Trey is done with Boards!

As many of my close friends and family know, this has been an important season for Trey in school. While medical school in general has its fair share of challenges, the end of the second year is especially important because all the med students have to take USMLE Step 1 or "Boards."

Here's what Wikipedia (feel free to laugh at my inability to do reliable research) says about this major test. Maybe it will help those friends and families of med students to understand why they've all been locked in a studying cave for the entire year. Because let's face it, from the outside looking in, those med school students just seem nuts sometimes. :)

Yes, it's Wikipedia, but I think it gives a good general overview...

The USMLE Step 1 (more commonly just Step 1 or The Boards) is the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It assesses whether medical school students or graduates can apply important concepts of the sciences fundamental to the practice of medicine. US medical students typically take Step 1 at the end of the second year of medical school. Graduates of international medical schools must also take Step 1 if they want to practice in the US.[1]

Format

The exam used to be an eight-hour computer-based test taken in a single-day, composed of seven 50-question sections with a total of 350 multiple-choice questions.

Subjects

Step 1 is designed to test the knowledge learned during the basic science years of medical school. This includes anatomy, biochemistry, histology, physiology, neuroscience, psychiatry, genetics, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, immunology and statistics. Epidemiology, medical ethics and questions on empathy are also emphasized. Each exam is dynamically generated for each test taker; while the general proportion of questions derived from a particular subject is the same, some test takers report that certain subjects are either emphasized or deemphasized.

Effect on Residency Matching

The USMLE score is one of many factors considered by residency programs in selecting applicants. However, at present, this test is the only standardized measure of all applicants.

Uses of test

Students in American medical schools take this test at the end of their second year of medical school, usually required for progression into the clinical third year. The test is standardized and direct comparison between medical students nationally; although, the creators of the USMLE would like that test scores were not used for this purpose. Performance on this test is also one of the selection criteria used in the NRMP match program for residencies. A passing score on this test indicates that the medical student has grasped the core scientific knowledge taught during the 'basic sciences' years.

The end.

The most important part of all of this, however, is that Trey is DONE! I'm so proud of him for all the rigorous work he put in this year. And we're both so thankful to JESUS for the blessings he has poured out over us. We move forward trusting Him, knowing that He has something perfect in store for Trey and our family at the end of the medical school journey.

Bachelorette Party

I have the greatest friends. Seriously. I had so much fun.

Here's what went down...

We all met early in the evening to go over to Kam's Kookery for a cooking class/demonstration. I got a few tips on some fabulous appetizers and dessert, before we all were treated to an INCREDIBLE dinner by Kam herself. From salad, to beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes and fresh green beans, to the flourless chocolate torte and strawberry shortcakes, it was ALL incredible. And the coolest thing is that Kam, the cook, grows most of her fruits, vegetables, and herbs in her own backyard. So fun!

After our fabulous meal, we went back to Roni's grown-up home for a personal shower and a few games. I had so much fun and laughed REALLY hard (it's safe to give most of that credit to Sal and Tati). I'm so thankful to my friends for making the night so wonderful. I love you Steph, Roni, Emily H., Sheridan, Rachel, Katie, Katy, Jillian, Kayla, Sally, Tati, Allie C., Allie B/C, Emily B., Lindsey, and Momma.

Norman shower

Some of our dearest family friends hosted a shower for us in Norman on May 2nd. We had great food (and Amy Cakes cupcakes), and I was so blessed by all the friends that stopped by. I think one of the most fun aspects of getting married is that you get to bring all the people you love the most together at once. Whether it be showers, bachelorette parties, or the wedding itself, it's been SO fun to be surrounded by ALL of the people that have played a role in who I am today. I can only hope to make them feel as special as they've made me feel. I love you, all.

All of the generous hostesses

the Jones girls

Edmond Shower

Trey's parents' friends were to kind to host a Honey-Do shower for us in Edmond. I put Trey in charge of gift opening, although I had to explain to him what most of the gifts were. Of course, I loved EVERYTHING, but I think Trey was most excited about the waffle iron.

Surprise

Amidst Trey's hectic spring schedule, he's still made me feel so loved every day. With his demanding (to put it lightly) school requirements, our engagement season has been a little different than most. We learned to make the most out of the 5-min phone conversations and 15-min/week hangouts. And the Lord has given us so much grace amidst our unique circumstance. We may not have come out of this challenging year as successfully without the constant prayers and support of our family and friends.

Here's one of the sweet things that Trey did to surprise me a few weeks ago. :)

Sneak Peek

Of the rehearsal dinners that I've been blessed to be a part of, one of my favorite parts is when the families show a slideshow of the couple from the time they were babies to the present. The pictures of baby girls are always so sweet, and the pictures of the groom as a little boy are always inevitably HILARIOUS. Here's a sneak peek at some of the pictures that might appear in our rehearsal dinner slideshow.

Of course I'm biased, but I think Trey might have been the cutest little boy ever.

Where has the time gone?

After a friendly reminder from Sally Mitzner (whose blog is one of my favorites to read on the occasional "evening on the couch" nights), I realized I needed to update. Here's what has happened in the last few months.

Tax season - I can't imagine I would interest anyone by expounding upon that topic. In summary, I worked a lot and learned a lot, and it was not nearly as terrible as I expected. I'm thankful to my co-workers for helping me get through it, even when I complained and was "tired." I can only hope that I can be that kind of blessing to whomever becomes the next "newbie" in our office. Here's a brief look at my future...

Wedding planning - What are my mom and I going to do when it's over?! We have had so much fun doing it together. What has surprised me though, is that there are so many details and so much to remember! And of course, I'm at work, so my mom is the one going to all the appointments and making a lot of the "detailed" decisions. I'm so honored by all the time and resources my parents have put in to making the Big Day so special. I can't WAIT.