Finished My First Trimester! — An Update From Hannah
I’m officially finished with my first trimester of chiropractic school at Logan! And boy, does it feel good to say that!
The last 15 weeks have flown by! This trimester moved twice as fast as any semester at MU, even though they were only a week longer. It’s hard to believe that only five months ago, I was preparing to move to Chesterfield to start this journey, packing everything up and saying goodbye to all of my friends in Columbia.
This trimester was full of all sorts of exciting experiences. Here are some highlights!
Tri 1 Highlights
Commitment to Excellence
I kicked off my tri on May 12th, with a Commitment to Excellence Ceremony. At the ceremony, I received my blue coat, and I took an oath, committing to learning, caring for my health as I care for future patients, and embracing the art, science, and philosophy of chiropractic as a chiropractic physician-in-training at Logan University. I was incredibly blessed to have my dad, grandma, sisters, my two best friends, and Dr. Meyer present as I took the oath.
Doctor’s Bag & Tools
At orientation, I received my doctor’s bag! It is filled with tools I’ll use as a chiropractic student and future chiropractor, ranging from a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope to tuning forks and pin wheels. I’ve already started to learn how to use many of the tools!
Student Leadership & Awards
As a Tri 1 Class officer, I was eligible to be nominated for superlatives for student leaders at Logan by other Logan students. I was honored to receive the Logan Lifer Award, along with one other student. This award is for students who spend a lot of, perhaps too much, time on campus, which definitely describes me. If it's between 7 am and 5 pm on weekdays, you’ll probably find me on campus.
Logies Celebration
To celebrate the end of the trimester, the class officers decided to have a taco bar and awards inspired by The Dundies from The Office. I received the Early Bird Award for always being the first one to campus on our tri.
Simulation Center Days
These were my favorite experiences! Twice in my clinical methods class, I had class in the simulation center, a space set up like our adjusting rooms, to practice history-taking skills and SOAP notes in my clinic attire and blue coat. Each encounter was recorded and observed live by a peer for feedback. My first set of peers were a little jealous of my ability to calmly and thoroughly gather a basic history. I smiled at them and told them I’ve observed quite a few new patient encounters!
Inside the Classroom
Classes officially started on May 13th, and each day I’ve fallen more and more in love with chiropractic! Between attending classes, labs, and studying, I’ve been busy, yet I’ve managed to make time for family, friends, walks with Dallas (my mini Aussie), self-care, and, of course, cooking.
Now you might be wondering: what classes did I take? My schedule was packed! Here are some of the topics we covered:
Gross anatomy
Lots of science (biology, chemistry, and histology)
Chiropractic’s philosophy and history
How to take vitals
What an orthopedic test is, and how to perform a slew of them
Skills for taking a patient's history
Lots and lots of palpation
It’s safe to say that I’ve learned so much!
If I had to pick a favorite class, I’d choose two: anatomy and clinical reasoning. Interestingly, they were also the most challenging classes for me. In anatomy, I loved learning about the intricate design of the human body. Specifically, how every bone, muscle, nerve, and vessel is placed just so, allowing the body to function and work as it should. In clinical reasoning, I was challenged to start thinking like a doctor, and I quickly began to realize the importance of applying clinical knowledge with reasoning skills.
Reflection & What’s Next
Now, I won’t lie—Tri 1 was tough. Not so much because of the material, but because I had to figure out how to study for three or more exams a week and still manage my time without burning out. It honestly took me about 10 weeks to find a rhythm, but once I did, I realized this trimester was about more than just classes and grades. It showed me what I’m capable of, pushed me to grow, and reminded me to lean on God in the process. I’ll never forget walking out of my last final, feeling the sun on my face, and just being so thankful for how far I’ve come. Tri 2 is next, and I’m ready to keep learning and keep growing.