Summer and the Start of the 2nd Year of Medical School
Wow! Is it already Fall? Seems like just yesterday I was wrapping up and getting ready to enjoy the summer. Where has the time gone? What a weird period we are in. 2020 sure is something… lol Let’s recap what I have been up to since I last channeled my thoughts?
Early Summer
Moments from touchdown at Sky Harbor in Phoenix, AZ
After finishing up the 1st year of medical school, I spent the first week of summer wrapping up some errands and getting ready to brave the wild pandemic and head back home to spend time with family and friends back in AZ. Not too much later I was getting ready to touchdown in Phoenix.
Tiffany and I in AZ for Summer 2020
I started out the summer enjoying some rest and relaxation, getting some pool time, and taking in the heat all the while trying to stay safe during this risky period. Because I was staying with my parents, I got some much-missed quality time with everyone. Making sure I wasn’t slacking as it came to my physical fitness, my dad was able to take me out for a killer bike ride which totally kicked my but. While slowing down was worth it, I did feel the itch to get going again. I spent some time reviewing notes and I had asked my mother, an optometrist, if she had any patient cases we could write up. Lucky enough she happened to have one in mind. My mother, sister, girlfriend, and I got to work and were able to get things rolling.
My girlfriend, Tiffany, was able to make her way out for a visit during my time in AZ and we had such a splendid adventure! We enjoyed some tasty vegan treats at Pomegranate Café as well as what might have been the best vegan ice cream I have ever had at Nami . Besides for tasty treats, we were also able to spend some time by the pool and get out for some hiking before she headed back south.
Late Summer
Before you know it, summer was halfway gone! Of course, I brought my camera with me to AZ and with the little bit of extra time I had I was able to channel my creative side. I took a friend on down to Tempe Town Lake right around sunset where we were able to capture some INCREDIBLE shots. The light was just right, the sky had the right amount of cloud cover and the colors were loud!
Check out more of the shots from this shoot here!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=desimonestudios&set=a.1224298151249665
Also did some stargazing and took a few long exposure shots. Not to mention my mother and I went on a night hike for the new moon and had some fun striking a pose.
Not to long after the 4th of July and after a night time hot tub session, or two, it was time to say my goodbyes to my friends, family and the valley of the sun to head back to Dothan and start getting ready for the semester.
Lucky for Tiffany and I, a close friend of ours from school was getting married in TN so we got a wonderful excuse to take another trip to check out the wedding and do some sight seeing along the way. The wedding was gorgeous, and we could not be happier for our friends!
Finishing off the summer, Tiffany and I spent some time taking care of our plant children by re-potting everyone!
Oh, and don’t let me forget. Remember that case report that I was talking about earlier? Well we finished it up and got published via the Cureus Journal of Medical Science! Check it out on PubMed here! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32923209/
Also, check out a bunch of other Summer Pics that did not make it into the blog post here!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=desimonestudios&set=a.1232223527123794
Beginning of Medical School Year 2
The beginning of 2nd year hit differently! Seeing the new 1st years move in really put everything into perspective. We hit the ground running with Cardio. In addition, I was fortunate to have been selected to be a Clinical Skills Teaching Assistant and a House Leader which means that I get to mentor and teach new students in much more of an active role. Something that I have utterly enjoyed thus far! After a couple of weeks into the semester, it was time to celebrate a birthday of one of our friends. We ended up going for a little stroll through the Dothan Nursery, a LOVELY hometown garden center and Tiffany and I couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the excitement by leaving with a couple more plants!
A couple more birthdays, Tiffany and I’s 1yr anniversary celebration, a trip down to St. Petersburg, FL, a few Cardio exams and a hurricane later and I guess summer is officially over.
I guess maybe a little bit of a lot actually did happen lol. As always, stay tuned as the odyssey will continue!
Thanks for stopping by!
