So the Behavioural Science Week is officially over - much to the relief of most of my coursemates ( including my housemates). I, on the contrary, wish that it didn't end that fast, simply because I find it not as demanding compared to other weeks. What we learn in Behavioural Science week is mostly to do with logic and common sense. Well, we actually still have to study for the lectures, but I notice that everyone seems to be somewhat more concerned about the hard sciences part of medicine. People still carry the Marieb book around even though it is not one of the recommended books for this 2 weeks.
People are already stressing out about the upcoming summative assessment at the end of next month even though it is only an assessment. Everywhere I go, I see people study and study, and I've to admit that at times it stresses me out too. It makes me feel like I'm one of the laziest people in my class even though I try to stay up at night.
Back to the Behavioural Science Week, my patient interview was held yesterday. As I mentioned previously, it is also being assessed and contributes 2% of our total grades. I think mine went on ok. I was rather nervous at first, and was in a disarray. However, I went in and just strutted my stuff, doing the necessary introduction ( asking for name, age, occupation, etc.) and starting up a bit of a casual chat before I proceeded on to the actual part, which was to ask the patient about his problem. (It was a male patient btw). He was suffering from knee pain. I asked all the necessary questions like how long had it been going on for, have you done anything about it, what do you think might have caused it, can you describe the pain for me, does it cause you any problems, do you have any worries, etc. I am grateful that I got Paul Jambu as the assessing lecturer. He is one of the more lenient ones in marking among the 6 Behavioural Science lecturers.
Hera Lukman on the other hand, one of my housemates got her as the assessing lecturer, and apparently she is very strict in marking. Unlike the other lecturers, she looks at whether the student is successful in building rapport with the patient, and not just whether the student has managed to ask all the necessary questions.
My groupmates, who as I mentioned earlier are all Malays, are great people. Now, I'm glad that I got put into the same group as them. Maybe it's God's way of telling me that I need to open myself up more to these people as well.
Yeah, I guess that sort of wraps up my Behavioural Sciences week report- it's back to normal again next week, and back to the daily grind of reading lecture notes AND the Marieb book and looking at everyone around me working like mad and feeling lazy and inadequate again.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Behavioural Sciences Week Part 1
So we are halfway through our intensive 2 week course on the Behavioural Sciences.
The Behavioural Science week is a refreshing change from the Biological Sciences that we are used to learning. If before, we learn about the Kreb's Cycle and various other metabolic reactions occuring in the body as well as the structure and functions of the various organs in our body, this week, we study about the behavioural aspect of medicine.
We were exposed to more psychological stuff this week, for example pain, motivation, becoming ill, reacting towards illness, ageing, the various theories of learning, personality, etc.
Dr.Hera Lukman was lecturing us today! I had been looking forward to seeing her, as I had heard quite a lot of positive things being mentioned about her from our seniors as well as batchmates who had been her PBL mentees. I always thought that I could differentiate between a British and an American accent, that is until I met her. During her introduction, she mentioned that she had a complex background, and she had been to many different countries around the world. Most recently, she had just returned from a 3 week trip to the US. She talks without fullstops, lol! But she's a great lecturer, she has this charisma about her as she teaches. When I checked for feedback from my friends, they all liked her a lot.
Also, we get to learn how to interact with our patients and how exactly to go about conducting a patient interview. We were divided into groups of 4-5 people, and horror of all horrors, I had to be randomly appointed as my group leader. And furthermore, my groupmates were all Malays, whom I never really got to know before ( ever though they are my batchmates).
We learnt exactly what type of questions to ask the patient, how to built rapport with the patient, etc. My group had our interview practice session last week. It was fun, we took turns to be the patient and the doctor. Being the group leader, I was the very first person to act as the doctor. The feedback from the factilitator about my attempt was positive, to my delight.
Next week would be the real thing, when our interview sessions with our stimulated patients would be recorded and then assessed. It's quite scary actually, for a first-timer, but with some practice, hopefully everything will be fine. Also, as a group leader, I am supposed to know how to operate the video camera, something which I have never even laid a hand on before.
To summarize, the Behavioural Science week is to make sure that we become all-rounded doctors in the future, being able to be caring and compassionate towards our patients and understanding towards their needs, instead of just being machines giving out medicine. Because there is more to medicine and being a doctor then just curing the patient.
At the end of next week, I'll update you guys with the occurings of the second half of the Behavioural Science week.
The Behavioural Science week is a refreshing change from the Biological Sciences that we are used to learning. If before, we learn about the Kreb's Cycle and various other metabolic reactions occuring in the body as well as the structure and functions of the various organs in our body, this week, we study about the behavioural aspect of medicine.
We were exposed to more psychological stuff this week, for example pain, motivation, becoming ill, reacting towards illness, ageing, the various theories of learning, personality, etc.
Dr.Hera Lukman was lecturing us today! I had been looking forward to seeing her, as I had heard quite a lot of positive things being mentioned about her from our seniors as well as batchmates who had been her PBL mentees. I always thought that I could differentiate between a British and an American accent, that is until I met her. During her introduction, she mentioned that she had a complex background, and she had been to many different countries around the world. Most recently, she had just returned from a 3 week trip to the US. She talks without fullstops, lol! But she's a great lecturer, she has this charisma about her as she teaches. When I checked for feedback from my friends, they all liked her a lot.
Also, we get to learn how to interact with our patients and how exactly to go about conducting a patient interview. We were divided into groups of 4-5 people, and horror of all horrors, I had to be randomly appointed as my group leader. And furthermore, my groupmates were all Malays, whom I never really got to know before ( ever though they are my batchmates).
We learnt exactly what type of questions to ask the patient, how to built rapport with the patient, etc. My group had our interview practice session last week. It was fun, we took turns to be the patient and the doctor. Being the group leader, I was the very first person to act as the doctor. The feedback from the factilitator about my attempt was positive, to my delight.
Next week would be the real thing, when our interview sessions with our stimulated patients would be recorded and then assessed. It's quite scary actually, for a first-timer, but with some practice, hopefully everything will be fine. Also, as a group leader, I am supposed to know how to operate the video camera, something which I have never even laid a hand on before.
To summarize, the Behavioural Science week is to make sure that we become all-rounded doctors in the future, being able to be caring and compassionate towards our patients and understanding towards their needs, instead of just being machines giving out medicine. Because there is more to medicine and being a doctor then just curing the patient.
At the end of next week, I'll update you guys with the occurings of the second half of the Behavioural Science week.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
My very first attempt in.....
My very first attempt in......
Worship leading.
Yeah, that's right. ;) You haven't read it wrong.
It all started when I was in my bedroom, having just arrived back in my condo after the one week break. As you can imagine, I wasn't in my best mood then. I was 'mourning' over the end of the holidays. How I wish we had at least ONE more day of this precious break. But of course I just had to begrudgingly accept the fact that there is little I could do about it, except prepare myself for a fresh new start for the next phase of semester 1 in IMU.
I was noncholantly unpacking my luggage when Enrique Igleasieas's 'Hero' filled the airspace of my bedroom. I reached out for the culprit- my brand new Nokia 6680.
It was Joanne, the Christian Fellowship cell group leader for us Semester 1 students. (She's a semester 5 student)
'Ailing, do you know who in the cell group knows how to play the guitar? I've lost the list of people who are able to play the instrument, being the absent-minded person that I am'.
'Uhhh...I don't know' came the honest reply.
'Do you know how to play the guitar?'
'No- but I might be able to lead worship...'
'Yeah, I remember I saw from the list that a whole lot of you are willing to do worship leading'
Then suddenly she asked ' Do you want to lead worship for the Cell Group in 2 week's time? Next week Pei Shern would be leading but you can do the week after next.'
'But I do not know how to play the guitar'
'Never mind, I'll get someone to play the guitar.'
Hmmm......is this what you call 'God's calling?'
I didn't take long to contemplate, accepting the offer almost immediately. Being in control of the choice of songs that we would be singing in the next cell group meeting doesn't seem like such a bad idea at all.
During the following cell group, Joanne borrowed me her entire book of worship songs. Needless to say, I was spoilt for choice! I could recognize many songs, and I found myself uttering ' Oh, I love this song' 'Oh I love this song too' numerous times.
Finally, after some deliberation, I managed to narrow down the song choices to 3 songs 'I Could Sing of Your Love Forever' 'God Will Make A Way' and 'Above All'
I didn't even get to practice with Eunice, who was supposed to play the guitar, because she didn't have one.
^ ^ ^
Finally, the moment arrived. The Seminar Room which Joanne booked for the first time, ever since we finally acknowledged that the group was too large to be accommodated in a small PBL room, was already filled with people.
Horror of all horrors. There was NO guitar after all. We were going to be singing without any accompanying music. It's all going to be based on our voices alone. Any flaws in our singing would be exaggerated.
Silence. It was time to begin. After the opening prayer, I suddenly found all eyes focused on me I shuffled my feet and wringed my hands, unaccustomed to this type of attention on myself.
I introduced the first song ' I could sing of your love' as a very significant song for me, because it was the theme song for the very first Easter Conference I had ever attended, where I accepted Christ.
My groupmates all knew the song, much to my delight. Soon, our voices were singing in harmony to the song. It was just pure singing to the Lord, without any backgroud music whatsforever. It was the same for the second song ' God Will Make A Way'.
As I was introducing the third song ' Above All', Sarah suddenly had something to say.
'Guys, I know that it's a bit weird without any guitar accompaniment, but let's just sing our hearts out to the Lord. Because he looks into our hearts.' she pointed out.
And so the harmonious melody of 'Above All' began filling the room. Never before had I heard the song being sung so beautifully.
At the end of the day, I know that it's not how well we sang the songs, but whether our hearts and souls are really into the worship that counts. Because God looks into our hearts.
Worship leading.
Yeah, that's right. ;) You haven't read it wrong.
It all started when I was in my bedroom, having just arrived back in my condo after the one week break. As you can imagine, I wasn't in my best mood then. I was 'mourning' over the end of the holidays. How I wish we had at least ONE more day of this precious break. But of course I just had to begrudgingly accept the fact that there is little I could do about it, except prepare myself for a fresh new start for the next phase of semester 1 in IMU.
I was noncholantly unpacking my luggage when Enrique Igleasieas's 'Hero' filled the airspace of my bedroom. I reached out for the culprit- my brand new Nokia 6680.
It was Joanne, the Christian Fellowship cell group leader for us Semester 1 students. (She's a semester 5 student)
'Ailing, do you know who in the cell group knows how to play the guitar? I've lost the list of people who are able to play the instrument, being the absent-minded person that I am'.
'Uhhh...I don't know' came the honest reply.
'Do you know how to play the guitar?'
'No- but I might be able to lead worship...'
'Yeah, I remember I saw from the list that a whole lot of you are willing to do worship leading'
Then suddenly she asked ' Do you want to lead worship for the Cell Group in 2 week's time? Next week Pei Shern would be leading but you can do the week after next.'
'But I do not know how to play the guitar'
'Never mind, I'll get someone to play the guitar.'
Hmmm......is this what you call 'God's calling?'
I didn't take long to contemplate, accepting the offer almost immediately. Being in control of the choice of songs that we would be singing in the next cell group meeting doesn't seem like such a bad idea at all.
During the following cell group, Joanne borrowed me her entire book of worship songs. Needless to say, I was spoilt for choice! I could recognize many songs, and I found myself uttering ' Oh, I love this song' 'Oh I love this song too' numerous times.
Finally, after some deliberation, I managed to narrow down the song choices to 3 songs 'I Could Sing of Your Love Forever' 'God Will Make A Way' and 'Above All'
I didn't even get to practice with Eunice, who was supposed to play the guitar, because she didn't have one.
^ ^ ^
Finally, the moment arrived. The Seminar Room which Joanne booked for the first time, ever since we finally acknowledged that the group was too large to be accommodated in a small PBL room, was already filled with people.
Horror of all horrors. There was NO guitar after all. We were going to be singing without any accompanying music. It's all going to be based on our voices alone. Any flaws in our singing would be exaggerated.
Silence. It was time to begin. After the opening prayer, I suddenly found all eyes focused on me I shuffled my feet and wringed my hands, unaccustomed to this type of attention on myself.
I introduced the first song ' I could sing of your love' as a very significant song for me, because it was the theme song for the very first Easter Conference I had ever attended, where I accepted Christ.
My groupmates all knew the song, much to my delight. Soon, our voices were singing in harmony to the song. It was just pure singing to the Lord, without any backgroud music whatsforever. It was the same for the second song ' God Will Make A Way'.
As I was introducing the third song ' Above All', Sarah suddenly had something to say.
'Guys, I know that it's a bit weird without any guitar accompaniment, but let's just sing our hearts out to the Lord. Because he looks into our hearts.' she pointed out.
And so the harmonious melody of 'Above All' began filling the room. Never before had I heard the song being sung so beautifully.
At the end of the day, I know that it's not how well we sang the songs, but whether our hearts and souls are really into the worship that counts. Because God looks into our hearts.
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Back to school
This will be a short and spontaneous one, as I need to be studying again after this. It's just the same old thing day after day - having lectures very early in the morning, then reading up on the lectures. Sometimes, just by looking at our timetables, it's hard to believe that we are medic students. We have the entire afternoon to ourselves. However, this can be rather deceptive. Those who aren't motivated might use the free time to go shopping etc. But in actual fact, for each lecture we have plenty of stuff to read up on. Sometimes I can barely finish reading up on today's lecture before yet another day of lectures begin.
And I am beginning to feel a bit stressed out now. I think it's only me, but all my batchmates are still in a jolly mood. I just don't want to fail again. I know what it's like to fail , to go through the pain and depression of failing despite your uttermost efforts......it's very discouraging. And ppl around me are studying constantly everyday. That's why I seldom visit the library. I don't know why, but just the mere sight of students studying all around me is enough to drive me crazy. I am a night person. So I stay up late at night ( and catch only a few hours sleep as a result) and so I nap in the afternoon. Well, different people have different methods of studying right? But yeah, I just don't feel as confident about my studies as I used to when I was in primary/secondary school. What if everyone does well in the upcoming summative assessment ( on 22nd December) except me? It would be like the same thing happening to me all over again. No!!! Looks like I'll need to pray to God, asking Him to give me the confidence that I need.
The one week DeepaRaya break has come and gone by so fast, too fast for my liking. We need a longer break, damnit, so that we can catch up with all the lectures that we hadn't manage to catch up on, and at the same time having a good relaxing time with our families, friends and relatives.
Speaking of relatives, I managed to meet up with all my aunties and uncles and some of my cousins during the holiday. My mum and all her siblings went back to Sibu to tend to their mother's grave. Some of them, like auntie Julianna, I haven't seen for as long as 10 years! And it was great to meet some of my cousins as well. Carol still gives off some tomboyish vibes, but she's cool. The person who surprised me the most was Wan Cjing, auntie Betty's daughter. It has been more than 7 years since I last saw her, and boy has she changed a lot! Behaviour wise, I mean. Now helping out in her mother's shop, she has grown up to become a strong, independent woman, with great communication skills. And one thing I like about her is that she lives her own life.
'I don't care what people think about me- whether people say I'm fat- as long as I'm happy with myself and who I am' she says. And I say, good for her.
And I am beginning to feel a bit stressed out now. I think it's only me, but all my batchmates are still in a jolly mood. I just don't want to fail again. I know what it's like to fail , to go through the pain and depression of failing despite your uttermost efforts......it's very discouraging. And ppl around me are studying constantly everyday. That's why I seldom visit the library. I don't know why, but just the mere sight of students studying all around me is enough to drive me crazy. I am a night person. So I stay up late at night ( and catch only a few hours sleep as a result) and so I nap in the afternoon. Well, different people have different methods of studying right? But yeah, I just don't feel as confident about my studies as I used to when I was in primary/secondary school. What if everyone does well in the upcoming summative assessment ( on 22nd December) except me? It would be like the same thing happening to me all over again. No!!! Looks like I'll need to pray to God, asking Him to give me the confidence that I need.
The one week DeepaRaya break has come and gone by so fast, too fast for my liking. We need a longer break, damnit, so that we can catch up with all the lectures that we hadn't manage to catch up on, and at the same time having a good relaxing time with our families, friends and relatives.
Speaking of relatives, I managed to meet up with all my aunties and uncles and some of my cousins during the holiday. My mum and all her siblings went back to Sibu to tend to their mother's grave. Some of them, like auntie Julianna, I haven't seen for as long as 10 years! And it was great to meet some of my cousins as well. Carol still gives off some tomboyish vibes, but she's cool. The person who surprised me the most was Wan Cjing, auntie Betty's daughter. It has been more than 7 years since I last saw her, and boy has she changed a lot! Behaviour wise, I mean. Now helping out in her mother's shop, she has grown up to become a strong, independent woman, with great communication skills. And one thing I like about her is that she lives her own life.
'I don't care what people think about me- whether people say I'm fat- as long as I'm happy with myself and who I am' she says. And I say, good for her.
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