A Swerve into the Memory Lane, Pt. 2: Orientation

After taking care of the living arrangements, there came the nail-biting drama of the health form. Yes, HIPAA rules will be violated, but the story must be told. It's actually a mundane tale of immunization records going missing during the doctor's office's transition to a new computer system. The only way to verify my shots was through blood titers, which, when all was said and done, needed to be done 3 times (each time for a different set of immunizations). In a way, the experience provided me with a chance to stop worrying about being poked with needles--after all, medical school will be full of that stuff.

The school began the second week of August. First three days were orientation. Anxiety drove the agenda for me: restless night, early wakeup, and arrival way ahead of time in hope of avoiding a crowd of unknown faces on the first day. There were only a few people, so the atmosphere was comfortable from the start. As the group of ~140 students began to coalesce, the first day took shape. Like the two days that would follow, it was an extravaganza of lectures, presentations, pep talks, speeches, and sales pitches packed into the restless morning hours. Applause was generously dispensed. Afternoons and evenings were for socializing, all under the benevolent watch of the second year class who organized the picnics and the outings. Everything with food had a sponsor, and the Grand Island park picnic was no exception. It was the US Army that was there to plug their offering: free med school in exchange for 4 years of service (military residency, which pays well and is quite good from what I hear from third parties). Tough sale in times of war, especially when you're marketing to a pretty smart bunch of people. The Humvee that blasted "whatever it is that appeals to the 18-25 demographic" out of the speaker box in the rear seemed to be the loneliest place in that park.

As the orientation wound down, there was the palpable sense of impatience. Everyone just wanted to get started. The morning of day 4 ushered in the Medicine and Society course, and so it began.