My trimester break was awesome! While we were still following social/physical distancing guidelines, it was great to get to visit with some of my family. We had some Maryland seafood, and I spent a lot of time relaxing by the pool. This is a photo of some Maryland Blue Crabs, steamed and slathered in Old Bay Seasoning. It doesn’t get much better than that!

As I finish up my third year, and feel my final year quickly approaching, there are some things I wish I had known when I started. So, for all the new students entering this Fall, here are several tips:

We become official clinic interns during our 8^th trimester. As ND students, we technically get to enter a little sooner as we begin observing in the clinic in the 6^th trimester, and we work as hydrotherapy interns during 7^th trimester, which is what I am doing now. However, 8^th trimester is when it really gets REAL! We get to pick our clinic shift based on the times that shifts are offered, and the clinician with whom we wish to work.

We returned to campus this week for in-person face-to-face labs and clinic internships. It was exciting to be back, and to see some of my classmates (from a physical distance). I had my first official shift as a hydro intern which was pretty exciting.

This trimester is going faster than any other trimester! I ended up coming back to Illinois this week from Maryland, even though we don’t have to be back until week 10. I wanted to be able to get settled back in (I had been gone for nearly 3 months) and get back into the groove of life in Illinois before classes start. It is so strange being back on campus! My apartment was exactly how I left it, but campus is different. The willow tree near the lake has fallen over, or at least part of it. There aren’t any swans in the lake, and there are surprisingly very few geese (which I am super thankful for!).

Well, we all survived the first round of midterms, also known as week 5 of the trimester. It is always a stressful and challenging time in a typical trimester. I have found that online distant learning due to COVID makes some things easier and some things more challenging. I love some of the flexibility that is offered, such as my ability to do all of my school work from Maryland with my family. 

I am in a class right now called Advanced Diagnosis and Problem Solving. In this class, we have a simulated patient every week, which now has to be done via Zoom due to COVID-19. A simulated patient is a paid actor who acts through a case as a patient, and then gives us graded feedback afterward so we can improve.

Illinois is still under a stay-at-home order due to COVID-19. Therefore, all courses continue to be done through online/distance learning. The current plan is to be back in person for face-to-face labs July 13. I decided to spend this time doing distance learning in Maryland. I am staying with my sister so I can help with her crazy little ones (and let me tell you, I am absolutely loving every second of the insanity)! The down side to staying at my sister’s is that I can’t see my parents who are only five minutes away. We are practicing strict social distancing to help keep our loved ones safe. My sister is an essential worker, and must work out of the home, so it is best for us to all keep our distance from those outside the home. 

School has officially been online, and Lily and I have been quarantined for over a month now. It has been a wonderful opportunity to take inventory of my blessings, and the things that matter most in my life. I grew up with a big family, and in a very noisy and hectic household.

We have officially finished our 3^rd week of quarantine and online coursework. It is very different to be learning some of this material over the internet instead of in our very hands-on lab classes. I am so thankful for current technologies that are enabling us to continue our education and learning during this world-wide pandemic. I figured I would take this time to express my gratitude for a handful of the things in my life I am thankful for. Similar to the type of post I do for Thanksgiving every year: