Hi dear readers! Wow, it really IS a long time since I updated anything on my once-so-active blog. Guess the exams and hospital works took half the life outta mii. Anyhow, I'm done with my fourth year in MBBS and hell yeah I'm stepping to the final year very very soon! Booyah~ Excited, yet worried at the same time. But that's for two months later to worry about. Right now I'm currently doing my electives of Cardiology in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah. And after that, a whole month of holidays before my final dash!
Alright now, many have been asking, through my blogs or directly to mii, what does it take to pursue MBBS and what it is to expect in this hard-core course. Hmmm, I've been in university life for like, 5 years now (including Foundation in CUCMS), so yeah, I guess I could have somewhat of an experience to share for the future students who wish to take up this whole of a havoc. Haha! (Do note that these are personal opinions so, heed it or leave it :) )
Well, first of all, my advice is, STAY AWAY FROM MBBS WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHANCE! That said, once you stepped in, there's no turning back, well unless you've got lots of life to spare and money to spend. Otherwise, as I mentioned above, it's gonna take half the living lights outta you! If you want a life without worries, without stress, (not just any other worries or stress, it's totally different from other courses and I'll explain them later) MBBS isn't the choice you would really wanna venture into.
But, (there's always a but to everything huh?) as one of my lecturers mentioned before, it is a noble career to take up. Noble, that's the word, not glamour, not fame. It's the aim of being a noble doctor with honour. Put everything else aside that makes you fantasize lucrative idealizations of being a doctor, coz all that ain't gonna happen without tremendous hard work and persistence.
Now, back to baby steps in entering MBBS, I've listed out a few tips and pointers that might help you young boys and girls in entering this course, and at best enjoying it to the end:
1. Know what you want!
I guess, this would be THE BIGGEST issue among society nowadays. Many, and I meant many, see that being a doctor reels in a lucrative sum of earnings. Students and parents alike, they all see the shiny side of being a doctor, but what they do not see, is the grueling course of study and hard work to just getting a medical license from the Malaysian Medical Council.
Young boys and girls, it is important to know what you really want. This is a journey not to be toyed with, and having to study in MBBS will be gruesome for you if by anyhow, have no idea or no aim in why you are taking up this course. Many would say, 'I took up this course to save lifes', but how many stand true and apply to that? Trust mii, when you've gotten yourself to clinical years or under the stress of exams, you'll be asking yourself over and over again on why you are taking up this course. I'll be honest and there are times that I myself questioned my choices. Without will power and determination, I guess this would be the biggest mistake you'll be making in your student life.
As for parents, I don't know, is it fame or glamour that make your eyes shine and your head tick? But having children to follow your wishes is nonetheless, cruel and I would say a form of child mental abuse. Let them choose their own path. We've seen many cases of suicide due to pure stress, and we do not want that to happen now do we?
2. Can you handle stress well?
Of course, there are people who are all-out and on full will to take up MBBS, and these are people that I admire most. However, when you have such determination, you tend to have some kind of expectations for achievement. I've seen many suffer burn-outs due to the pressure to excel and trust mii, it ain't healthy at all. As a medical student, we will surely face challenges that are somewhat different compared to the stressors in other courses. We have our workload to complete, our medical syllabus to cover, medical practical works to apply, our lecturer's demands (haha, some of my lecturer's faces popped into my mind while I was typing this) and of course, the different kinds of patients to attend to. And take my word, this will really grind you to use every single bit of your ability just to talk to a patient, find out what their problem is and try to elicit symptoms according to their chief complaints.
I guess these are the biggest challenges of being a medical student, and thus it is important that you know how to relax. For mii, I'm the moderate, easy-going guy. I do have expectations, but just to pass my exams is the main priority though. Hence, I have less of the stress thingy going on in my head (not really a good thing though haha!). Stress can come as a positive energy, but without proper coping techniques, it would be disastrous to our pursue in studies. So, do take up some stress-coping techniques, it could be as simple as meditation, or the shop-till-you-drop kind. I prefer sports, like futsal, badminton and jogging, takes a lot off my mind everyday.
3. Do you enjoy talking to people?
Medic is more than mere studying and passing exams. It requires a special set of communicating skills. In CUCMS, I felt blessed that each and every student here is trained from Foundation up till we graduate in our communication skills. We have classes, workshops and hundreds if not thousands of presentations in forms of SCTL, TBL, PBL etc, all of that focused on getting us to open up to patients, and eventually patients to open up to us on their medical problems. This really is something you can't find in any other medical universities that I've noticed.
Even when we step into clinical years, communications are highly regarded as the jist of perfect medical intervention. We have Community Medicine and Family Medicine in which we have to hold our own medical intervention campaign for the society. Besides, we are the ONLY medical college to have Disaster Relieve Medicine (DRM) where we communicate with 'terrorists' to release the 'hostages' or when we are pushed of our communications to the limits in any kind of disaster. And also we have Wataniah Medication and Young Mercy Malaysia, all stressing on communications as the main pillar towards success in our medical career. Trust mii, if you don't like to talk, it's better you start developing that habit now. If not, this really isn't one for the taking. Besides just talking, we have to be great listeners as well. There really is a lot more to this. Without communication, everything breaks down and patients will be reluctant to open up their problems to you. So ask yourself before you step into MBBS, are you ready to communicate well with the society, no matter how hard it gets?
4. Can you socialize well?
This honestly depends entirely on a person. Some excel being lone rangers while others hunt in a pack. For mii, I learnt a lot more being in groups, we share our knowledge and correct each others mistakes. Being alone has its perks as well, where you could cut out all that gossip and truly focus on your studies. And for these reasons, I alternate myself. I usually study and revise alone first, before I get into my study group to share my knowledge and apply them into my practical work. So far, this has panned out well.
My advice here would be still to socialize. Nothing beats a good discussion with people of similar professions. You get to mark up on your weaknesses and learn from others in the same way. And then here comes the main question. Do we socialize in the same kind of a 'group'? Well, in CUCMS, 80% of my friends are Malays. And though it may be kinda hard at first as some may not be used to each others cultures and believes, you soon forget your differences and see things in a much more professional way as you grow. I have been in groups of a mixture of races and religions, and that has not and will not stop mii from learning. Hence, for those who still have biased thoughts, it's time to grow up and be the professionals of our career. We are gonna see patients of different ethnics, races and religions anyway, so why shun yourself from differences when we could build bonds which could be so much stronger?
5. Dream BIG and go for it!
Many would detest at the idea of students taking up medicine just for the earnings. Well, to mii as long as it does not become an obsession or the aim towards where we are heading to, it is still OK. Yes, come on, who does not want to earn back what we've spent? Medical is an expensive course and unless you have a lump sum of money to spend, I guess we really should work hard to earn those dollars back. And when I meant earn, it means a decent earning, not an obsession where you treat patients and hit them with inflated prices just because we have that medical license. I remember a saying from one of my professors: 'Studying medicine is like a huge investment, and you've gotta find ways to earn your capital back.'
From there, I found the bitter truth that as doctors, we are just like as any other careers. We have our needs and mouths to feed for those with families. Hence for that, it is relevant that we dream big! We have to have a least a vague planning for our future, on what we would specialize in, to open our own clinics or to venture into medical business. And for those who have a definite aim, go for it! I myself have a liking for Orthopedic Surgery or Cardiothoracic Surgery, and might have an interest to venture into medical economics as well. It might change in future, but it's never wrong to dream big right? Remember, as long as it does not become a principle in your career, it is acceptable. Be that noble and caring doctor, nothing will go wrong.
6. SMILE
I don't know. To mii, it could be as a stress-coping technique, a conversation opener, a make-you-look-much-more-a-friendly-person technique, or as a defense mechanism. Smile when you barge into problems, smile to give a patient the much needed hope, smile to lessen a patient's worries and tension between you and the patient, and smile when you can't answer a lecturer's question. Either way, it has proven to be a success in helping mii become a better medical student over those past 5 years. You can either choose to be angry, grieve, complain, suffer over challenges you face in medical school, or you could just smile and enjoy life as a medical student. Things are not as bad as they seem really. Patients, nurses and doctors have a significant liking towards a genuine smile and are willing to go that extra mile to help you in your studies. No matter what happens, smile and pick yourself up, you'll truly enjoy medical life then.
7. Be prepare to face Life Changes
Last but not least, be very prepared to face changes in your life. This will be with you till the end of your career. Here, I've listed some from the Oxford Royal Academy, and it holds truth to what you will face in your medical life then!
- You'll be able to use what you've learnt throughout your life.
- It's hard work but not all hard work!
- It isn't just about studying medicine.
- You'll make some of your closest friends studying medicine.
- Studying medicine brings you up to date with the latest medical research.
- Medicine is a long course.
- You have a vacation, not a holiday.
- Organization is key!
- Most of your peers will be very intelligent!
http://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/life-as-a-medical-student.html
Overall, studying medicine is both very challenging and interesting at the same time, requiring intense discipline and determination. One thing to note, no matter what it is, be very sure of your choice stepping into the medical field. It is more than just a job, it is a job with great purpose. It is the way of life, the life and future of humanity....
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Quotation by Mortimer J. Adler:
We must bear in mind the distinction between fame and honor. A virtuous person is an honorable person, a person who ought to be honored by the community in which he or she lives. But the virtuous person does not seek honor, being secure in his or her own self-respect. Lack of honor does not in any way detract from the efficacy of moral virtue as an indispensable operative means in the pursuit of happiness.... Those totally lacking in virtue may achieve fame as readily as, perhaps even more easily than those who are virtuous. Fame belongs to the great, the outstanding, the exceptional, without regard to virtue or vice. Infamy is fame no less than good repute. The great scoundrel can be as famous as the great hero; there can be famous villains as well as famous saints. Existing in the reputation a person has regardless of his or her accomplishments, fame does not tarnish as honor does when it is unmerited.
Signing off:
Nickel Low CJ
