Goodbye 2009, You Were Good To Me.

2009 was a good year. A lot changed for me. I have a whole new life. I am in a place, I never imagined I could be. It is so funny how quickly things can just change and then feel like that is how they have always been. God has been good to me!

I am on my first (and only) real vacation in the first year of medical school. We get 2 weeks for Christmas and New Year. I just completed 4 months of school, but it feels like it's been years. I have to admit, medical school is difficult. They were seriously NOT KIDDING. I mean, really mentally exhausting. I'm not complaining really. I am very grateful to be here. I am simply acknowledging that it takes a lot of discipline, and honestly I am still adjusting to this new, intense lifestyle that it requires. I am still happy and I still love it. If it wasn't for some of the wonderful people I have come to care about, I would have reached my break point already. We all suffer together. We help each other along. We encourage each other. On days that I am strong, I help the weak around me, and on days I am weak, there is always someone there to lift me up.

I feel very blessed because I went to medical school thinking that the majority of the people there would be socially awkward, uptight, type A, and generally suck (and believe me, there are plenty of them out there), but I have met some incredibly cool people. Maybe it's a UTMB thing, but a lot of people are laid back, humble, and know how to have some fun! I love that about UTMB. I also really like living on an island and on the beach! I wake up every day to look out my window at the sun rising over the ocean. I have a great apartment with an amazing roommate! I am walking distance from the beach and absolutely take advantage of that! I especially love our post-exam beach parties. Galveston is pretty quiet, but that's sort of perfect for medical school. There isn't too much to distract you here in GBay, but it still has personality. Downtown and the Strand are fun. I kind of like that small town feel, but probably only because Houston is close enough for a fun night in a real city anytime. I am still close to my family and friends in Houston and see them often, which is really nice for those times when I just want to escape from the med school world. I really feel so blessed. Things could not be more perfect. Thank you, God!

I am looking forward to a New Year. 2009 was filled with lots of change and the unknown. Lots of uncertainty. Here's to 2010! Full of promise! May God guide us all as we devote our lives to Him and His glory.