USMLE Step 1: It's OVER

Hey guys! Guess what?! I survived Step 1! Okay, I guess I should say I took Step 1. And hopefully I passed? We'll see.

First Aid had warned me, "Expect to experience some 'reentry' phenomena as you try to regain a real life." (Yeah, that's right, I just quoted First Aid. What?!). When I first read that, I remember thinking, "Silly med students. My life hasn't been that different. It won't be that difficult to get back to normal life."

Okay, First Aid. Lesson learned. I'm almost two weeks out and I'm still pretty socially awkward (also, I know... I'm pretty socially awkward in general. I mean increased awkwardness above baseline). I guess that's what hanging out alone in my apartment studying all day every day for a few weeks will do to me.

After my exam, I turned on my TV (and changed the channel from the solid HGTV channel, which provided the perfect length shows for mealtime breaks throughout my study period) and realized that while I was sitting alone at my desk, big things were happening in the world around me.

Here are the top 5 things (that I know of) that happened while I was studying for Step 1 - and that I only had a vague idea were taking place even though I guess some of them were a "big deal."

1. The Royal Wedding. I guess this was kind of a big deal and the media was obsessed with it. My Royal Wedding experience consisted of me checking my favorite time-wasting blog, Go Fug Yourself, and noticing some pictures of the happy couple. "Oh, I guess that wedding was today," I thought to myself. And then I got back to studying.

2. President Obama was super productive. First, he produced his birth certificate (to which my response was, "Oh thank God." Oh wait, I didn't really care). THEN, he single handedly hunted down and killed Osama bin Laden. At least, I'm pretty sure this is what happened, based on the drunken cheers of some of my classy Seal Beach neighbors (btw, the big news broke on like a Sunday or Monday night, so obviously my neighbors were drunk).

3. My friends all decided to get pregnant. Okay, possible exaggeration. But still; the week before my exam), two of my close friends told me that they are preggers. WTF?! This is only the beginning of the "all of my friends are married and/or mothers" epidemic. Shit. (But seriously, I'm super excited for them... and also happy that at least they personally broke the news to me and I didn't find out months later on fb).

4. The Lakers decided to quit playing basketball. Seriously though. I was SUPER excited to watch the Lakers in the playoffs this year (you know, in the glorious days after my exam). And then, within days of taking my exam, they were swept in Round 2. Super lame. Lakeshow, I am very disappointed in you. I hope you think long and hard about what you have done and come back next year ready to actually play basketball.

5. I can't actually think of more things that happened. One of my classmates suggested "Libya" and "Fast 5," but honestly, I don't even know what those things are.

Did I miss anything? (ha)

Carpe Diem?

The other day, my friend announced to me that he is in love with a married woman. “What should I do?” He asked. “I love her. She’s perfect. And she’s completely unhappy in her marriage.”

My initial response was to stay away. I know this might be shocking, but I take the whole “marriage” concept pretty seriously and wrecking homes isn’t my thing.

“But life is too short and unpredictable,” my friend replied. “If I don’t make a move, I might regret it for the rest of my life.” (My friend also has a tendency towards the dramatic).

My friend claims that his dream girl in unhappy in her marriage. We’ve all been in those “friendships” where you spend a lot of time with someone who has a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/whatever. They never talk about their SO and/or if they do, it sounds negative or cold. After enough time, it’s easy to convince yourself (especially if you want to believe it) that they’re not happy. But does that mean you should do something about it?

I guess what I’m wondering is: Is it ever okay to pursue someone in a relationship? My gut says no (however, as I’ve thought about this, I’ve come to realize that I’m a bit of an excuse maker when it comes to romance… more on this later). Or is my friend right? Should we forget about social conventions and seize the day in the name of love?

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Engaged?!

No, not me. Don't worry, my friends, I am not engaged. I remain to be (bitterly) single, resigning myself to being alone forever. Aloooone. Forever. Actually, I'm kidding. Not about the engaged part (I'm still not engaged), but about the bitterly single part. Yeah, I'm single. But I'm enjoying my life as a twenty-something single girl. In fact, tonight I went on a date. And it was actually pretty fun. And I'm going speed dating on Wednesday - you're jealous, you know it.

But back to the matter at hand. Engagement. I just got back from a trip to Washington DC, which is apparently more than just the capital of our country; it is the capital of serious relationshipville. Literally every 25 year old woman I met while in DC was in a serious relationship and talking with her partner about engagement, or actually engaged. ENGAGED!! WTF?! It must be in the water...

I have never met or been around so many people my age who are engaged (seriously though - my roommate's relationship is going on 5 years with no ring. That's how un-engaged we are out here in LA). I turned 26 a month ago and I have really struggled to embrace the responsibilities of old age. It is truly difficult for me to fathom being engaged or married or (heaven forbid) pregnant. I sincerely feel as though I am too young and completely unprepared to do any of these adult things. However, in reality (and this is the part I'm really struggling with), 26 is a perfectly normal age to do any of these things. Like completely normal. It is entirely socially acceptable for a 26 year old to get married. People will never think, "what a shame, she was so young" at 26.

In fact, I feel as though I missed the memo on becoming engaged. The memo said, "Now that you are 26, you should start acting like an adult. First task, find a man and get engaged. Next, big wedding. Finally, have some kids. And now your fun single life is over and your stressful adult family life has begun. Enjoy!" This memo was first distributed in Washington DC and is slowly making its way across the country. As a mature, 26 year old woman, my response to this message is, "Suck it!"

Good thing I don't live in DC... I've got me some speed dating to attend.