Studying for NBME and the USMLE STEP 1

After moving back to the states in October my life has been a flurry of study and learning how to be back home with my family.  Personally I feel like I struggled the most with learning how to study for the NBME and the USMLE!!!  These exams were not like the in house exams us students experienced at our institution.  These exams are a completely different beast. In all honesty I hate having to admit how much I struggled.  After getting off the island I finally passed my NBME exam have been studying for my USMLE step 1 and preparing to depart for my pre-clinical in Decatur Georgia in April.  

However, it hasnt been just studying that has preoccupied my time and thoughts since I have been home.  My grandfather has been diagnosed with Parkinson a while back and has been steadily declining since I have been home.  Finally a month ago out family decided that he was to much work for my Grandmother and I and decided to put him into an nursing facility.  This has been the most difficult decision I believe we have ever made as a family.  I feel like his decline affected me mentally ( I lived with them and we are very close) and thus affected my studying!!! Never underestimate the power of your mind.....and your mental health.

But on a more benign note while I have been home I have had the opportunity to spend time working with my dad, brother and sister.  We have done tons since I have been home. We have worked cattle, artificially bred some of our cows, and built miles of fence on top of what THEY do on EVERYDAY!!!