Island Med Student

Thanks to Doc Cartoon for allowing me to post her work!

That’s what’s been going on in da life of Kendra. I’m STILL recovering from a cold, but feeling better. I went out on Wednesday to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and had a blast. I received my “real” medical diploma in the mail on Thursday. Hopefully, I will be able to get it framed soon, before I spill coffee all over it.

Other than that, not a whole heck of a lot to say.

My apologies, readers, but being a bum just doesn’t stimulate me to write. But I promise to write some “real good” stuff soon. Promise. In the meantime, please enjoy these crappy iPhone pics.

1) A mural in Astoria, New York.
2) and 3) Cinco de Mayo fun.
4) My 100% legit medical diploma. Booyakasha!

My editor on Medscape just surprised me with the absolute COOLEST entry, ever. I was so excited by this post, that it caused me to have goosebumps, and it brought the hugest grin to my face. How. Very. Awesome!

Click Here To View the Entry

Oh my little blog, how I have missed you. I am a very strange gal. You probably already knew that. I have had (another!!) cold for the past few days and with the coughing and sniffling and cold meds, I’ve been a little whacked out. One would think that with me having absolutely nothing to do all day long, I’d be mad blogging every day. But it turns out to be quite the opposite. I seem to blog MORE when I am super busy, and less so when I’m bored. Perhaps it’s because I really don’t have much to say. And yes, that’s the case right now.

So, today has been very nice. I went for a long run in the park with my doggies and then came home to find my diploma in the mail! Okay, don’t get too excited…it’s not the REAL one, it’s just a certified copy (I needed it for my residency program…and yes, for those of you detail oriented folks, I graduated with a very high GPA…summa cum laude…aka “with highest honors”). But my real one is in the mail, and according to the USPS website, it should be here tomorrow! I feel like I keep giving you all “almost” photos…me in my graduation garb, but not at graduation…a photo of my diploma, but not the real one. Anyway, the “real” photos are soon to follow. I promise.

After my run I made a smoothie and then took a bubble bath. I then packed up my picnic gear and headed again to the park, and again with my doggies. I basked in the sun (for probably too long) in my bikini and finished the book I’ve been reading (more on that soon) about a doctor’s experiences in her medicine residency.

None of this is very exciting, and I realize that. But I honestly I just don’t have anything else cooler to share with you, world!

In other news, I’ve been trying to come up with fun and creative ways to make money (I am 100% broke), but have so far only managed to make a meager amount. It’s amazing how unemployable I am. I’m overqualified for most things, and underqualified for most things. How lusciously and cruelly ironic! If anyone out there has any recommendations on how to make one million dollars (or $100) in one month’s time, I’d love to hear them!

Check out my LAST post on Medscape (for med school, that is!) to read my reflections on the past four years.

Click Here To View the Entry

Yesterday, I received my cap, gown, tassels, and stole thingy for graduation. I tried them on and realized that I look like a chess piece in the doctorate hat! Also, the stole thingy is blowing my mind. I can’t figure out how the damn thing is supposed to fit on my body. I even googled images of other people wearing it, and had two of my (non-medical) friends try to figure it out. I have this strange feeling that it’s perhaps the last test that I have to take before I become a real doctor. If I can figure out the stole, I have what it takes to be a doctor. If not, well, then maybe I shouldn’t have gone to med school!

Let’s hope that I figure it out.

Also, I have officially graduated in the eyes of my medical school. They sent me an email today notifying me and letting me know that my diploma will be mailed shortly.

Here is the end of the email:

Dear Dr. Campbell,

Congratulations on your completion of medical school at RUSM and good luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Office of the Registrar
Ross University

Pretty cool, hey?!

Check out my post on Medscape to read about how med school requires understanding the art of time management.

Click Here To View the Entry

I love you all…THANK YOU!

Click Here to View the Pics

Some of you might be sick of hearing me go on and on about how grateful I am to all of my friends, family, and Internet buddies. Well, suck it up, because I’m not finished yet.

Check out the above photo! How cool is that?! That was sent to me by Elizabeth, a wonderful fellow Rossie who took time out of her busy day studying in Dominica to drink a dedicated coconut in my name!

I have received wonderfully thoughtful donations from many folks. I’ve received countless emails and comments from people all over the world. That makes me one lucky gal, indeed!

Anyway, I just wanted to again express my gratitude to all of you! I had to delay my celebratory oysters for a few days, due to lack of funds (takes time to transfer the donations) and my partner Micah being sick. But the transfers have gone through and Micah is feeling much better, so I will hopefully be going out to my favorite oyster bar tonight to enjoy the fruits (oyster meat!) of my four years of labor in medical school.

The second photo was sent to me by my sister. Isn’t that one sexy doggy?!

I wanted to again thank everyone for their good wishes on my new doctorhood! Really, it means so much to me to hear from everyone. I also appreciate all the feedback, emails, and comments over the years. I really owe my family, friends, and readers of this blog for making it through the four years of med school!

I have received several very thoughtful donations, and I will be publishing the comments and photos as soon as I get a chance.

I also wanted to reply to a few people who commented negatively on my last post. I’m sorry if you were offended! I simply thought it would be a fun idea to ask for $1 from any reader who might be so inclined. Honestly, I would donate $1 to many of the bloggers who I enjoy reading! Maybe some people thought it’s silly for a “rich doctor” to be asking for money. Well, let me tell you that I am NOT a rich doctor. Actually, I have over $300,000 worth of student loan debt! I also have only a few dollars to my name. I’m going to try and see if I can get some sort of job for the next month or two, but I have been unable to work throughout med school. I actually would have loved to work during med school, and maybe could have pulled it off had it not been for the strange hours I spend at the hospital. My schedule is constantly changing, and that certainly makes it near impossible to work a job at the same time.

Anyway, to you readers who were offended, I’m sorry you felt that way! My intentions were benign, I can assure you. And I was by no means demanding that anyone make a donation! I simply was suggesting that it might be nice. (Kind of like when you visit some museums.) Also, the comments did hurt my feelings. I did publish them. It’s difficult for people who do not share their personal thoughts and experiences with the world to understand what it exactly entails. I receive many nice comments and emails, but I also receive mean ones as well. It’s part and parcel of having a blog. I could just NOT share everything with the world, but in all honesty I do it because it really helps me, and it seems to actually help a lot of other people as well! I have received literally thousands of emails from people thanking me for writing this blog, and sharing my experiences with them. And that makes the negative comments and emails sting a little less.

So, what does it feel like to be a doctor? Honestly, it feels about the same so far as it did to be a med student! I have started filling out forms, which require me to put “MD” in the title, and that is a bit strange. I also realized that I will never again need my short white med student coat. I wonder what I shall do with it?

In other news, I will be continuing to write on this blog for a while (even though I am no longer a med student). And yes, I will soon be unveiling a new blog, dedicated to my life in residency! I will also start writing a new residency column for Medscape. So, you have not heard the last from me!

And thanks again to all of you wonderful folks out there. You really are amazing!

Photos: I didn’t have any “new” photos to post, so I posted some old ones. VERY old ones…of me as a child and my family. Love you mom and dad!