Currently feeling like I won't make it. I want to become a surgeon, and I'm just a freshman. When I look into the future, I see this big mountain, I feel like a lone climber, struggling to make it to the top. Thankfully SDN is here for support, I like hearing what you guys have to say. I'm just creating this I guess for some type of inspiration, cause I always come back and look at my old posts to read what everyone said and just remind myself that yes it is possible, I just need to stay on track.
For anyone who is in the same boat as me, or who has been, tell me how you got through it, give me some tips, what should I do? I want to keep busy, I thrive in a fast paced, always busy, always doing something- type environment. Helppp meee
#1 Realize that you do not have to become a physician, much less a surgeon. Your life will not end if you do not enter this profession and you may potentially be happier if you don't. Start by taking the pressure off of yourself. This is normal, it is fine. The majority of pre-meds do not become physicians and most are very happy.
#2 Realize that you have 12-14 years before you would graduate and become a surgeon. You are in the equivalent of pre-K. This is a marathon. To reach that goal, you will need to sacrifice a lot, time, money, effort. There are hurdle after hurdle after hurdle in your path. From classes to bad professors to standardized testing to everything in between, there are going to be a lot of rough patches ahead. Wanting the end point for the end point alone is going to make you miserable. This isn't about becoming the next mother Theresa. This is about protecting yourself from the continuous and never ending **** storm that is medical education.
#3 Realize that every person's journey is different. What makes me happy is not necessarily going to make you happy. Just because some could gut it out and survived, doesn't mean that you should. Specific tips and tricks are not going to make anything better for you unless given by someone that actually knows you and can make educated guesses based on who you are.
#4 Realize that it is okay for your plans to change. Despite the political rage that 'flip-flopping' is bad, the reality is, the ability to say, "I was wrong before, but I learned" is invaluable, both within medicine, but far more importantly in life.
Generic advice, but probably more valuable than any pre-med adviser will give you. Assuming that you want to be happy and maximize your chances at getting into medical school and be a good physician:
While in undergrad:
#1 Learn who you are. It sounds stupid, but who you are as a person changes everything about how you interact with the world. Knowing how much support you want/need to function optimally, how you prefer to spend your free time, etc. is invaluable when planning for the future. The only way that you learn this is by living your life. NOT by studying. Have a life. Meet potential significant others. Have hobbies. etc.
#2 Learn how to study. I am a PGY4 surgical resident (ie. 11 years ahead of you on the pathway). I have studied every single day for the last 6 weeks or so. I have exams to take. I have attendings and more importantly, patients, demanding that I know things that I don't. You need to learn how to study and the time to do that is during early undergrad. Efficiency and economy of effort is not only about impressing others and being useful. It is also about freeing you up so that you have time outside of work to live.
