A Second Year of Making Love with Medical Science
Time flies, literally. Another annual door of learning has
open as I enter the second phase of medical studies. I am apprehensive, as I have
only little idea of what to expect this school year. Perhaps I will suffer just
as I barely passed my anatomy with a grade of 78. Yes, it was my very first
time to experienced having a line of 7 grade. From elementary to highschool to
undergraduate and masteral degree, I have managed to keep my transcript clean
and full of 90+ grade. But I just had my first taste of 78, a bittersweet triumph.
In medical school especially here in CSU, having a grade like that will keep
you happy and satisfied. I thank my anatomy professor and God and my effort for
achieving that feat nonetheless.
First day is awkward for me. I can’t explain my feelings, a twirl
of emotions billowing under my gastrointestinal tract reaching my chest. It
gets harder to breath each time I face my future colleagues and especially as I
bump eye-to-eye with my professors. I have so much respect to my teachers—because
I know firsthand how hard it is to become one. I have thought for 3 years in
Pharmacy school and the level of stress is incomparable to teaching medicine
students.
Our first subject for today is Microbiology under Dr. Mark
C. (I won’t divulge his surname because I haven’t ask his permission yet) , a young
and enthusiastic professor. He has this beautiful smile and powerful voice. I
kinda like it, and he pretty sure looks like us—millennial doctors-to-be. His
medical knowledge as expected is superior to what I know. Afterall, I am just a
student, a bottle ready to be filled with contents. I hope all of my professor
will be successful enough to fill this bottle not only with knowledge but with
compassion and ethics.
Many say that 2nd year of medical studies here in
CSU is the most difficult phase. I tend to agree, even if I haven’t experienced
it yet. Just look at our schedule, we have classes from Mondays to Sundays, and
it seem that I have to prepare reading voluminous information. Inasmuch as
possible, I don’t like to memorize but it seems that I need it more. I’m
moderately weak at memorization but my strength lies in analysis, integrating
medical stuff into practical situations. I tend to be stronger in questions
that require analysis keeping in mind the concepts that have been thought. I am
weak in visual-spatial relationship especially identifying detailed parts of
microscopic and gross tissues, laboratory identification of slides and
radiographs. I know that is my waterloo.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help in surviving
the rigors of medical studies. Just as warriors prepare in battle by planning
and knowing their strength as well as weakness, I too has to plan and prepare. During
our first year in Preventive Medicine, we made a SWOT (Strength, Weakness,
Opportunities, Threat) analysis
regarding health program. This SWOT analysis can be applied not only to program
plans but also to personal lives. I haven’t made a physical list but in my mind
I know what my SWOT looks like. This is the first step in survival as suggested
by experts.
Making love with books; sleepless nights ahead; storms are
coming our way. Winter is near. But with God and the belief that I (and you
too) am capable of achieving even the things that seem impossible, will
materialize in no time. Personally, this dream of becoming a doctor is an
impossible star for me. I am the only one in the family up to first degree
relatives having reach this ambitious journey. In fact, my relatives even doubt
that I can make it considering our family’s financial capacity. Thanks to DOH
scholarship, I made it this far.
Even up to to this day, it seem a dream to
even reach 2nd year. I am excited but at the same time anxious. But with
the help of Divine intervention, nothing is out of reach. I just have to
continue making love with medical science.
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