What would my Doctor self tell my Medical Student self? (Part 1)
I have always secretly wished that there were such a thing as time machines so I could go back and correct the mistakes of my past. Surely many of us have had that wish too.
The question is: What if Time Machines did exist and my present self could go back to the past to the time I was struggling in Medical School? What would I do or say to my former self? Well, first and foremost a good beating comes to mind (hahaha just kidding)!
This is something I have pondered about for weeks on end and finally I have collected my thoughts together to write this blog. Mind you that with so many things I would love to tell my medical student self that one blog post is not going to cut it. Perhaps two or three would do? Let’s see since I am writing this as I go along.
As a medical school professor, I have had the privilege of witnessing how times have changed. From carrying large, heavy textbooks in a massive back pack to school to just clutching an iPad or Tablet with a whole medical library stored in it; times have really changed drastically.
However, what apparently has remained intact is the same seemingly endless struggles that all medical students face on a daily basis on their quest to attaining that coveted “MD” title. The so called "Road to MD" is never an easy one regardless of what school you are in.
So here I am now imagining what my current doctor self is face to face with my former medical student self. What I see before me is a young guy with a lot of worry and uncertainty painted all over his face. Clueless would be another word I would describe this lanky and sleepless medical student in front of me.
So it’s time to say something and here I go (trust me, I won’t be nice!):
“ Well you seem to be troubled. What’s going on in your mind? You’re thinking that medical school is too long? You want to be doing other things in your life? Ok.”
“You may think that the extra four years after college may seem too long. Your non-medical school friends already have jobs and are earning money while there you are stuck in medical school. You are stuck asking for allowance money from your parents. You then have to budget it throughout the week and make sure you don’t blow it all by Wednesday.”
“Your non-med school friends are all having a great time drinking and partying on a Friday night while you have to stay home to study for a quiz in Anatomy the next day. Poor you! I so pity you!!!”
“Right now I would love to punch you in the face and tell you that you are more fortunate than your non-med school friends? Why?? It’s because they have no choice but to work to make a living. I am sure some of them wanted to go to medical school too but their parents couldn’t afford to send them there."
"If you look at them with envy, how much more are they envious of the enormous privilege you have been given? If you ever asked them to trade places with you, many of them would do so in a heart beat!”
“Envious that they are making their own money? Trust me that having parents willing to support you financially during this period in your life is a dream! Don’t have enough money for food because you had to spend money on some project? No problem, Mom and Dad are just a call away. Once you start working, that privilege disappears in place of a meager paycheck you will receive every fifteen (15) days. Does that sound enticing to you??”
“Remember that Being in Medical School is a privilege coveted by many but only given to a fortunate few. You are one of those fortunate few you ungrateful oaf! Learn to be thankful for what you have!”
“Just to add, these next four years you will be spending in Medical School is a very small price to pay for the utmost privilege of having an “MD” at the end of your name for the rest of your life. Not just a title but also the respect that many people have for it, it’s all yours for a mere four extra years of study!”
“Trust me when I say that four years will go faster than you can remember it. It seems long now but just keep going and it will all be over before you know it.”
“So, what’s going on now? Oh you have three exams tomorrow and you have over a hundred pages of text to read? You’re stressed? You want to quit?? Really???”
“Would you rather be out under the hot sun and plant rice? Would that be easier for you?? Remember that anything worth having in life ever comes easy!”
“It’s your emotions taking over your thoughts. Emotions are a powerful force. It can influence you to do impulsive things and things you would eventually regret. How many people do you know have quit medical school? Oh, I know them too and where are they now? Some did eventually become successful in other fields but some just didn’t make it anywhere! Do you want to be like those who amounted to nothing?”
“Being part of the Medical Profession is one of the greatest privileges that one could ever dream of. In order to be bestowed that privilege you must work for it and give a considerable amount of sacrifice to be deemed worthy of it.”
“No matter how hard life in Medical School is; everything will come to pass. Your challenges today will eventually become memories of yesterday”
“On the topic of Sacrifice, why do you think its even needed?”
“It is because someday someone will entrust you with their very life. If you did not make the necessary sacrifices to learn important medical lessons then you will be ill-prepared to help anyone who puts their trust in you.”
“Sacrifice breeds competence. If you diligently learn the things that your doctor professors are teaching you the there is a greater chance of successfully saving a patient’s life. If you don’t sacrifice now then your future patients will be the ones to suffer for that trust they gave you!”
“Remember what Dad told you to do always? Read, read and read! Yes that’s right! Dad should know because he’s been through the same process too. He was a medical student too at one time in his life you know.”
“You don’t understand what you’re reading? Yes that can be hard especially since you have to read five chapters of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine in three hours. I really empathize with you on that matter but what did Dad tell you?”
“Yes, just keep reading! It is unlikely that you ever understand anything by reading it once. Believe me when I tell you that I have had to read many textbooks you are reading now over and over again for it to make any sense. Even to this day as a doctor I still read the same textbooks you are reading. “
“Never get tired of reading. It’s an intricate part of this profession you are entering. Everything we need to properly fulfill our vocation is written in these books. We should be grateful that other doctors were kind enough to write down these vital pieces of information for us to be armed with the knowledge to save lives!”
There is a lot more I want to say to my medical student self but for now let me wrap this up with the important things I said:
Being in Medical School is a privilege coveted by many but only given to a fortunate few.
Four years will go faster than you can remember it.
Anything worth having in life ever comes easy.
Everything will come to pass. Your challenges today will eventually become memories of yesterday.
Sacrifice breeds competence.
If you don’t sacrifice now then your future patients will be the ones to suffer for that trust they gave you!
Read, read and read! Never get tired of reading. It’s an intricate part of this profession you are entering.
I may have been a bit harsh but these are things that need to be said and there is a lot more to come in upcoming posts.
If you can relate to this or know someone who can relate to it, you will be doing them a great favor by sharing this to them.
Thanks for reading.
Till next post – Doc France
Read Part 2 here
