Wow, what a whirlwind. I don't think anyone enters medical school without knowing that it will be a busy time, but it's been something else to experience it personally. But we survived- one week down, many many to go! Here are some of my main takeaway reflections:
Expectations. Since we all survived the gauntlet that is medical school admissions, you can feel how much higher expectations are compared to undergrad. We've had lecture or lab from 8-5 everyday this week- and although we complain, we all know that we can do it, and the professors know this too. What was viewed as exceptional previously is now simply the norm, and that is going to take some getting used to.
People. In a similar vein, the people are all a lot more intense than I am used to. Everyone is hyper-organized, everyone is on top of the assignments and/or working ahead, everyone has amazing life experiences and visions for where they are headed in medicine. I definitely felt like I was already struggling with imposter syndrome- it's hard to go from being a big fish in a small pond to a very small fish, haha.
Content. Although this week is a bit more of an orientation, it's been really exciting to finally be spending all day every day learning. Whether it's been reviewing foundational science concepts, learning about the healthcare system, or understanding the importance of patient care, everything is actually relevant to what I want to do in life- and that is incredibly exciting.
Location. I feel so incredibly blessed to be going to medical school in such a beautiful place. After living places that had far less accessible nature, it feels a bit like a dream that I'm living somewhere to close to beaches and forests both. Having that so close by is going to be essential to my mental health as I continue along this path.
Anyways, that's enough for this week. Excited to spend today relaxing, checking out the climbing gym, and going to the beach in the evening!