As a medical student, what is the most precious thing you own? Is it your iPod? Perhaps your laptop? Well, for me it is my notes. I once tried to take my notes electronically, but found that it just wasn’t as nice as having printouts, with handwritten notes, that I could flip through at any second. So, I print out all my lectures and take my notes directly on them. I have acquired about a five-inch stack of notes during the first five weeks of this semester. I keep them nicely organized by subject, date and lecture in my trusty binders, which I carry around in my backpack.
Last night I made a mistake that I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for. I went to a local tiki bar to have a few drinks. I just so happened to bring my backpack, because I had been studying my notes earlier. I have a huge exam coming up in three days, and I don’t usually drink this close to an exam, but the whole town had lost electricity, and I just couldn’t bring myself to study in the 93-degree heat. So, against my better judgment, I gave up and decided to head to a bar where they had a backup generator.
Sometime during the evening, while I was busy enjoying myself, someone ran up to the bar and stole my backpack. I must admit that since I had a bunch of groceries and other items with me when I left the bar, I forgot that I had brought my backpack with me (because I usually don’t carry it when I go out).
This morning, I woke up and immediately went looking for my backpack so I could resume my study marathon. When I realized that it was missing, I literally felt like I was going to lose my mind. To make a long and dreadful story short, I spent the entire morning questioning everyone, searching dumpsters, and walking down back alleys, desperately trying to find my backpack.
I know that it seems like such an insignificant thing to freak out about, when there are so many more tragic things happening in the world. But this morning, my world was completely shattered. How would I study for my upcoming exam without my notes?! All I could think about was how badly I was going to fail my exam. I actually broke down and started crying as the situation was beginning to look hopeless.
My last resort (in retrospect, it should have been my first) was to contact campus security and report the theft to them. When the security guard replied, “Was it a pink backpack?” I almost collapsed on the spot. Apparently, they had found my backpack the night before in an alley. They handed it over to me, and I quickly searched it to find out what was missing. Someone had stolen my camera, cell phone, and about $200, but my notes were all still in the bag, perfectly intact.
At this point, I couldn’t care less about the stolen items. I was just so relieved to have my notes back, that I was literally shaking as I walked home. It might seem like a trivial event to most people, but I take my studying very seriously. I realized that my notes are definitely the most precious physical item that I own. I will never again let my backpack out of my sight. Unfortunately, I had to learn this valuable lesson the painful way.
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My name is Kendra and I am a fourth-year medical student attending Ross University School of Medicine. I went through my basic science training on the Nature Island of Dominica, hence the name of this blog. However, I am currently living in Brooklyn, New York, where I'm completing my clinical rotations. I am a life enthusiast. I talk to strangers, cut the tags off of my pillows, and I don’t carry an umbrella with me because I prefer to get wet.