I can’t believe it: Trimester 5 is officially in the books, and that means I’m halfway through my journey studying Traditional Chinese Medicine! When I first started, it felt like the finish line was a million miles away. Now, standing here, it’s wild to see how much has changed, not just in what I know, but in who I’m becoming along the way.
Like any long adventure, this trimester had its fair share of highs and lows. Honestly, it was packed with some great patient experiences and new techniques that aren’t always taught in class. I loved getting a glimpse of how this medicine looks in the real world with all the little tricks and skills that only come from hands-on practice. One of the best parts of this trimester was finally starting to feel more confident treating patients. And with a lot more clinic shifts coming up, I’m pumped to jump in and get even more experience. Honestly, it’s time in clinic that makes all the studying worth it.
We also kept plugging away at herbs (because of course the list is never-ending!). Memorizing them for tests is one thing, but recommending them to real patients? It’s a totally different story. It feels so much more real now, and I’m super excited that next trimester we’ll finally start diving deeper into formulas instead of just focusing on single herbs like we’ve been doing for the past two terms.
Now, on the flip side… you can’t have the highs without a few lows. This trimester was kind of weird, because we had way fewer credit hours than usual. Sounds amazing, right? More free time? But for me, it made things harder. I do so much better when my schedule is packed, like when I must get things done because there’s no other option. Having all that extra free time just made it way too easy to procrastinate, and I definitely felt myself slipping a bit. Not ideal. Luckily, next trimester is a lot busier, and I know that’ll help me stay way more focused on both in school and just with life in general.
Now with five trimesters down and five more to go, I’m feeling a mix of excitement and a little healthy nervousness. There’s still so much to learn, and it’s not going to get easier from here. But I’m starting to trust myself more, and I know I have a solid foundation to keep building on. Here’s to being halfway there — to the challenges, the wins, the setbacks and everything in between.
Learn more about Carly’s journey here.
