The talks over the last few days were the same: a mix of inspiring, eye-opening, and mind-numbingly dull. It has been overwhelming to meet so many friendly and bright people and I think my first challenge will be to learn how to connect and work with people from so many different backgrounds, and that's a challenge I look forward to. Already, I have come across people who've said things that were brilliant that I admire and can't wait to learn from, and others who have made comments that are borderline-insulting that I'm hoping were just the talks of nerves. But even if those were their true beliefs, learning how to appreciate the good in people will serve me well. I still don't fit in (but I've found 2-3 people who feel the same way and I connect with), and I've grown to be grateful for that. I feel that some of the things that set me apart will help me stay happy and healthy throughout the next four years.
Following my initial gut feelings from the first day, the remaining 2 days didn't really seem all that different. But I feel different. Maybe it's the buzzing in my brain from all the information that's getting to me, but I don't think the speakers were wrong when they said I am now a different person having walked through these orientation doors. I don't feel any different having been enticed by different medical equipment companies to buy their stethoscopes, nor do I feel any more entitled having had more talk of prestige shoved down my throat than one would need for a lifetime. I think what has stuck with me from our lectures is that medicine isn't just a journey in learning clinical skills and how to talk to patients, but a personal journey of self discovery.
What kind of doctor do YOU want to be (and I don't mean just your specialty). And I've taken that to the next level of what kind of PERSON do you want to be. That is something I have an idea of, and I'm looking forward to using medicine to work on getting to closer to that person. I'm hoping that through all the things that will be thrown at me in the field I will learn to be a more patient person, less sensitive, more positive, and overall a happier person through this personal growth. Today we had to write letters to ourselves to read on graduation and I tried to get my future self to look back on everything I've just mentioned and to be proud of making it through this journey.
For now, to kick off the year, I've created a few mantras to live by that I hope will serve me well:
1. I only know different, not better than someone else. Everyone has something to teach you, even if they sound like intolerant idiots at first.
2. Physicianship comes with a status, which like any other career, is earned throughout a long and hard-working career. I have not earned anything yet and will never consider myself above any other career just because I'll be a doctor.
3. It's okay to make mistakes as long as you own up to them and learn from them.
4. Only plan one step at time and next steps. You have no idea what the future has in store so take things one day at a time.
5. Quitting is not a sign of a failure but instead a gesture to respect yourself. If after an honest shot I really don't think medicine is for me, I will walk away from the profession.
Anyway, that's enough rambling for a little while. Time to rest and relax because classes started Monday and the real journey begins. Looking forward to learning more about myself and evolving into someone new :)
Following my initial gut feelings from the first day, the remaining 2 days didn't really seem all that different. But I feel different. Maybe it's the buzzing in my brain from all the information that's getting to me, but I don't think the speakers were wrong when they said I am now a different person having walked through these orientation doors. I don't feel any different having been enticed by different medical equipment companies to buy their stethoscopes, nor do I feel any more entitled having had more talk of prestige shoved down my throat than one would need for a lifetime. I think what has stuck with me from our lectures is that medicine isn't just a journey in learning clinical skills and how to talk to patients, but a personal journey of self discovery.
What kind of doctor do YOU want to be (and I don't mean just your specialty). And I've taken that to the next level of what kind of PERSON do you want to be. That is something I have an idea of, and I'm looking forward to using medicine to work on getting to closer to that person. I'm hoping that through all the things that will be thrown at me in the field I will learn to be a more patient person, less sensitive, more positive, and overall a happier person through this personal growth. Today we had to write letters to ourselves to read on graduation and I tried to get my future self to look back on everything I've just mentioned and to be proud of making it through this journey.
For now, to kick off the year, I've created a few mantras to live by that I hope will serve me well:
1. I only know different, not better than someone else. Everyone has something to teach you, even if they sound like intolerant idiots at first.
2. Physicianship comes with a status, which like any other career, is earned throughout a long and hard-working career. I have not earned anything yet and will never consider myself above any other career just because I'll be a doctor.
3. It's okay to make mistakes as long as you own up to them and learn from them.
4. Only plan one step at time and next steps. You have no idea what the future has in store so take things one day at a time.
5. Quitting is not a sign of a failure but instead a gesture to respect yourself. If after an honest shot I really don't think medicine is for me, I will walk away from the profession.
Anyway, that's enough rambling for a little while. Time to rest and relax because classes started Monday and the real journey begins. Looking forward to learning more about myself and evolving into someone new :)
