I know this is somewhat stupid, but here goes. After what is my third try, I got accepted to a nice Osteopathic Medical School, a few hour drive from my house. Really, it has been a very difficult road, filled with obstacles, one after another. Everything was fine, till like yesterday, when I realized, I had only a month left before joining medical School. Now I am a nervous wreck X 10, thinking about residency, internships, Board exams, fees, doing OMT, you name it and I am worried about it.
I am sure some if not all of you, must have had some qualms before you started your first year, what did you do and what would you recommend? Is it normal to feel this nervousness?
One thing at a time rookie! And that's the motto you need to keep throughout this entire process. Yeah, you plan and prioritize, but it's still one thing at time. That said, here is some basic advice:
1. Health comes first... yeah even before your grades. Don't go flushing life down the drain for some garbage exam you won't even remember a year from now. Sleep 6-8hrs a night (regardless of what the zombied-eye nerd-herders are spewing), eat well, and EXERCISE regularly. In the long runs, your grades will benefit from this as well. So start the routine early.
2. Don't let the neuroticism that stews in the lecture hall seep into your system. Stay cool. It's only school. Seriously. If you put in your time daily and focus on the right stuff, you'll learn your $#!+ and you'll sleep at night like a baby. For these kids who don't know anything but graduating college, working a summer job or workstudy here and there and then jumping straight to med school, most haven't tasted how nasty the real world can be. Remember what's it like to struggle and that you are where you WANT to be. When it starts getting gnarly... remember that you're doing what you want and the fight is as much a part of it as is the end goal. Smile when the $#!+ hits the fan because this is what will separate you from the pack and most importantly, allow you to continue to grow.
3. Minutia... don't go losing sleep on this. Focus big... then work your way down to the nitty gritty. (This is where you're friends Pathoma, Qbanks, and FA come into play. And I don't give a rat's rear what the naysayers think, this trifecta should become a part of your life once anatomy is wrapped up or whenever it is you start core/systems. Don't let them be your main source, but they should be involved in the game as much as possible as realistically early as possible, mostly so you can really snuggle up and get to the know them well. You'll be thankful you did come May of your 2nd year).
4. And this is the best advice a physician friend of mine gave me: "It's a marathon, not a sprint." Sure there will be times when you need to kick it up, but leave gas in the tank. It's a long haul. If you want to get through this, remember that. I've seen kids sprint the last 3+ years and man... have those little ones aged. Some of them really look like crap. Older, beaten up a bit. I feel the anti-McConnauhhay "They keep getting older, and I stay the same age..." All joking aside, don't let this journey age you TOO much. The real stuff doesn't even start until after they call you doctor, so don't go busting the juice before the real fun even begins.
Alright, that's enough of my mind candy for now. I wish you the best of luck. Go get em!
. I'm also nervous but I am also very excited the same time.
