Second year Biomedical Science - Catch up!

Hello,

5:55pm

BTW this post is going to be a long one, so go grab a cuppa (lets catch up).
 

I was going to post the day 2 details of the first aid (previous post) but decided since the two days were quiet similar, I'd spare you the boredom. 

So YEAH I started my second year, it's going quiet well actually. I have uni for only 3 days, can we just have a "oooooooo" everybody say ooooooo (sorry I'm just a little excited). I actually had a great 6 month break but it was going on for toooo long. I'm back and I'm ready to hunt for the 70-90% (أنشالله - God willing). 

This year I'm aiming for a 1st class or a minimum of 2.1 (inshallah) just incase your wondering in my FIRST YEAR I got a 2.1 that's 66% 4 more % and I could have had my FIRST CLASS HONOUR(58% for Biochemistry, 48% for Physiology, 83% for lab skills and 75% for immunology).
 

There are 4 modules this year, they include; 

- Medical Microbiology and Immunology (BMS3403
- Approach to experimental research (BIO2003)
- Clinical Science (BMS2513)
- Molecular and Metabolic biochemistry (BMS2113)

*I will refer to each module by its code. And when I say formative I mean practice sort of coursework and summative is the actual coursework.

My first semester is coming to an end, hopefully from now on I will update you guys frequently ( will try anyways).

I am actually enjoying university a lot more than last year. Firstly, I am working harder, secondly I am working a lot harder. I really hope my hard work pays off though.

DEADLINES:
- BMS2113 - Formative Lab practical worksheet 1 - DONE
                    - Formative Critical review - DONE (submitted today)
                    - Online test on Semester 1 (molecular) - 14th December
                    - Summative critical review - 22nd February
                    - Mock exam - 4th March
                    - Lab practical worksheets - 22nd March
                    - Unseen EXAM!!! - date to be confirmed

- BMS3403 - Online quiz - 13th January
                    - Formative Case study - 24th February
                    - Summative case study 1 & 2 - 24th March
                    -  Formative Microbiology Lab report - 24th March
                    - Summative Microbiology Lab report - 7th April
                    - Unseen EXAM!!! - date to be confirmed
               
- BIO2003 - Data analysis 1 - 23rd February

                  - Formative worksheets - 23rd March

                  - Data analysis 2 - 6th May

                  - Literature review and project proposal - 6th May

 

- BMS2513 - Problem solving assignment - 25th March

                    - Unseen EXAM!!! - date to be confirmed

 

I've started working on the data analysis 1 but since I don't have the Minitab software I  cant produce the graphs and the stats until Tuesday (Mondays are my days off).

 

Last night I started working on the lab practical worksheets, going to continue later on. If I forget to update to guys on marks I have gotten on coursework or exams do remind me in the comments section.

 

Hopefully blogging my every move (uni work move) it will help me keep on top of deadlines.

 

I have seriously been enjoying my labs so far for Molecular and Metabolic biochemistry, we've had a lab on DNA extraction, PCR and Gel electrophoresis and the last lab we had 2 weeks ago was the DNA fingerprinting it was sooooo much fun (inner nerd speaking here). We got given a sample of DNA from a crime scene and 5 suspect samples. We made the gels and loaded them with all the samples (experiment nearly went wrong due to first sample not being loaded properly) but luckily our teacher and technician saved our work. We took a picture of the gels and DNA fragment bands and we figured out that suspect 3 was the culprit, had to work in groups of 4 only knew 1 of the girls, there was this ANNOYING dude working with us, GOSH! never again! (here's being hopeful).

 

Can you believe we've had lectures and seminars for half of the Molecular and Metabolic Biochemistry module ( the molecular section, I can start revising for) still haven't completed my notes yet, since I was busy with the formative critical review ( which isn't assessed but by doing it we get an addition 3% for the module) YAY or NAY? Lets use the Tesco reference here "every little helps" :)

 

This week we started BMS2513 and the module leader looks like her:

 

 

 

 

 

Her voice is actually so calming its refreshing, she seems cool and the module seems very interesting.

 

I think that's enough for today.

 

DR wannabe  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work experience - Mental Health First Aid 2 Day Training

Hello! 

It's Thursday the 21st of August 21:23

Day 1 of the Mental health first aid training was today and it was AWESOME! Maybe a little long (9:30am to 5pm). 

I woke up pretty late, but still made it on time الحمد لله (thank God), I hate being late, too much awkwardness. 

The training day 1 was made up of two 3.5hours sessions. The first half they spent most of it introducing what mental health actually is by making us do brainstorming activities with different people. Once we did that we talked about clinical depression, the facts, the information and also the signs & symptoms. 

Definition: Clinical Depression: is one that lasts for at least two weeks and affects the young persons behaviour and has physical, emotional and cognitive effects. 

It also interferes with the ability to study, work and to have satisfying relationships. 

Natural brain chemicals called neurotransmitter, are thought to be the cause of depression and it's symptoms. These chemicals are messengers. The chemicals travel from nerve cell to nerve cell in the brain. When the person is depressed, their brain has less of these chemicals. The main chemical messenger in the brain which controls mood is, serotonin.

There are A LOT of different causes for depression, such as, exposure to family or community violence, death of someone close, or even just caring full-time for someone with a long-term disability. 

The interesting part was the stories different people had to say about their experiences. I would share them with you, but since I'm aiming to become a doctor, I need to practice patient confidentiality. 

First aid for depression:

1. Ask, assess, act

2. Listen non-judgementally

3. Give reassurance and information

4. Enable the person to get appropriate professional hell

5. Encourage self help strategies 

There are a number of useful places to seek help for a person who might be depressed or suffering from anxiety. 

- Your GP

- Psychiatrist

- Councellors and clinical psychologist

- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

- Interperosnal psychotherapy (IP) 

- Psychotherapist

- CAMHS, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service. 

Anxiety

Firstly, we learnt the different types if anxiety, anxiety disorder and normal anxiety. Normal anxiety is the day to day anxiety everyone feels just before an exam etc. These causes never lead to panic attacks, whereas anxiety disorder lasts longer than usual and can eventually lead to panic attacks because it is more server and it also interferes with school, work and relationships. 

Examples of anxiety disorders include: 

- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) 

- Panic disorders 

- Phobias 

- Social Phobias 

- Seperation anxiety disorder

- Actute stress disorder and list-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

- Obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD) 

You can also find people with both anxiety and depression. Some people might need mediciations, whilst others need a councillor or psychiatrist. To each their own. 

At the end of the day we were given homework, the homework is to go home and take 1hour to do something you enjoy. Awesome right?!!! 

Today I've learnt that mental health has so many different aspects and forms. I've also learnt that it isn't easily recognised by the person or even the people around them. I've learnt that a certain situation can cause someone to become depressed whilst the same situation can cause no mental change to another person. 

 

Finding volunteer work for Medicine!

Hello!

It's Monday the 11th of August 2014 20:21 

Last time we spoke, well I said I was going to use the last 3 months of my holiday to do some reading. But um let's be honest here, no university reading has taken place at all. Lacking motivation I guess. I've got less than 2 months of my holiday left. 

So your probably reading this because your either looking for a hospital volunteering opportunity or your following the same path as me, either way, welcome! 

I've been STRUGGLING! To find some volunteering at a hospital or GP or a clinic but NADA! Nothing! ZILCH! 

That's really irritating because to apply for medicine you have to do some sort of health related volunteering, for a long time, to show your commitment I guess. 

Last month I applied for a 2 day mental health first aid training which is on the 21st and 22nd of August so I will let you know how that goes. It's completely free so I'll find a link for anyone who wants to gain a little health related experience. 

Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-first-aid-youth-21st-and-22nd-august-2014-registration-11839322733?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_attendees&utm_term=event

I've also checked out the Do-it page, which you ain't familiar with, can I just say, YOUR MISSING OUT! Big time. There are sooooooo many opportunities on that website, just no hospital or GP related stuff I guess. But nevertheless an experience has to be gained so we need to find other places to volunteer. 

http://www.do-it.org.uk

If you can't already tell, I'm desperate. I NEEEEEEEED experience. So I applied to work with older people who are in care homes, to hold a reminiscing group. how awesome does that sound (p.s. I'm not being sarcastic). I also applied to become a friend for disabled, elderly or mental people. 

I've got a workshop for this on the 27th of August, so yeah I'm kind of excited. 

If I do end up working there, by the time I end up applying for medicine I could write about the experience and include the fact that I worked there for over a year (estimate, from September 2014 to October 2013). I'm planning on staying with them even after I apply for medicine, obviously depends if I actually like it or if I'm good at it. 

I just wanted to say to you all, no matter what experience you need, apply for anything close enough to what you need even if it is something you don't want. Like I would LOVE to volunteer at a hospital but no one ever replies. So I have to go and apply for the next best thing. 

About 2 years ago, I was looking for somewhere to volunteer and found a great opportunity at St Johns ambulance.  Trainings were usually in the evenings so mum told me to not go. I wish I didn't quit but I guess what's meant to happen will happen. 

Just remember that it's not what type of volunteering you found that matters but what you've learnt. 

Now I've got the experience part out the way, I guess next thing is about hobbies? 

Until next time ^_^ 

First year Biomedical science experience & grades

Still Monday the 30th June 2014 - 10:17am 

The first year of biomedical science was actually pretty awesome, needless to say I should have spent much more time in studying and writing my lab reports. Which btw I didn't ... Therefore some of my final marks for the modules were barely a pass, *sweeps sweat off forehead* just glad I passed into 2nd year of biomedial science. 

Reasons why I didn't do aswell as I should have or should I say could have: 

• procrastination 

• procrastination 

• procrastination 

I have no other excuse, I would be watching tv, cooking or cleaning or even reading a book (not for uni) instead of revising. I'm kind of glad I did that, your probably thinking what a wierdo, but in all honesty I got into second year (alhamdulilah). Which means I wasted enough on nonsense and the next 2 years I would have to buckle down and get serious. 

I think the only reason I didn't work as hard or take it as serious was because none of what I do this year would be registered, which means it will not go towards my final mark. Phew. 

My grades for first year of Biomedical science: 

- Human science - third class 

- Principles of immunology and microbiology - 2:2 

- Elements of life - 2:1 

- Laboratory practice and skills - First class 

When you take a look at my grades, you'd think that I am definitly not cut out for medicine but I believe in myself and I know if I just stop messing around and wasting so much time, I will get a First class or at least a 2:1 at the end of my BSc Biomedical science degree (inshallah). 

Only a year and 4 months till I send off my Graduate entry medicine application. Seems so close but yet so far. So so excited & nervous too. (.^_^.) 

Univeristy has been closed for me since April. It's been 3 whole months and I've done no work or reading for uni whatsoever. I'm going to start today (inshallah). I'll share with you anything interesting I read or learn. 

I'll be going back around October so I have 3 months to do as much reading as possible. 

Any advice from any of you, who have studied biomedical science ? 

Bye for now. 

Doctor wannabe .^_^. 

Biomedical science to Medicine Journal!

Hello! 

It's Sunday the 29th .... Errr actually it's Monday the 30th June 2014 00:59am.

I guess this could be called an introduction. I am a biomedical science (BSc) student who has just completed her first year in April. I made this blog to share my journey from biomedical science to Medicine. Well I'm hoping to become a doctor one day and hopefully I can share with you all, my journey throughout the next 6/7 years. 

So basically, I'm dying to graduate (who isn't right), honestly can't stop thinking about finally graduating and applying for medicine and hopefully getting accepted  (inshallah). It's such a scary process though, imagine I don't get a minimum of a 2:1 or everything else that can go wrong. I'm just holding onto a thin thread called "hope". 

I can't think of anything else to write in my intro , just because I've been fasting all day (first day of Ramadan) so I don't really have many brain cells awake let alone working. 

This blog will be a diary of my journey, which can help me stay on top of things to do with my university work as well as preparing my graduate medicine application. 

I call myself the "doctor wannabe". 

By for now (^_^) 

Vocab : 

Inshallah : God willing!