Histology Reflection

As I take a moment to reflect on the histology course this semester I am continually grateful for choosing this upper division science course. Histology is the study of the function, location, and characteristics of the tissues found in the human body. Going into medicine will require me to be familiar with the different types of tissues because I will need to be able to distinguish healthy tissue from infectious tissue. As I begin my journey in graduate school I will need to know the class content on a much deeper level. Therefore, I am thankful for the opportunity to be exposed to this subject, so that I can succeed in the much more intense course. Whichever specialty I decide to pursue, the study of histology will equip me to be prepared educationally. This is true because every specialty focuses on a specific area of the body which is made up of tissues. It is essential to know how the cells that make up these tissues interact in order to provide the best healthcare. In order to understand the effects of medications, it is also imperative to know the types of cells and tissues they are targeting.

Whichever aspect of medicine I think about, I can’t imagine an area where a knowledge of histology is not essential. This encourages me to be continually grateful for the opportunity of taking this course in my undergraduate career. Taking this course allows me to see the overlap between this course and other courses I have taken in the past. Such course include anatomy and physiology, animal physiology and microbiology. I catch myself having “aha” moments while sitting in class and remembering course information from previous classes. This allows my knowledge to become solidified and allows me to retain information more vividly. Our anatomy and physiology professor explained to us that a key in retaining information was to encounter the information at different times and different settings. This is precisely what I am encountering right now and I am excited to continually grow academically.

              The class lectures are very fast pace which doesn’t allow me to take notes as I would like many times. However, I have found that if I listen intently and just write down the most important things I tend to retrieve more from that lecture. The information load is quite heavy but the key is to encounter the material on a regular basis. Studying in groups is helpful because it allows us to discuss the concepts in a way we all understand. It also gives us another opportunity to encounter the information in a different setting. As a student it is hard to admit, but the quizzes are also helpful because they force me to go over the content of the quiz rather than studying all the content at the last minute. Interactive discussion in class and kinesthetic activities tend to aid my learning the best. What I enjoy the most from this class is the connection I am now able to make between the classroom and cases at the clinics I work at. This in fact is a growing experience.