cuts and bruises, I have successfully completed 5, yes, 5 semesters at Vanderbilt, which leaves them only one more to torture me.
While I wait for my final semester to start, I will be returning to my old stomping grounds for the next few days which will be full of reunions, festivities, baseball, and just plain old Fun. Yes, I have been blessed with the greatest friends and family in the world and, unfortunately, we have all been spread out across the country. But, when we all happen to be in the same city for just a few hours, it is those few hours that are the highlights of my life. I will never be able to stress enough how amazing these people are and how people you love are so important. Well, the next few posts will be from the great state of Alabama and I see nothing but good things.
Next Stop: BAMA.
While I wait for my final semester to start, I will be returning to my old stomping grounds for the next few days which will be full of reunions, festivities, baseball, and just plain old Fun. Yes, I have been blessed with the greatest friends and family in the world and, unfortunately, we have all been spread out across the country. But, when we all happen to be in the same city for just a few hours, it is those few hours that are the highlights of my life. I will never be able to stress enough how amazing these people are and how people you love are so important. Well, the next few posts will be from the great state of Alabama and I see nothing but good things.
Next Stop: BAMA.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Procrastination is bliss
Bulletin: Failure of final exam at 1100 tomorrow is imminent due to following link:
http://www.dancesisterdance.com/myvid/index.php?v=93fb925ef20ee
Thank you Dalton. Thank you.
And let the cramming commence.
http://www.dancesisterdance.com/myvid/index.php?v=93fb925ef20ee
Thank you Dalton. Thank you.
And let the cramming commence.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Why Finals?
With less than 48 hours left in this Spring semester, I feel like each minute is taking an eternity. Maybe it's due to the fact that I pretty much checked out at Thanksgiving or maybe because the preparation needed for my final on Wednesday has yet to begun. And, yes, today is Monday. Let's just say that this final will cover Neurology, Oncology, HIV, AIDS, COPD, Asthma, Orthopaedics, and Mental and Psychiatric Disorders. Why? Why do I feel as if whatever I do will never get me to that point where I will feel completely comfortable and competent with the material? Understandably, the majority of college campuses and high schools are experiencing the same feelings as I just described. It made me start to wonder....if the risks outweight the benefits for giving and taking final exams, then why do we continuously give them?
Let me explain. Normally, during this time of year, teachers, professors, and doctors begin to get stressed out in order to reach their deadlines of submitting their grades and finishing the final draft of the exam for all of their classes. Simply, as stress levels increase, blood pressure increases, substance abuse increases (i.e. caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol), and sometimes relationships suffer. Such as professors, students experience the same cause-effect relationship. However, in my opinion, the effect is much more grandiose. The lack of sleep, the substance abuse taken to a completely new level, and the constant cramming seems to worsen with each subsequent finals week. So, why do we subject ourselves to these unhealthy tasks? Perhaps it is due to the unbelivable, and sometimes unattainable, standards set by ourselves, our peers, our families, and our respectable institutions. Before I go on, let me clarify something. I believe that students should be pushed and challenged. Without a certain level of stress, students, and professors for that matter, will never proceed or rise above the expectations and their predicted potential. However, when do we say enough?
I'm curious to know how many suicides or overdoses occur during the end of a semester. I'm sure it's a number that I'm not quite ready to hear. So, the reason I ask these questions is not to challenge the system or complain about all the studying I have to accomplish within the next day and a half, but to address the situation of what the future of America is doing to their bodies and their overall health in order to reach a goal or certain expectations set by someone other than themselves. Needless to say, the substance abuse within this country is incredible. And granted, the majority of substance abuse is normally used for recreational purposes. However, those future leaders of America who are reaching, studying for that degree, may be ingesting these chemicals at astronomical levels, and instead of our survival rate increasing throughout the years, I have a sick feeling that we may start to see a dramatic decline.
So, to all my fellow colleagues and intellectuals, Happy Studying and let's try and keep the Starbucks runs to less than 10 per day. Good day.
Let me explain. Normally, during this time of year, teachers, professors, and doctors begin to get stressed out in order to reach their deadlines of submitting their grades and finishing the final draft of the exam for all of their classes. Simply, as stress levels increase, blood pressure increases, substance abuse increases (i.e. caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol), and sometimes relationships suffer. Such as professors, students experience the same cause-effect relationship. However, in my opinion, the effect is much more grandiose. The lack of sleep, the substance abuse taken to a completely new level, and the constant cramming seems to worsen with each subsequent finals week. So, why do we subject ourselves to these unhealthy tasks? Perhaps it is due to the unbelivable, and sometimes unattainable, standards set by ourselves, our peers, our families, and our respectable institutions. Before I go on, let me clarify something. I believe that students should be pushed and challenged. Without a certain level of stress, students, and professors for that matter, will never proceed or rise above the expectations and their predicted potential. However, when do we say enough?
I'm curious to know how many suicides or overdoses occur during the end of a semester. I'm sure it's a number that I'm not quite ready to hear. So, the reason I ask these questions is not to challenge the system or complain about all the studying I have to accomplish within the next day and a half, but to address the situation of what the future of America is doing to their bodies and their overall health in order to reach a goal or certain expectations set by someone other than themselves. Needless to say, the substance abuse within this country is incredible. And granted, the majority of substance abuse is normally used for recreational purposes. However, those future leaders of America who are reaching, studying for that degree, may be ingesting these chemicals at astronomical levels, and instead of our survival rate increasing throughout the years, I have a sick feeling that we may start to see a dramatic decline.
So, to all my fellow colleagues and intellectuals, Happy Studying and let's try and keep the Starbucks runs to less than 10 per day. Good day.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
A-Day in Tuscaloosa
More than 90,000 Alabama Crimson Tide faithful joined in Tuscaloosa this afternoon for a preliminary unveiling of the new and improved University of Alabama football squad. Despite the coaching carousel fiasco surrounding The Capstone, the excitement over the hiring of Nick Saban can be felt nationwide, particularly Nashville, Tennessee (i.e. the residence of yours truly).
This afternoon, the gates of the hallowed Bryant-Denny Stadium had to be shut and began to turn people away because capacity had been reached prior to the start of the annual scrimmage, which has never occurred on any previous A-Day occasion. The sound of pads hitting one another and the cheering and screams after a touchdown or interception have finally been brought back The Capstone. Undoubtedly, the expectations this year and for years to come are higher within the Nick Saban era than any previous era at Alabama.
As for me, I'm sure you could guess, I'm grinning from ear to ear hoping, wishing, praying for my Crimson Tide to return to that dominant power that was once known only a decade ago. Unfortunately, our temporary slip from the top was due to the large mouth of Fat Phil in Knoxville because of his envy and jealousy of what the Bear had created in Tuscaloosa. Well, little does Phil know, but we're back. And those NCAA sanctions only lasted for a short period of time.
So, my warning to the rest of the college football nation...get ready. It might not be this year or the next, but every single football program in the country will wonder what those boys in Tuscaloosa are drinking and hoping to build a tradition like The University of Alabama. Oh, and on another note, Rich Rodriguez....you're missing out. And what you did to The University of Alabama will never be forgotten.
And the countdown begins.......130 days until the commencement of College Football 2K7. Roll Tide.
Check it out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2845304
This afternoon, the gates of the hallowed Bryant-Denny Stadium had to be shut and began to turn people away because capacity had been reached prior to the start of the annual scrimmage, which has never occurred on any previous A-Day occasion. The sound of pads hitting one another and the cheering and screams after a touchdown or interception have finally been brought back The Capstone. Undoubtedly, the expectations this year and for years to come are higher within the Nick Saban era than any previous era at Alabama.
As for me, I'm sure you could guess, I'm grinning from ear to ear hoping, wishing, praying for my Crimson Tide to return to that dominant power that was once known only a decade ago. Unfortunately, our temporary slip from the top was due to the large mouth of Fat Phil in Knoxville because of his envy and jealousy of what the Bear had created in Tuscaloosa. Well, little does Phil know, but we're back. And those NCAA sanctions only lasted for a short period of time.
So, my warning to the rest of the college football nation...get ready. It might not be this year or the next, but every single football program in the country will wonder what those boys in Tuscaloosa are drinking and hoping to build a tradition like The University of Alabama. Oh, and on another note, Rich Rodriguez....you're missing out. And what you did to The University of Alabama will never be forgotten.
And the countdown begins.......130 days until the commencement of College Football 2K7. Roll Tide.
Check it out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2845304
Friday, April 20, 2007
Round 1: Yankees v. Red Sox
Ah. It is finally here. Let the madness begin. Let every single New England paper publish Yankee/Red Sox stories on every page with pictures and predictions. Let the BooBirds come out from the woodworks and join in chorus once ARod steps to the plate. I can hear it now.....
I am going to go ahead and admit it, I am biased. Yes, I know it comes as a shock to you, but it's true. I am a diehard Yankees fan and I will take all of the ridicule that you want to throw at me. I don't care. It is the passion that I have had with me from the moment I picked up my first baseball and began hearing story after story about Gehrig, Mantle, Ruth and I was hooked. When it comes to tradition in sports, I can never resist it.
As for the 2007 MLB season, in my opinion, it hasn't truly started until the first Yankees/BoSox series. Well, here it is. I hope all of you are ready for every single newscast to be flooded with stories, theories, and overanalyzation that you have never seen before.
As for my prediction (may I remind you, I am biased): I believe the Boston faithful will be seeing a lot of this tonight:
Enjoy. Go Yanks.
I am going to go ahead and admit it, I am biased. Yes, I know it comes as a shock to you, but it's true. I am a diehard Yankees fan and I will take all of the ridicule that you want to throw at me. I don't care. It is the passion that I have had with me from the moment I picked up my first baseball and began hearing story after story about Gehrig, Mantle, Ruth and I was hooked. When it comes to tradition in sports, I can never resist it.
As for the 2007 MLB season, in my opinion, it hasn't truly started until the first Yankees/BoSox series. Well, here it is. I hope all of you are ready for every single newscast to be flooded with stories, theories, and overanalyzation that you have never seen before.
As for my prediction (may I remind you, I am biased): I believe the Boston faithful will be seeing a lot of this tonight:
Enjoy. Go Yanks.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Broken bones
Next week, I will be finishing up the end of the Spring semester and staring graduation right in the face. Only a few classes and one more clinical rotation stand between me, my diploma, and a career I can't wait to start.
Over the past two and a half months, I have been training as an Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Nurse Practitioner. This is my sanctuary. It is my personal heaven. I always thought that whenever you find that proverbial "niche" that it was overrated. Well, I am always the first to admit when I have made a mistake and it is everything it is cracked up to be. EVERYTHING. Finding that confidence that sometimes feels so far in the distance is a feeling that can never be bought or imitated. I have learned more about my skills and my abilities at the Bone and Joint clinic than I have in the two years I have been at Vanderbilt.
There is just something about that patient contact and using all of those assessment skills that were beaten into my head over the course of a year and a half, and the skills to get a diagnosis correct, which will ultimately change lives of every patient you see. I have been amazed at how trusting people can be, but, also, how vulnerable they can be at the same time. Visiting an MD or an NP, an individual puts their trust and, ultimately, their lives into that healthcare professionals hands. To me, that is a lot of responsibility. And definitely something that I want to be prepared for.
S0, now that I have finished training as an Ortho/Sports Medicine NP, which will one day be my livelihood, I can't wait to see what the future holds for me. Now of course, I still have a lot of learning to do, but it is that excitement that I always dreamed about feeling and, well....it's finally here.
Over the past two and a half months, I have been training as an Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Nurse Practitioner. This is my sanctuary. It is my personal heaven. I always thought that whenever you find that proverbial "niche" that it was overrated. Well, I am always the first to admit when I have made a mistake and it is everything it is cracked up to be. EVERYTHING. Finding that confidence that sometimes feels so far in the distance is a feeling that can never be bought or imitated. I have learned more about my skills and my abilities at the Bone and Joint clinic than I have in the two years I have been at Vanderbilt.
There is just something about that patient contact and using all of those assessment skills that were beaten into my head over the course of a year and a half, and the skills to get a diagnosis correct, which will ultimately change lives of every patient you see. I have been amazed at how trusting people can be, but, also, how vulnerable they can be at the same time. Visiting an MD or an NP, an individual puts their trust and, ultimately, their lives into that healthcare professionals hands. To me, that is a lot of responsibility. And definitely something that I want to be prepared for.
S0, now that I have finished training as an Ortho/Sports Medicine NP, which will one day be my livelihood, I can't wait to see what the future holds for me. Now of course, I still have a lot of learning to do, but it is that excitement that I always dreamed about feeling and, well....it's finally here.
Anatomy of Grey's Anatomy
After what seems like a year and a half since the last Grey's episode, ABC finally provided us with the tv show that the majority of America is obsessed with (and, yes, that does include me). It baffles me how Americans are so enthralled with tv series and become rather anxious and frustrated with the various story lines within these "soap operas." For myself, as is true for many other individuals, i have at least one tv show per night that I would like to watch. Obsession? I think not. Addiction? I think so.
As for Grey's Anatomy, I am completely taken aback at the story lines that writers and producers come up with for this show. Unfortunately, during the course of this season, it has been considerably much more depressing than the previous two seasons. Now granted, there are those certain moments where I find myself laughing hyseterically, but overall, I usually feel angry or sad at the end of the hour-long episode. Don't get me wrong, I L.O.V.E Grey's Anatomy and that probably will never change because I'm a sucker for a medically based show (i.e. House, M.D.)..but would it kill the writers to have at least a couple of episodes with some light-hearted content and some goofy-ness that Americans originally fell in love with?
Let's be honest, the topics illustrated and portrayed within every episode are valid and realistic situations that happen every day at the hospital, within relationships, and within families. Now, I do believe that we all take certain things away from all of these tv series that we watch and stop our lives in order to catch an episode (oh wait....that was before DVR and TiVo. My bad.) There are those certain series that will stick with us for a lifetime, such as Friends or Seinfeld. Maybe Grey's Anatomy will become the series that will stick with me for my lifetime. In the meantime, myself as well as the rest of America will wonder who will be the next chief and how much money does ABC spend on the hair maintenance for McDreamy? (yes, i just called him McDreamy).
As for Grey's Anatomy, I am completely taken aback at the story lines that writers and producers come up with for this show. Unfortunately, during the course of this season, it has been considerably much more depressing than the previous two seasons. Now granted, there are those certain moments where I find myself laughing hyseterically, but overall, I usually feel angry or sad at the end of the hour-long episode. Don't get me wrong, I L.O.V.E Grey's Anatomy and that probably will never change because I'm a sucker for a medically based show (i.e. House, M.D.)..but would it kill the writers to have at least a couple of episodes with some light-hearted content and some goofy-ness that Americans originally fell in love with?
Let's be honest, the topics illustrated and portrayed within every episode are valid and realistic situations that happen every day at the hospital, within relationships, and within families. Now, I do believe that we all take certain things away from all of these tv series that we watch and stop our lives in order to catch an episode (oh wait....that was before DVR and TiVo. My bad.) There are those certain series that will stick with us for a lifetime, such as Friends or Seinfeld. Maybe Grey's Anatomy will become the series that will stick with me for my lifetime. In the meantime, myself as well as the rest of America will wonder who will be the next chief and how much money does ABC spend on the hair maintenance for McDreamy? (yes, i just called him McDreamy).
Hokie Nation
Over the past few days, I have been trying to make sense of the nonsense that is happening on our East coast. I am trying to come to grips with the mentality and the thoughts that were going through the mass murderer's head. Why? None of those college students, who were weeks from graduating, deserved to die at the hand of a mentally ill individual.
Working in a psychiatric hospital for one of my clinical rotations, I caught a glimpse of what a paranoid schizophrenic goes through on a minute by minute basis. They lose all control of their thoughts and, more importantly, the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. The rehabilitation process for these individuals is long, extensive, and intense. Due to the amount of patience and understanding needed by healthcare professionals specializing in the field of psychiatry, only certain people were hand-chosen by our good Lord to care of individuals dealing with psychiatric disorders and mental illnesses. However, in my opinion, the crimes committed by these individuals should never be overlooked or diluted due to their mental illness. They should receive treatment and continue to receive treatment until they are no longer deemed a threat to themselves or those around them. The actions of the mass murderer at VaTech are inexcusable.
I guess the hardest thing that I am trying to deal with is my valiant attempt to put myself in the shoes of those heroic and amazing individuals caught between the crosshairs at VaTech. I keep wondering what would my reaction be or what would my first thought be. What would I do once I realized what was happening and could this possibly be where my life comes to a dead end? Who would I miss the most and who would miss me? If I had a chance to call someone, what would I say? As I turn to every single newscast headlined by the massacre, there seems to be a new story about a student and his/her accomplishments and how their life was cut short. I can't help but wonder how those individuals' lives would have played out if they would have survived those gunshot wounds. But, in a split second, I realize that they are in a place that I only aspire to be in one day and their stories ended the way our amazing Author had written it.
The tragedy on April 16, 2007 will never be forgotten. The questions, assumptions, and theories will continue to be brought to the forefront. My prayers are sent to all of those young college students and their families and the hope that things will get better and this to shall pass. May God continue to look over all of those dealing with the Va Tech tragedy and to all of those individuals having to deal and cope with loss of a loved one.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11
Working in a psychiatric hospital for one of my clinical rotations, I caught a glimpse of what a paranoid schizophrenic goes through on a minute by minute basis. They lose all control of their thoughts and, more importantly, the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. The rehabilitation process for these individuals is long, extensive, and intense. Due to the amount of patience and understanding needed by healthcare professionals specializing in the field of psychiatry, only certain people were hand-chosen by our good Lord to care of individuals dealing with psychiatric disorders and mental illnesses. However, in my opinion, the crimes committed by these individuals should never be overlooked or diluted due to their mental illness. They should receive treatment and continue to receive treatment until they are no longer deemed a threat to themselves or those around them. The actions of the mass murderer at VaTech are inexcusable.
I guess the hardest thing that I am trying to deal with is my valiant attempt to put myself in the shoes of those heroic and amazing individuals caught between the crosshairs at VaTech. I keep wondering what would my reaction be or what would my first thought be. What would I do once I realized what was happening and could this possibly be where my life comes to a dead end? Who would I miss the most and who would miss me? If I had a chance to call someone, what would I say? As I turn to every single newscast headlined by the massacre, there seems to be a new story about a student and his/her accomplishments and how their life was cut short. I can't help but wonder how those individuals' lives would have played out if they would have survived those gunshot wounds. But, in a split second, I realize that they are in a place that I only aspire to be in one day and their stories ended the way our amazing Author had written it.
The tragedy on April 16, 2007 will never be forgotten. The questions, assumptions, and theories will continue to be brought to the forefront. My prayers are sent to all of those young college students and their families and the hope that things will get better and this to shall pass. May God continue to look over all of those dealing with the Va Tech tragedy and to all of those individuals having to deal and cope with loss of a loved one.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11
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