School is in session

It seems like yesterday when I was in my classroom, Egypt, for the first time to attend orientation. I don’t know how time passed, but its been 10 months, and first year is gone.

When I started, a lot of people came to tell us how hard it was going to be, over and over again, we got this message of doom even before we started.

They didn’t lie. It was hard. I didn’t think of quitting (naija peeps don’t quit school, we grind it out), but I definitely remember asking myself if I wanted to go through this for another three years.

Every other week, I was bombarded with exams. The whole of my first semester was a blur, because I still don’t remember what happened outside of med school for those 5 months.

I thought I was smart, brilliant, intelligent, name it, and I would breeze by like I did in undergrad *insert chuckle*, however medical school was a different kettle of fish entirely.

Lesson 1: Med school is not about how intelligent you are
I learnt that after my first exam. Those exams test more than knowledge. I passed my first exam, but I know I could have done more. My “intelligence” and “brilliance” got me through part of the way, but it wasn’t enough.

Lesson 2: Its not about how hard you study, its about how smart you study
My, did I study hard during those first weeks/months? I had to learn how to study smart. There were people who spent hours studying and making good quality notes, then there were the people who spent half the time studying those notes. The latter group often did better than the former group. Needless to say, I jumped ship after my eyes were opened.

Lesson 3: have the right connections
I learnt this when Neuroanatomy hit! I was never a study group person, they were a perfect waste of my precious time- or so I thought. However, my study group became crucial to my success in various courses. I learnt Respiratory Physiology through them, wouldn’t have gotten past cardio without them. They were a lifesaver

Lesson 4: Questions!, Questions!!, Questions!!!
This was the pirates treasure, the pot of gold, the… ok, you get the point now. I learnt so much while doing questions with the study group of course, and when all else failed, I have been rewarded quite generously for looking through past exams that had repeated questions. I try to devote the entire day before the exam to doing questions- try is the keyword here

I learnt a lot during those ten months, not only about medical stuff, but about myself, people and life in general. for example:

1. I can survive on three hours of sleep, but six will do just fine.

2. Coffee is good, but Vitamin Energy has more caffeine.

3. medical related jokes are not funny outside the med school building - ok, maybe the hospital too.

4. Wikipedia is an official medical school textbook.

I especially learnt to stop and smell the roses. Take a few hours from studying and go see a movie. Sleeping in church while reading BRS physiology was definitely not the way forward.
I almost broke down trying to do it by myself. At some point (during neuro) I thought I had a sleeping disorder- I prolly did. My friends were quick to comment whenever they saw me awake in class. I knew I had reached breaking point when I was almost dozing off in the lab (even though I was on my feet, and it was interactive) and I had to fight to stay awake while driving back home in the afternoon!

I decided to let God take control, and I must say that was the best decision I ever made. Blogging was my release( for those who wondered how I still had time to blog) and having the bestest most understanding boo in the world was the icing on the cake!

I will remember the nights I almost gave up, and I will not forget the friends that pulled me through.

I will remember the times when I thought I was doomed to fail, but I will be forever grateful for those random AIM bundles of Joy that contained high yield-need-to-know-for-the-test information that got me through

I wil remember the times I spent slugging it out on my own, but my study buddies will always be close to my heart.

I definitely will not forget blogging during exam week- most of my poss were written during very stressful times. I discovered tinuke, carlang, overwhelmed and a few others while studying in the library

As I make my way into the second year class- the Canaan- I won't forgetg the process of getting there. one down, three more to go!