Hi! I recently got accepted into a DO program and I am very excited to start medical school! I came across your tumblr and have read a few of your accounts of students feeling bullied and demeaned while on rotations. This scares me because I feel that I am a sensitive person and would hate for my care for others and my performance to be impacted just because I can’t “suck it up” :( Do you have any advice for almost first years to not lose enthusiasm for medicine down the road?
First of all CONGRATULATIONS!! You’re about to start the most challenging but exciting journey.
Second off, before starting school, this was one of my concerns as well, however a lot of people I’ve spoken to along the way have also considered themselves a “sensitive” person and we’ve all done just fine. To be honest, the first one or two times you get reprimanded stings a bit. But one of the things I’m most proud of is how I’ve developed tougher skin throughout this journey, which actually is really important. Fortunately, most of the places I trained in were not the typical “make you feel stupid” environments. I’m hoping this is where medicine as a whole is heading. However, there will always be one or two toxic programs that you will just have to endure. But like I said, sometimes it is necessary to get that thicker skin, especially with the work we will be doing. It sounds a lot scarier than it is once you get there, so try not to dwell on it too much. One thing that helped me was to remember that at the end of the day, no attending is going home and remembering some stupid comment you made, so why should you spend time ruminating over it.
But don’t worry! You’ll find your niche and the field that most suits your personality.
As far as not losing enthusiasm along the way, the best advice I can give is to find something that truly inspires you and make sure you make time for it. For me, global health was something that I had a real passion for and was vital in my decision to become a doctor in the first place, so I made sure to be involved in the global health program at my school and travel. Also, I got involved in volunteering at a children’s hospital in the first and second year of school, to kind of keep me grounded. It can sometimes be hard during those first two years when its all studying and no clinical exposure to remember why you fell in love in the first place. So just find something to remind you.
The other super important thing is to find people in your school that you connect with and can really be friends with, and do things with them OUTSIDE of studying. In my third and fourth year, this became life saving for me to be able to grab a beer with my friends who actually understand what I’m going through on a daily basis.
But most of all-- BALANCE. Balance is what will help you survive medical school. Studying 24 hours a day and having no time to blow off steam won’t be productive for anyone. Make time for yourself. Find something you enjoy and dedicate an hour a day to it.
I hope this helps! Good Luck!
