One of the many opportunities offered to an incoming first year includes my school’s Prematriculation Program, more commonly known as “Prematric”. We spend 4 weeks learning the first block of anatomy before the school year starts. The last 4 weeks have been amazingly informative and busy. I walked in on the first day expecting a schedule and an easy day only to find that we would be sitting through a study skills and time management session that left me completely drained and afraid for my life. The reality of having to plan each and every moment including meals and phone calls has really been a challenge.
Working on the cadavers has been the largest trial I have had to overcome. Dead people really creep me out. The idea that the spirit is gone from the remains and is free to explore without the living being able to see them has always scared me. I am not a big paranormal, ghost chasing, scare my pants off type of person. I would much rather an animated flick any day so yeah, dead people and me really don’t mix. When they rolled the cadaver out, I was frozen in fear. Apparently my face said enough for the TA and my group members to volunteer someone else to unzip the bag. We named our cadaver “Bob” and things were fine working on his back but in the days to come when we had to turn him over, I had to leave the room. His face was covered but just knowing that he lived at one point and at that moment I would have to dissect him drove me insane.
By week three I was able to dissect with no problems and at our last session, I was even able to dissect the posterior mediastinum all by myself! Looking back on the last four weeks, with my final in two days, I have learned more than I ever could have imagined. One thousand flashcards later, I think I may be ready to dive into medical school.
