National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program Class of 2012!

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AWARD LETTER

                                                                                                                         
September 2012
Dear LA'NYIA ODOMS :

Congratulations and welcome to the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program Class of 2012!
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship.  You are now one of more than 40,000 NHSC members and alumni who, community by community, are building a national network of clinicians who deliver the kind of comprehensive clinical care that transforms lives, serves communities, and strengthens our nation.


Once again, congratulations and welcome to the NHSC Scholar Class of 2012!
Sincerely,
Rebecca H. Spitzgo
Associate Administrator


When one door closes, several more ALWAYS open.  It's been a long time coming. Look at me now, all I do is win- NO MATTER WHAT.

It's Been A Long Time

Despite my fervent attempts to post on a weekly basis, here it is nearly three weeks since you all last heard from me.  I sincerely apology! I promise that my hard work and dedication in medical school has kept me from documenting the highlights of my journey.  Since my last entry: I dropped my LG Lucid Android in the toilet on a rough morning when I was making a mad dash for class, we got a tv stand, ottomans, bulk items from costco, and a few things to spruce up my room for the house, and my family and friends witnessed the ever anticipated White Coat Ceremony!!

As for the phone, Nicole was nice enough to douse it in rice for the day, although on my way back from Verizon it started working again.  Thanks to the "beautiful people", my scrubs and med school ID, (we called some customer service line and claimed I needed a new one ASAP because I was "on call"), I was sent a "certified like new" lucid in no time, FREE :)  I must say, the house is shaping up to be a real gem.  If I had a normal schedule, wall art would've donned the walls by now but.....

We finally secured the couches from Craigslist and plenty of bubbly drinks from World Market in time for last weekends' festivities. The White Coat Ceremony definitely goes down in the books as one of the best days of my life.  I remember having the same feeling and sense of accomplishment when I received my MCAT score last October.  As I marched into the Compton Auditorium LRC with white coat in hand, I was so ecstatic and simultaneously overjoyed that tears began to escape from my lacrimal ducts.  I put forth a gallon effort to stop the emotion from ruining my makeup after my classmate Joseph looked over and said "La' Nyia, the ceremony hasn't even started yet."  If only he knew the struggle.  I welcomed my parents, Alanah and Corey, Wakeem and Michael, my MSPH friends, former and current professors to a momentous occasion that I'll treasure forever.  As you can see from the pictures below, I couldn't have been happier. Since then I've ordered 2 more coats to include my master's degree, as in another year or so it will become a regular rotation in my wardrobe. If you know me well enough, my attachment to uniform has finally taken precedence.

The intricacies of medical school and the people in it still "wow" me on a daily basis.  Time it correctly and drive down 21st Ave North at about 7:45 on the morning of a biochem quiz and you will see tons of stragglers in scrubs frantically skimming through pages of metabolites and hormones.  It's a rough act to follow but hey we signed up for this! I am now officially the recipient of the Great Lakes National STEM Scholarship and hope to cash in on the refund since my loans paid tuition in full.  I was recently elected Freshman Liaison of the Saburo Hara Pediatric Society, and hope to attend the AAP National Conference in October in New Orleans. I'm constantly moving, finding time to catch up on sleep and workouts, trying a few food digs here and there, but most importantly remembering that I can only do my best, one day at a time.

When they see me, they'll say "Here Comes A Fighter"- Gym Class Heroes.  My new anthem.

The Real First Day

Our Fall semester officially started on Monday after 6 weeks of MAPS (Mini Academic Program for Success).  Thankfully, I passed both mini courses after a finals week where I averaged 4.5hrs of sleep, most of which was on the couch.  I felt a lot less prepared for Gross Anatomy than I did for Biochemistry, but luckily my night owl syndrome kicked in and bridged the gaps. I must say that although the lab practical results haven't been released, it felt good to look at a lower limb x-ray and know what goes where!  Throughout the process, I only had a few discouraging moments and was reminded by a bereavement notice and words of wisdom from my father that "a vida passe lenta sem vontade" (life passes without will.)

I share the sentiment of some Olympians in that I can't remember the last time that I was able to watch t.v.  Not that I would watch it if I could, but I am contemplating asking my sister to bring guitar hero when she comes to visit next week. I did however treat myself to an early birthday present on Sunday evening and took advantage of what Nashville is best known for: MUSIC! Mat Kearney, Andy Grammer, and Train played at The Woods Ampitheatre. Who would've thought the name would suggest the nature of the venue?! A torrential thunderstorm hovered the entire evening and as a result the concert was cut short by about 1.5hrs! I shouldn't forget to mention that Chondraah and I were late because I never have time to run errands and was finishing pimping out my room at TJMAXX, thanks to tax free weekend.  Though I'm deeply saddened that we missed Andy Grammer open, I did see him live and solo for Valentine's Day.  This brings my concert attendance total to a whopping 4 since I've moved south.  When I got home, I was greeted by the kitty litter, this time under the porch spotlight. I guess mom/dad kitty figured "hey! I'll beat the rain. I'll just clean myself under this porch spotlight." As long as they stay away from the hood and roof of our cars, they can frolic all they want.

When I finished my exams on Friday, I was notified that I'm a finalist for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship. I'm now 2 for 2 in the scholarship department finals (the other is the Great Lakes National STEM Scholarship) and by my birthday I hope to be tuition and fees FREE :) The application process was a task, but to qualify as a finalist is truly an honor. NHSC projected nearly 6,000 apps for 180 awards/ Great Lakes 20,000 apps for 750 awards.  I should hear something any day now, and so will all of you!

The Fall semester means cadaver dissection, meet Jonas B. At slightly over 6 ft and medium build, most of my waking hours will be spent cutting on a man who is kin to a classmate of mine's boyfriend! The grandfather donated his body to science, specifically for Meharry Medical College when he passed about a year and a half ago.  Ironically enough his grandson applied to our Dental School but didn't gain admission.  Unfortunately the grandson's girlfriend is stationed at the table next to me, where every day she walks by in disbelief. Talk about small world. Seeing all of the fat on these bodies is enough to make me go without any food for a very long time. Healthy eating is important people, trust me.

Speaking of food, in honor of my weekly ritual to dine at a new place, check out the photo of Prince's Hot Fried Chicken.  If your down for a good laugh, read some of the reviews on this hole in the wall on Yelp.  The meat was tasty, and the spice cleared my nasal passages.  I'd never even heard of "hot chicken" prior to moving here, but now that I've had it I think I'll just stick to the dill pickles that come sliced with it :)

I'm reaching the point of diminishing returns and am learning that my sleep is irreplaceable. I'll try to post more often, just can't make any promises...keep lifting me up good people!

~ Tchau~