getting started

If I were to ask you how much essay writing were involved in medical school, what would be your guess? If you'd asked me that question before I started school, I would have guessed just one...the essay on my entrance application. The truth is, I've written 10 or so during my 1st three years (mostly relating to medical ethics). Each time an essay is assigned I have the following reactions:

1) Surprise. Are we really being asked to write an essay in medical school?

2) Denial/Procrastination. I immediately pass all aspects associated with the assignment out of my mind, except for a general idea about when I need to start worrying about it again.

3) Concern. I'm in a crunch, I've waited until the end of the class/rotation, and now need to prepare for an exam and write a paper.

4) Surprise.

5) Brainstorming without writing. This usually takes about two days. I try to collect my thoughts and determine the general idea of what I am going to try to say.

6) Writing and frustration. This takes at least 3 hours longer than I anticipate; and at least 60% of that time is spent typing and deleting a series of horrible introductory statements.

7) Excitement. Done!

Getting started is the hardest part of any project, and I suppose it should be no different with starting a blog. I'm starting this in an effort to better communicate with family and friends, particularly as it relates to me and medical school. I've never enjoyed talking about myself, but I'm going to give it a shot here. My goal is to post something twice a month, but it is entirely possible that will not happen every month (please forgive me if it does not). I'm looking forward to getting started and seeing where this goes.

(I started typing this post at 7:30, and it is now 9:20. See 6 above)