Hey there, thanks for stopping by. This blog post marks the end of my class’s 7-credit Summer Gross Anatomy course. For fun at the beginning of the semester, I thought I would reflect on the progress of each week. Now that we’ve come to the end of it all, I thought I would take a bigger picture look at the class, essentially share a miniature version of my course evaluation, and revisit my expectations which I wrote about on June 16th.
Gross Anatomy was a summer intensive, immersive course. We took only this class and met almost every day for it, for up to 5 hours a day not including TA-led review sessions. The summer intensive is fairly unique from what I have seen from other programs (although I can’t confirm this). All I know is that I enjoyed this format. My undergraduate institution featured a similarly intensive, one-course, 4-week term and Gross Anatomy reminded me quite a bit of those very unique terms of my past. That’s not to say it was perfect–I would not describe anatomy as the best subject for an intensive course. Particularly, the learning of anatomy doesn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation or creative expansion. Let’s just say that by the end of the 7.5 weeks–I was more than ready to be finished.
So, moving onto what would be more of my course evaluation, 7.5 weeks was probably almost the perfect number of weeks. Any longer and I really would have lost most of my steam. I don’t have too much more criticism that would be relevant to random internet readers as it mostly pertains to class structure suggestions. I appreciated (and moved on from; his most common expression) our professor, Dr. Mayhew, the tireless effort of the TAs, and whoever contributed to building our class of 59 students. Overall, I have overwhelmingly positive sentiments about the class.
The part that I am most excited to write about is definitely how my expectations have turned out. It is a rare thing to be able to say that what you planned and expected actually came to fruition. I could go on and on about it but I will simplify it mostly for my own privacy: I’ve learned that the key to change is calculated and incremental goal setting. Whether it’s wanting to play more recreational sports or engage in more outdoor activities, aim to pick up that ball/activity once a week and build up from there. Totally unrelated but I also can’t stress the connection between moving the body and mental health. That’s a whole other topic for another time. Nothing meaningful ever comes overnight. Work towards something. Build it. Fail and break it down but build it up again. Aim for perfection but don’t expect it.
Okay, enough of the cheesy reflections and attempts at motivation. Fall term draws near but before then I have a recently concluded backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail, my first-ever trip to the state of Florida, and I guess I’ll work somewhere in there, too. The blog posts will slow down from this point on. I have a few things in mind for what’s in store here. I’ll probably write another expectations post for the Fall semester and definitely some more application advice for pre-PT students. Somewhere in there I’ll write about my personal experience with weight loss and how it has correlated with my mental health. If you should have any other ideas, let me know! Comment here on WordPress, or on Instagram @firstwealthhealth. As usual, thanks for reading.
ASJ
First Wealth Health 