Exam

The much dreaded year-end OSCE is next week. I'm glad that I'm finally feeling a little panic. Clinical OSCE is not an exam I've sat for many times, so there's a worse fear of failing compared to sitting the other written test that I've grown quite accustomed to.

Yesterday I've finally found the jasmine tea that I've missed so much in the supermarket. I'm loving it!

The Apprentice

My favourite quote from the apprentice in this series was from Lucinda. Being one of the three candidates on the firing line in the board room, Sir Alan Sugar asked Lucinda who is a risk manager by profession 'What's the risk of you getting fired?', then she coolly answered 'The probability of me getting fired is one out of three.' That's such a genius answer! British Apprentice is so much better than the American version, probably because it's much more authentic as the BBC doesn't censor off all the swear words...

Presentation

Every friday, we have a session called Clinical Debrief. The a few of us from the two PBL groups usually take turn to present and discuss interesting cases we've encountered throughout the week. Our tutor have been quite open to suggestion in terms of what to do in these sessions. The activities range from heated debate on ethical and philosophical issues to OSCE practice. Last week I asked the tutor if he could teach us basic fundoscopy. Neither he nor the rest of the group looked keen, but just mumbled some websites and library books that I'd find useful. I don't like fundoscopy, but in view of the coming OSCE, I really want to take this opportunity to understand the common things properly. So I decided to prepare a surprise presentation to the group in the next session on diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy.

Throughout the week after the progress test, I researched on the internet and made sure I know the stuff myself. I put togather a power point consisting many different fundi pictures. Because it consisted of about 38 slides, I wanted to make sure that it doesn't drag on so I practised and practised in my bedroom.

And I did it today. It went really well!

'Did you said last week that you wanted to do some fundoscopy because you weren't very confident in it?' My tutor asked.
'Yes.' I said.
'And now you're speaking like an opthalmologist!'

And feedback from my friends had also been incredibly positive. From the quiz I put on later on people were definitely more knowledgable about the two conditions than they were before.

I know I'm not the most chatty person and I can be quite a boring geek. But I'm glad that I was able to contribute something to the group. And also on making presentation, I know I can present well even in front of large and critical audience provided that I prepare well before hand.

All in all, it was a really happy day for me.