As today marks the end of May, it’s time for me to say goodbye to being a MyLife blogger. I have had fun this past year documenting my experience in the med lab science program; if it weren’t for this blog my memories of the program would be just one giant blur of stress and studying!
If I were to sum up how I feel about the med lab program, I’d say it is intense, but not that difficult. The lecture materials presented are straightforward and easy to understand, especially if you have prior experience with post-secondary science courses. It’s mostly the sheer amount of material to be learned in 1.5 years that causes everyone to stress out. To me, the 3 terms I’ve gone through at BCIT are like this:
- Level 1: easiest
- Level 2: most stressful
- Level 3: longest
Level 1 was about learning basic materials related to health science, such as anatomy & physiology, immunology, and basic microbiology. We also learned about what it is like to work in clinical labs, and how to interact and communicate with other healthcare professionals.
Level 2 was the most stressful in my opinion because it was the shortest term (September to December), and we had so many new things to learn about med lab beyond the first taste we had in level 1. We had to learn about how each department in the lab runs, and I think everyone would agree that Chemistry is the most intense because it has so many of its own rules.
Level 3 felt like the longest because we already learned a lot from level 2, so it was mostly about refining our skills and being comfortable working in labs before we are off to practicum. It’s a month longer than level 2 with the same amount or fewer materials to learn, so towards the end of the term everyone was just dying to finish and have a break.
Overall, even though it was a lot of work in a short amount of time, I’m glad it’s only 1.5 years of theory because I’ve been going to school for so long and I can’t wait to get out and experience a real career using my skills and knowledge.
I’m not done being a med lab student but I am done with my time as a proper BCIT student, and there are many things I will miss about the school and the program. At BCIT most everyone is serious about studying and completing their programs, and this includes everyone in my program as well. Everyone is supportive of each other and we’ve bonded from spending so much time with each other, be it during studying or stressing out for theory and lab exams. The instructors are also dedicated to our success and they’re always more than willing to help and make sure everyone is on the same page. I will definitely miss this kind of tight-knit support group! I hope when we’re out doing our practicum, the people in our clinical sites will be just as nice. Right now it still feels a little weird to not have to go to school and see the same people again! I’m lucky that there are a few people from my set who are going to the same clinical site as me, but I will miss seeing the rest for sure.
Right now I’m just trying to enjoy my summer break since it’s probably the last school break I will ever have. I’m also anxious about seeing my final marks, which are supposed to come out tomorrow. I sure hope I passed everything!
My last piece of advice for anyone wanting to be in the med lab program at BCIT is to be ready to work hard and stay organized at all times. It will make your experience easier! And don’t be scared to ask for help because the instructors will always try to help you, and many of them are willing to accommodate polite, reasonable requests. If there’s any more questions feel free to leave a comment and I will make sure to answer it.
Have a good summer everyone!