# Parker Takeover By [Decker Tovey](https://paragraph.com/@tovey) · 2022-09-17 --- **Recap:** _“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution”_ This was my third week of the term. On Tuesday in Gross Anatomy lab, Taaron and I dissected further into our cadaveric body. We reflected the rest of the intrinsic back muscles and highlighted the suboccipital triangle (SOT) and greater occipital nerve. We also took part in a laminectomy, which allowed us to identify the conus medullaris, cauda equina, and filum terminale.  > **Laminectomy (noun):** _a surgical operation to remove the back of one or more vertebrae, usually to give access to the spinal cord or to relieve pressure on nerves_ This has been a highly educational process. I wasn’t sure how well I’d learn from doing the dissections, but in just two cadaver labs, I have gained a better understanding of how the back muscles layer upon each other. Pointing out muscle’s origins and insertions and then discussing their neural and vascular innervation with my lab-mates (if not visible on cadaver), has benefited me greatly. This weekend will be full of studying, even more than usual. Next week, I have several exams and skills checks. I have an exam in Biomechanics, Gross Anatomy, Microbiology, and then have a skills check in Chiropractic Methods. I had a handful of my classmates over to my apartment to practice various palpation techniques to prime ourselves for our upcoming skills check. It was helpful for us all, and it was enjoyable to get to know them all a little bit better other than just their chiropractic side. On Thursday, my cousin, Bethany, moved to the Dallas area from Roseburg, OR. On Friday morning, her and I went shopping home goods at IKEA, Walmart and my cousin’s plant shop, _Famous In Oregon_. She is a cousin of mine that I have probably spent the least amount of time with, so I’m excited to have her nearby and have another adventure buddy here in the Lone Star state. * * * \*\*Education: \*“\*\*\*_Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”_ — Malcolm X Just this past week alone, we have been taught about lumbar and sacral restrictions and malpositions, spinal reflexes, cholesterol metabolism and synthesis, MRIs and more. It is truly incredible how much information we are provided, and is hopefully retained, in any given week. A majority of what we are currently being taught is review for me, so I am trying my best to master the material and help out my classmates who are seeing this information for the first time. I take pride in leading from the front, and like I’ve said before, not because I want the power, but because I truly find joy in helping others succeed. At the beginning of last trimester, I told Taaron that I measure my success in how well he \[and my other study-mates\] do in a certain class. If I do well, and he doesn’t, I’ll take the “blame”. If we both do poorly, then I’ll still take the “blame”. Leadership to me is innate. I like commanding a team and a complexity of tasks. A secure leader is willing to take responsibility and own up to the lack of action in the preparation process. > **Leader (noun):** _a leader inspires confidence in other people and moves them to action_ I also told Taaron that every test or quiz that we take, my mindset is to absolutely kick his ass and get a better grade than him, though I also want him to do well. I reminded him that I hope he has a similar mindset. Not everything has to be a competition but it is something that we can use to our advantage. It is simply my natural competitive behavior and is something that will push us to reach our full potential, in and out of the classroom. If you take a similar approach in whatever it is that you do, don’t forget to practice humility and congratulate your loved ones when they achieve something that they’re proud of. It’s OK to share the spotlight because when you are prepared, your moment in the sun will come and may even last longer than just a brief period. My close friend, Stephen Machado, illustrated this to me when we were both at Oregon State. He was always supportive and proud of my accomplishments. He was the ultimate hype man. Whether it was in the classroom, intramurals or with the ladies, I knew I could count on him to give me some positive feedback. Being around him a lot, this encouraging etiquette wore off on me. I now try to be as uplifting and motivational as possible, regardless of who I’m talking to. There are currently ~36,000 chiropractors in the United States, and less than 500 chiropractic neurologists _in the entire world_. As a hopeful future chiropractic neurologist, I have an opportunity to be in a profession that only 0.000625% of the world is apart of. > **500 chiropractic neurologists ÷ 8 Billion people ⨉ 100% = 0.000625%** Trust me, there is enough wealth to go around. * * * **Conclusion:** _“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need”_ While I was earning my Bachelor’s at Oregon State, I was constantly stressed. I felt like I never had any free time and could never reach the level of success that satisfied my own personal goals. As much as I love education, the 11-week terms at OSU were never pleasurable. I am glad to say that I am in 15-week trimesters at Parker and look forward to each day that I get to learn something new. School doesn’t feel like a drag or burden anymore, and it is partially due to the fact that I have surrounded myself with a great team of passionate and driven classmates. Many students in our class complain or stress over little assignments and exams. I used to be the same way, but once you start to overthink things and create a belief in your mind that the things in front of you are difficult, you begin to fabricate that kind mindset. Removing the negative thoughts and energy from my life has allowed me to grow interpersonally and to stay in the present moment, which I have struggled with in the past. I joke with my classmates that we are going to “takeover” Parker and that by the time we have finished our degrees, they will rename the school after us. That is how successful I imagine us being! I continue doing these newsletters with hopes that you will find inspiration in my words and go out and do the unthinkable. You have the power within you to change the world. Do not let anything or anyone tell you otherwise. You are powerful beyond belief. — tovey.eth --- *Originally published on [Decker Tovey](https://paragraph.com/@tovey/parker-takeover)*