Ticking Off My List

Hooray! My faculty rang me yesterday to confirm that I am able to graduate this semester (which I knew already, but damn they were taking their time to approving me), so that's one thing ticked off my list of "Things To Do To Start Med in 2008." Or half-ticked, anyway - I haven't graduated yet, but it's all set up for next month. I've decided not to attend the ceremony. Graduation ceremonies at my university are the most stage-managed, farcical, make-you-feel-like-a-number-not-a-person charades. You have to sit where they tell you, stand when they tell you, sit when they tell you, move when they tell you. And when you walk across the stage to shake the Chancellor's hand and they give you your canister, guess what? THE CANISTER IS EMPTY!!! That's right, your degree isn't even in there. It's entirely for show. Somewhat of an allegory for the university itself...

There are quite a few things left on my list, and unfortunately they all involve spending money:
* Do First Aid course - $120
* Get vaccinations - not sure, but apparently a few hundred dollars
* Buy a longer-life battery for my laptop - $140
* Buy a lab coat - $20
* Get a stethoscope - about $100, but the parentals are covering this one as my Christmas present
* Buy a clinical examination textbook - $140

I just got my tax return, which was exciting, but it's pretty much all allocated now. I'm hoping that any other textbook needs can be fulfilled by the books I've got from undergrad and those that will be in my PBL room, otherwise it could end up being a rather expensive first semester.