The Grand Cram

Revision is never easy, but for those of us still able to dimly recall the days of fabled ‘Reading Week’, the leisurley pace afforded by an entire week (!) off mid-semester now seems unimaginable. Unlike some of my friends, reading week for me (a medic) was a slow slog towards exams – it definitely wasn’t the magical 7 days of doing whatever the hell you wanted. This could mean indulging in doing absolutely nothing all week or, for the more adventurous: travelling, visiting friends or hitch-hiking to Lithuania with nothing but a sombrero, odd socks and a highly persuasive manner (I don’t know anyone who did this, but if you did… I would love to hear about it).

Now that reading week is no more, Medics are left with a single 3 day weekend to cram like crazy. Sadly, this isn’t as much fun as films/tv would lead you to believe – for one thing, there’s no upbeat, motivational music on a continuous loop (N.B. excessive plays of ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ can cause permament mental disturbances).Pulling a determined face and talking to yourself in the mirror is only indicative of another piece of your sanity slipping away.

So, for your reading pleasure I offer an insight into my pre-exam week-end..

Friday

Revision started… But I’m not really feeling it so – a bit of ‘Homeland’ on in the background; a little subterfuge and political intrigue will spice up these notes on nerve pathways. Wait, who just got blown up?! By who?? Why?? But I thought- Ok. Not working. Let’s try… That episode of ‘Bake Off’ that I missed! Yes, nothing more  revision-inducing than Paul ‘Blue-Steel’ Hollywood and Mary ‘Be my Grandma!’ Berry…

I want cake.

Revision is preventing the getting of cake, hence revision must end.

Saturday

Make pancakes to extend time outside the room; am sure my flash-cards are mocking me. Flat mate 1 says she has been outside – the ‘actual’ outside. What is this? Return to room of the unknowable.

Stop for lunch and a dose of ‘The Colbert Report’ (hey, it’s educational!). If the US government stays shut-down surely the end is nigh and exams will be cancelled? No? Damn.

Chocolate store now broken into.

Sunday

Flat mate 1 has been for another ‘walk’ – I clearly prefer the revision method of alternating ‘slumped over desk’ with ‘excessively shakey due to ridiculous caffeine intake’. Consumption of chocolate has reached new highs (or should that be a new low?). Also, is flat mate 2 still alive? No sightings since Friday…

2am – less than 12 hours to the exam. I have drawn out the blood supply to the brain using nothing but my chocolate-smeared fingers. It is, as Mr Dickens would say, both the best and worst of times.

But reader, I survived – sleep-deprived, afraid of sunlight and perhaps a pound or two (or three) heavier – but I survived. And so will you, in whatever way you can – exams aren’t just a measure of knowledge, they also reveal our own individual weird and wonderful workings.

Love,

A crazy-mixed up medic

Image courtesy of liveitforward.com