I'm sitting in a Greenwood coffeeshop trying to read as much as I can about sex chromosome evolution so I can pass flunk my general exam with dignity, a renewed caffeine addiction, and perhaps lots of drinking.
Sitting nearby are a group of nursing students, all nearing the end of their program. They appear to be cramming for some comprehensive exam, likely the culmination of years of classes, tests, and studying to learn all there is to learn about human biology and how to treat people with illnesses, diseases, and disorders. It sounds like, after this, they'll go out into the world and become professional, intelligent healers.
Except, ten minutes ago, I heard this exchange among them:
person 1: "Wait. Take a look at this sentence in the intro..."
person 2: "What?"
person 1: "It says here that there are lots of different types of white blood cells."
person 3: "There are?"
person 2: "Seriously?"
person 1: "Yeah. Something called lymphocytes... and things like neutrophils and mast cells and... and... My God, there are a lot of them."
person 4: "Oh no. Do you guys think that's important to know for the immunology exam?"
They all spent the last ten minutes ferociously pouring over that textbook (a book they were apparently supposed to have bought for a class years past, but they all decided they didn't need), trying to find out all the different types of white blood cells. One student had a near panic attack and ran home to order the book online after realizing that your tonsils are a part of your immune system.
One small part of me sympathizes with them. Only now, over two years into my graduate program and two months before taking an exam that will determine whether or not I'm allowed to continue in this program (or pack my bags and resume my career as a below-average cashier), do I realize how little I really know and understand the subject matter, theory, and previous research in my own field of study. But, then again, if I don't know every detail of sex chromosome evolution, no one's going to die in a hospital bed... while these nursing students just realized something I learned years ago in my sub-standard education: there are many types of white blood cells.
person 1: "Like, a lot of them."
person 5: "Oh, sh*t. I'm screwed."
I'm never going to a hospital again.
Posted by James at January 20, 2008 11:21 AM