You might have noticed that things have been a little quiet on the blog lately, and there’s a valid reason for that! I’ve attempted to hide away to focus on the things that are most important to me right now – doing well on Step 2 CK of my medical licensing exam and continuing to grow my latest project White Coats Black Blazers.
In the pursuit of happiness and purpose, I’ve realized that balance in life isn’t always equal. I’ve found my balance by learning that it’s okay to routinely shift the priorities in my life. If I’m being honest, there’s ALWAYS a lot on my plate, but I’m continually working to rearrange my priorities based on the situation at hand.
Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)
I’m spending anywhere from 8-12 hours a day studying for Step 2 CK of the US Medical Licensing Exam. In total, I will spend about 4-5 weeks of dedicated time studying for this exam. If you read a lot of medical school blogs, you’ll see people recommend 2 weeks of studying for the exam. I’m throwing MAJOR SIDEEYE at all of those blogs because the amount of time that someone needs to study for Step 2 CK (and any medical school exam) is soooooo individualized. For example, many medical students take Step 2 immediately after their clinical year, so 2 weeks might be all they need to review everything about the human body. I, however, do not fit that mold. I’m taking Step 2 CK almost 2 years after I completed my clerkship year, so I need the extra time to refresh my medical knowledge. I’m pleasantly surprised that I actually remember most concepts and just need some time to brush away the cobwebs.
My advice to anyone studying for medical school exams - Step 1, Step 2 CK, heck, even shelf exams - is to do what’s right for YOU. This might end up being different than the standard, but realize that the “standard” only represents the voice of the most vocal med students. Folks who struggle or differ from the norm in their learning styles are less likely to shout it on the mountain top in medical school. Remember that you’re NEVER the only one going through something. I’m always more than happy to chat about the medical school struggle, so HIT ME UP!
White Coats Black Blazers
A few months ago, I started White Coats Black Blazers, a community of business-minded medical professionals. The Facebook group has grown a lot since it started over the summer (we’re at 700+ members!), and I recently launched a website for the group! As with all new ventures, there have been some hurdles that my team is working to overcome. But those hurdles are exactly what excites me.
I know that there’s a need in the medical community to have centralized information regarding career options for people interested in both healthcare and business. My goal is to keep working to find the best way to deliver that information. (If you have any ideas, please feel free to reach out to let me know!) I'm excited about the impact that White Coats Black Blazers can have moving forward.
That's it for now! Keeping it short, because, I am studying, after all, but I'll probably try to throw in some more updates here and there 🙂 As always, thanks for reading!
Peace and blessings,
Atasha Jordan, MD (to be)
