1st Days of School!

Sorry I have not updated the blog in a while! I have been BUSY!!!!
Today marks the end of the first week of school. There are other things I was to say about the time in between acceptance and starting the program but I want to write about this first week while it is fresh in my mind and the emotions are still raw!
Last Friday, a week ago we had the first introduction to our program. It was a half day event where we were allowed to bring a guest or two to the "Opening Ceremonies." I did not have anyone with me but many did not as they are not from the area and did not have any family around. The week that followed beginning on Monday was a flurry of activities with a lot of hurry up and wait in between but, IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!
Just getting to know the faculty and my classmates was a very nice experience. We also had a lot of support and advice from the previous class, Class of 2010. They are very helpful and had organized various activities for our class. I wrote a note on the PA Forum about the weeks activities and am copying it below.
I did not feel any nervousness or anxiety...but many of my classmates expressed their stress. It was not that bad for me but everyone is different.
At today's BBQ the previous class had organized a few activities such as the name game where we had to break into groups and memorize the names, first and last and the place of birth of 8 other class members of their choice. It was actually quite fun! And of course we had the obligatory scavenger hunt; all those young'uns can run much faster than me!! LOL... But I did win the whole class name challenge! I was the only one who named every single class member first and last name...correctly! 64 of them!! Another classmate did similar but only with first names.
So it was fun!!! But here is the breakdown of the week...Monday we begin "real" classes and have a full schedule! Our first real exam on material learned in the course is actually one week from Monday! Will post how that goes!!!
From my post on the PA forum:
We start everyday at 7:30am and go till 4:30pm more or less...
Some other statistics for our class were less than 8% accepted from all applications. There are quite a few ex military so that is a good thing!!
Friday - "Opening Ceremonies" with the various speakers from the top down. Interesting to learn about everyone's backgrounds and such, great buffet lunch. (was half day)
Monday - Intro to the program, review of the student handbook for the school and program, paperwork to be signed, policies and procedures, discussion on professional behavior and ethics, team building exercises. Buddy assignments with the current class and lunch with your buddy. (Full Day)
Tuesday - Team Building, was neat...we broke into groups of 8 and had to come up with a Public Service Announcement skit that deals with the question "what is a PA?" to be filmed tomorrow. Tutorials about the library, WebCT, testing etc...Public Safety discussion with campus security, discussion of proper academic writing/plagiarism etc...and Master's/Graduate project thesis...Meeting with individual academic advisors as assigned (So this was a full day)
Wednesday - PSA Group presentations that were filmed - very hilarious!! and very creative crowd we have! Myers Briggs personality test and another similar one too...Welch Allyn Medical equipment fair...said we could go home (11:00am) if we were all set with our stuff already...but the rep probably was unhappy that very few showed up...Many had already done a huge group order from Steeles that I organized over a month ago...
Thursday - Tomorrow we have an orientation to our PD lab, results of our personality tests, Library intro and orientation to the VH dissector software.
Friday - Our first "dress down" day with $3 donation to do so going towards our class' funds...Exam!! First test on Medical terminology that we have been doing self paced before the program start...then discussion on Student Society, Student Government, other opportunities then some fun...Student/Faculty BBQ with activities like scavenger hunt, etc...so Half day more or less...and the current class has organized a get together for us at a apt complex nearby with pool party and adult beverages...etc...nice people!!
THENNNNNNNNNNN...
Monday we begin to study and start the real stuff...therefore, no firehose!!! YET!!!! No more half days...
End of copy from the post!!