Reflections of a Medical Student: Post-M1

Medical school challenges you in ways I couldn't have even imagined, but I have loved learning more about myself and others around me through this process and I can't wait to share what the future holds with all of you! Over the course of this academic year, I jotted down thoughts and lessons from my experiences wherever I could including my phone, journal, post-its, and even the corner of my notes. Here are 5 of my biggest takeaways from this year:

1. You are more than capable! Yes there is a heavy workload and yes there are plenty of days when we have several hours of challenging lecture, but it amazes me every time how much material we can go through, learn, and understand if we set our mind to the task! Taking some time every morning to structure my day helped me organize efficient study and break blocks. Checklists were also super helpful for me to visualize all the lectures and tasks I had for the day ahead. Study when you feel the most motivated and you'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish yourself!

2. Maintain your passions and hobbies. It's easy to get caught up studying the whole day but finding time to do the things you love on top of school is so important for your own personal well-being. Workout, go on a run, paint a picture, travel, explore a city, watch a show with friends - the list is endless! These were some of the things that kept me grounded over the course of this year. With time, you'll eventually find the perfect balance for you and getting into this habit really helps set the momentum as you move forward in your career!

3. It's ok to feel like you need to step away. While there were many highs in med school, there were also a fair share of lows. I'm being completely honest when I say that there were some mornings where I woke up with 0 motivation to keep going. There is so much being expected of you at all times and when you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, just put your things down, relax, and refocus. Just looking at books and notes all day long can be draining, but having experiences seeing patients and interacting with their families truly helped me see the impact that all of our efforts now will have in the future and can have from now onward. Shadowing with healthcare teams, getting involved with extracurricular activities, and doing community service are all great ways to see how our knowledge translates to impacting patients and our greater community.

4. Never underestimate the power of a conversation. Whether with patients, faculty, friends, classmates, or family, be open to differing opinions and learn from others perspectives. Sure you might not agree with their views, but their stance is just as interesting as yours and we can open up opportunities to educate each other about how we feel about certain topics that are not always black and white.

5. Build lasting relationships - past, present, and future. I cannot stress how important this is moving forward. You have built so many incredible relationships in your past, you will meet so many wonderful individuals in the present, and this may lead you to future relationships waiting to be discovered. Maintain your connections because these are the people who are there for you - the ones you call when you're stressed, the faces you want to be around immediately after a week of studying for a hard exam, and the ones you can trust to always have your back no matter the distance between you. These are your people so keep in touch in any way you can!

I hope you can learn a few helpful pointers from my experience and I will continue to share more insight from year to year.