So, I’m setting here at my desk, and suddenly I realize something: I go back to Austin next week for school.

What?? Did 2 and a half months of summer really pass by?? A fitting tune –

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Unfortunately, my summer wasn’t as epic as Hans Zimmer’s (beautiful masterpiece of a) song might make you believe. Highlights of my summer:

• Seeing part of a brain surgery — the patient’s actual brain was exposed and pulsating (giving me a brief feeling of “Oh my god, that’s a brain — what do I do??”), and I watched electrodes being put in for an epilepsy/seizure study.
• On a similar note, seeing part of someone’s sensory nerves being pulled out of his calf during a biopsy. Unsurprisingly stringy.
• Realizing that I like working with kids a lot more than I like working with adults. Heh.
• The Tiffany & Co. story — and I’m still harboring a secret jealousy of my sister, if anyone’s keeping track.
• As of August 4, 2010: I am complete at all medical schools I’ve applied to, save one. I’m slowly working on that last secondary — then it’s waiting time for interviews. I wish I could say that I feel accomplished having done so, but I won’t be placated until I (hopefully) receive my first medical school acceptance. Crossing my fingers!

I’ve never really had a summer during college where I sat down and completely bummed — my past two summers were spent in Austin, where I conducted research and mentored my peers. Last summer, I also dropped 2 grand and took an MCAT class. And while this was the first summer I’ve spent at home, I was actively shadowing doctors near my home and in the Texas Medical Center (paying for parking blows) and took two online courses at my local community college while also applying to medical school. I’m really looking forward to next summer, where I can hopefully be a certified couch potato before embarking on a new chapter in my life.