As of last week, I officially made it through my first round of midterms! Having seven tests in two weeks was really draining, but overall I’m proud of how I did. For each class, I also now have a clearer idea of what I’m doing right, and which areas I need to improve.
It’s been an adjustment learning how to study physical therapy after coming from a mostly liberal arts background. Throughout the first semester it’s been a process figuring out which of my study habits are great, and which need to be adjusted. For example, in anatomy, I’ve found it more helpful to draw out the nerves and arteries rather than making a hundred notecards about every small detail. It can be easy to get lost in the blur of information coming so fast in class, but now I think I’m better able to prioritize which details are most important to learn.
I’ve also found in incredibly helpful to meet with some of my professors. Although it can be intimidating to bring them into the how-can-I-improve conversation, it’s comforting to know that they realize how stressful the first year can be. The professors were able to tell me that my ideas for changing some habits are goods ones, as well as suggest some additional tips.
Now that I have one round of tests under my belt, I feel a lot more confident; I know what to expect and how to better prepare myself for the rest of the semester. But more importantly, I’m astonished by how much I’ve been able to learn in such a short amount of time, and I can’t wait to learn even more!