The Heart of Finals

So, as finals week is upon me, I do my usual thing where I either turn into a mindless zombie and do nothing but study, or I adopt this weird YOLO philosophy, and I am highly unproductive.

Today? I'm definitely YOLOing it, however I'm taking a short break from my unproductivity to share something with you.

Yes, you're all sick of me talking about the heart. I get it. But really, this video encapsulates everything that I am totally passionate about. 

A cardiothoracic surgeon talks about how her experiences with being so close the heart, have helped her understand the presence of a soul. I did my final Neuroscience presentation on this very topic last semester- the connection between the body and the soul, and how they interact with one another.

Long story short, please spare 7 minutes and 8 seconds to watch this. Like I have said before, it will not only explain the reason that I am so unsociable lately, but will also give you a brief insight into one of my life goals.

Seriously though.

 Throw having a family in there, and this woman is who I want to be!

HUGE thank you to Camilla Hancock at Inspire Me Video for sharing this with me! You know me.

In Case You Were Wondering

[via]

This is a picture of a heart.
The heart is absolutely, 100% without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite organ.

Mine especially. I'm sure you have a wonderful heart, but I really, really like mine. More than yours. As I mentioned before; my heart started off a little dysfunctional, but has made it through the last 21 eventful years without the slightest tremor. Well maybe one or two tremors. But nothing drastic.

You probably know that I want to become a paediatrician, but the reason why might be a little ambiguous. Yes, I LOOOOVE children. And I love science, but whilst working on my personal statement for medical school, I've been forced to think about the real reason that I want to dedicate so many years of my life to this vocation. So I thought I'd share some of those reasons with you.

I was born with an atrial septal defect and a ventricular septal defect, which means that there were problems with the walls separating the sagittal chambers of my heart. More specifically, there is a structure called the ductus arteriosis which is supposed to close when you take your first breath as a little bubba, but mine decided it was not quite done being open! This basically means that the blood from the right side of my heart was mixing with the blood on the left, and that is a big no-no.

Surgery was imperative and I underwent a large operation on July 22nd 1992. I was 2 months old, but thanks to the amazing team of surgeons that operated on me that day, my life has since been filled with trillions of moments that I would not swap for anything.

That is the main reason I want to do medicine.
Those moments.
 Yes, 98% life is boring and mundane and routine, but that 98% is infiltrated with moments everyday.

Knowing that I can use my interests and talents (that I am striving to find and develop) to help another little person have some of those moments fills me with excitement, and a sense of duty.

This is not to say however, that things won't change.
I've learned too much in the past 3 years to fool myself into thinking that life plans are ever certain. But this is what I've got so far, so I'm running with it.
Well not running.
I hate running.

SO if you ever happen to walk past me looking like this in the library

Please refer me back to this blogpost.

Four Really Easy Steps to becoming a N.E.R.D.

It took almost 21 years, but I have finally come to the conclusion that I am a complete nerd. And that's just fine.

As much as I love fashion and a good Bachelor finale, I LOVE SCIENCE!

I've been a Pre-Med student since the age of 4. Literally. As much as I've tried to act cool, and talk about how much I dread studying, or can't stand the library. It's all lies. I LOVE THE LIBRARY. Why else would I spend so much studying there, then proceed to get a job there. I have even found myself laughing hysterically to science jokes that my professors tell. The kind that you hear and feel sorry for the professor because no-one is laughing except the weirdo sitting on the front row. 

World, meet Weirdo on the Front Row.

As you know, I'm hoping to become a paediatrician, but I've recently taken a shining to Neuroscience. Yes, the Queen Elizabeth of all nerdy science emphases. That fact was really proven today, as I willingly took the time to tell people all about the brain and how AWESOME it is. 

But if you'd like to join me in this realm I call NERDOM, here's how.

Step 1: Join the University's Neuroscience Academic Society, and pose with a human brain in a jar during Brain Awareness Week.

Step 2: Pose again, this time with gusto

Step 3: Buy a brain candy mould and fill it with chocolate.

Step 4: Proceed to made brain shaped candy to hand out to classmates during your presentation on interactionism and the Mind-Body Problem.

Welp. That'll do for now. But more N.E.R.D. tutorials to follow, including How To Scare Away Potential Friends With Shameless Dad Dancing.

p.s. not so nerdy... but I do love a good peplum.