Fourth Newsletter

Hey guys this is SMPreet! 🤩

Welcome back to Sunday Snippets, your weekly source of updates, events, and the occasional chuckle

This week's newsletter is going to be shorter than the line at the coffee shop during finals week- since we’re all riding the same struggle 🚌

Thank you to everyone that made it out to our First SMP event, Pups and Pizza! Huge thanks to Parsa for putting it all together, and to all the awesome dog parents for bringing their adorable puppers.

Now, let's get down to business. Clarisa dropped a form that needs your attention. She's planning something special to celebrate our hard work after Block 1 exams, and she wants to make it epic. So please check your inbox and respond to the form she sent out earlier today 🥳

Weekly Recap 🚀

• Starbucks Thursday BOGO 🎃

  Calling all Starbucks Rewards Members! Every Thursday afternoon in September, enjoy a free fall drink with the purchase of any fall beverage. Customize to your heart's content – even if you're not a pumpkin fan, they've got you covered.

• Exam Review Sessions

  Thank you so much Syndey, Ethan and Alejandro for hosting your amazing review session. For anyone that missed it make sure to check out the great problems for some peer-written problems for some additional practice.

Deadlines and Events 🗓️

While some of the deadlines an events are the same, Block 1 Exams are knocking on our doors, starting this Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Prioritize that rest and keep grinding for those exams!

• Exam Review for Exam 2

  Wednesday 9/27 at 7 pm- Content: Embryo and Biochem (Genetics)

• Exam Review for Exam 3

  Saturday 9/30 at TBD- Content: Biochem and Histology

• September Events: Big shoutout to Clarisa for sending an email with all the exciting plans to look forward to this month

• Academic Integrity Module: Due October 23rd ,2023

• Hope Multiplied Protection of Minor’s training: Due October 1st,2023

Take me to Georgetown event: Link to the event page for more exciting happenings!

Topic of the week 🧠

This week we’re diving into a method I have been using to help me stay focused.

Back in the late '80s, a student named Francesco Cirillo struggled with focus and deadlines. Sound familiar? He challenged himself to just 10 minutes of focused study, using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer (hence, Pomodoro).

So here’s the deal: 25 minutes of focused, laser-sharp studying followed by a 5-minute breather. Rinse and repeat. This method is called the Pomodoro Method and It's the perfect recipe for staying sane during Block 1 Exam week.

With this technique, you'll not only boost your productivity but also keep stress levels in check. So grab your timers, rev up your focus, and let's tackle those study sessions.

Messages from the E-board 📣

Mark Cordell

Hey everyone! This a big week for the program, but I know that each one of you can succeed and do well! We have learned so much this block and everyone has worked hard. Be proud of that achievement, but do not rest on your laurels yet! Instead persevere through this next period of intense study and demonstrate how much you have learned! Focus on what you can achieve and do not worry about being perfect! Remember to use the resources we have been provided whether that be anki, MNTS, or the formative quizzes. Although the weather is not ideal, try and take mental breaks efficiently, get some exercise, eat a good meal, or do something that brings you joy. I believe in you all! Study hard! Go Physios! 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts” -Winston Churchill

John Schaefer

Happy Sunday everyone. Everyone knows this is a big week, lots of studying, lots of exams, and lots of stress. My biggest piece of advice would be to take a break when you’re feeling freaked out. You won’t gain any ground by slamming your computer buttons racing through Anki cause you’re stressed out, take a psychological beta-blocker and come back to your studies with a clear mind to actually be productive.

This is a bit down the road pertaining to Exam 3, but I attached a link to extra resources for histology. They have quizzes for every organ system including the ones that we are responsible for Block 1 (i.e. connective tissue, epithelium, lymphoid). Obviously stick to our learning objectives strictly, but the main benefit you will get out of doing these is first order identification of structures / laboratory slides that come from other pictures than the ones provided in our lecture slides. I think there's a good chance Dr. Djakiew will give questions with images we haven’t seen before so it will be helpful to know specific histological identifiers.

As always feel free to email or text me with any questions. The Executive board is trying to put together a fun event for everyone to celebrate being done with Block 1 next Tuesday, because we sure will have earned a celebration. I hope everyone can make it. Good luck studying!

Lily Dwyer

Hope exam studying is going well! Three big things from me: 

1. Hope Multiplied Documents due Sept 27th so if you wish to participate please get those to them-you should have received an email.

2. Protection of Minors training due October 1st-get that in so you can volunteer with minors there’s a lot of great events you need that for!

3. Less high priority-but as you finish exams and take breaks take a look at the emails Holly sent us this week and plan out how you are going to get involved during Intercession and the next few weeks! 

Parsa Salehi

1. Hope you all are feeling good about studying. A few reminders from me: 

   1. Be sure to aim for a healthy amount of sleep. Sleep helps to consolidate our memory and helps focus

   2. Remember to eat!! Remember that the brain is the first metabolic priority, so food is fuel for the brain!!!

   3. Take time for breaks. Watch an episode of your show, read a chapter of that book you wanted, go for a run/lift. Breaks are important for keeping the mental in check during this time.

   4. Thanks to everyone who came out to pups and pizza! It was such a hit that I think we will aim to do a similar event before block 2 exams as well :)

   Exams will be done soon. Remember that pressure is a privilege - we all chose to put ourselves and our future careers first and pursue this opportunity. You are all capable of more than you know!

That's all for this week! Wishing you all a week of productive studying and a dash of well-deserved fun. Let's crush those exams Good luck on Exam 1 & 2- we got this!! 💪