orientation May 10, 2012

there we were, david, jeff and i, three care-bears sitting together in the middle row for mt. sac’s paramedic program orientation, with coffee and rockstars in-hand.  going into the orientation we all knew that we needed to study the packets more but figured we could squeeze in the time just before the pre-course start date of june 4th.  however, to our surprise, the main text book got changed!  so a portion of the terminology we memorized also got changed.  so we started freaking out a bit.  and then, they destroyed us with the word homework.  homework?  we weren’t even in the class yet and we still have the packets to memorize.  so in addition to our memorization load they added 8 chapters of drug calculations, 40 pages of terminology homework, and 40 notecards.  i don’t mind doing the homework to help me study, but it’s taking away the time i needed to study the packets.  oh well…. not much i can do now.

 

but orientation really opened my eyes.  it encouraged me to study more and realize that this is my dream that i’m fighting for!  they informed us that we will have NO life for the next 9 months, but we all knew that coming into this.  the instructor explained that the paramedic program is basically the RN program, however the time is cut in half.  we’ll have school 4 times a week and are encouraged to study for 5 hours after each school day and 8 hours on our days off.  yikes!  my instructor said we wouldn’t even have time to play with the dog!  now, i think that’s a lil overboard, but i see her point.  she did have encouraging words for us that work for companies that have 911 contracts.  she said that a lot of the stuff will come easy and more natural to us, compared to those who only do IFTs.  so that made me feel a bit better!

 

after day 2 of our orientation i got my stack of books…. just so you know they way 28.4 pounds and i still have at least 3 more books to purchase!  ha ha!  since the orientation me and jeff, then me and david each got together to study together.  one thing that jeff pointed out was that even tho the homework was frustrating and excessive, he kinda liked it!  i totally agree with him cuz i think school is SO much different when you like the topic.  since orientation i’ve had a couple 8 hour study days and about 4 hours on the rest!  not bad!  i’m slowly getting into the swing of things.

 

honestly, i really don’t know if i’ll make it into this semester because you have to have a 80% in order to get into the program.  we had a couple of practice quizzes during orientation and i know i bombed those big time!  and i’m a realist and understand that there’s a posability that i might not make it.  however, my head is held high and i’m trying my best right now!  and if i don’t make it, i’ll be even more ready for the next start date!

mt. sac February 22, 2012

 

i finally applied to paramedic school!  my main intention in moving back down to so-cal for the CARE job was to apply to paramedic school and start my career.  but, i’ve kinda been through a roller coaster since i moved down here with my aunt passing away, mom’s surgery, my tummy problems, and starting a new job.  so, applying to paramedic school was kinda on the back burner.  and to be honest, i think i’ve also been a bit nervous to go back to school.  i know what hard work and long hours school requires and although i miss it right now, i know i wont enjoy it too much when i’m burried deep in studying.  but to finally have the job i want, it’ll be worth it and i wont give up!

mt. sac is legit, to say the least.  they demand a lot of their students, especially in their paramedic program.  they demand so much that around 30 students start the course and only about 10 graduate.  i’m gunna be one of those 10. in order to even be accepted into the program i have to pass their pre-course.  it’s a 5 day class filled with instruction and lots of testing.  then from there, they take the top students and enroll them into the paramedic program.  pre-course is in july and the actual program starts in august of this year.

when i went to drop off my application the wonderful receptionist handed me three thick packets and instructed me to memorize them before the pre-course in july.  not only are these packets jam-packed with definitions, symbols, short hand, and A&P, but at the beginning of each packet it notifies you that this is JUST supplemental material.  there are a handful of books that i also need to buy and study before the pre-course.  oh boy!

initially i was going to apply to three schools: mt. sac, UCLA, and foothill college. mt. sac was the most appleaing because it is the closest school (located in walnut), costs under $2,000, and 100% of the graduating class pass the national registry the first time.  However, as i stated earlier, it is a very demanding program and only a third of the class graduates.  UCLA caught my eye when i was in EMT school.  most of the class graduates and 99% of their graduating class pass the national registry.  however, it costs around $13,000 and is all the way in culver city!  both of those extremes are a little ridiculous.  and honestly, i was just looking at foothill college so i can be back in nor-cal.  however i know i need to stay in so-cal where i can live at home and have a job through CARE.  therefore, i’ve decided to only apply to mt. sac.  this will be interesting!