Wednesday 21 January 2015

MECHANICS IN MEDICINE

I had an orthopaedic filled day today! It involved watching a few surgeries and sitting in the fracture clinic with the trauma consultant.

I never really considered orthopaedics as a field that I could go into. Stereotypically, I wouldn't get very far because of my size. I mean, how will someone as small as me hammer and screw into the human skeleton...

It was fascinating looking at all of the equipment that was laid out on the table today. I have never seen so much metal work that were available for the surgeon to use to manipulate to his/her will. Watching the surgeon work was like watching an artist create a masterpiece. Hours of dedication and meticulous planning to produce the desired outcome in order for the patient to have a better quality of life.

Surgery has always been something that I've been seriously considering and after today, I am 97.5% sure that I still want to follow this path. That's not to say that in a few months time I'll change my mind and want to do something completely different... The beauty of medicine is that the options and oppurtunities are endless


Tuesday 13 January 2015

A LIFE OF ASSESSMENT

It's nearly halfway through the first month of 2015 and the one thing that's already in the back of my mind are the exams that determine whether I progress into third year. Statistics show that the first and second years of medical school are the times when the majority of students that aren't cut out for medicine fail. If I go by this, then I have one more hurdle to face before I am filled with confidence that I can actually graduate after 3/4 years. 

Many people think that after getting into medical school, you have completed the greatest challenge. But it's only just beginning. Each year you are filled with self-doubt as you wonder whether you will be able to make it to the next stage of achieving your goal of becoming a doctor. It doesn't really get much better once you graduate either; as each year your competency is assessed thoroughly. 

For those considering medicine, I would strongly advise you to think about these things along with many other factors before you decide to pursue this path. For me, I don't mind having a life full of exams and stress. Because at the end of it all, I will be doing what I love the most and seeing change in the world around me. Being a part of that change is bound to give me the adrenaline rush that I long to have in my working life. 

After a fairly gloomy post, I thought I'd conclude with something that made me very happy. A few days ago I opened my jar of memories from last year and read the notes that I had put in there throughout 2014. Some made me chuckle whereas others made me relive moments that I would never forget. I've chucked all of them away (except for a few special ones!) and I have started a brand new one for this year; and I'm happy to say that I already have had two precious memories only 2 weeks into the year.


God bless

Tuesday 6 January 2015

BALANCING LIFE AND MEDICINE

Eyes widen and heads shake in pity as I tell people I do medicine when they ask me about what course I'm studying at university. Medicine is NOT hard. The content is actually easy to grasp and you are walking into the exam with a cheat sheet, your own body.

Having said that, it can be difficult to manage both a life and medicine at the same time due to the sheer work load and the lack of time to do it all in. I'm not going to that I'm an expert in conquering this task as I'm still working on it. But here are a few tips for all those aspiring medical students out there that find it difficult to get the work-life balance right:

  • Set aside some time for family and friends - When you get to medical school, it can be easy to get completely bogged down into your work. Which is understandable as we have worked very hard to get in so it would be a waste to not strive to be the best whilst you're at university. However, spending too much time doing work and not enough with a strong support network can affect you in both the short and long term. There are plenty of stressful times that can arise over the course of each year you spend learning medicine, so it's essential that you build up relationships that can help you ease you way out of these situations.
  • Start a blog or journal - Every individual will have personal thoughts that they do not wish to share with another party. Instead of bottling these up, start a private/public blog where you can articulate your inner thoughts and express them to the outer world. If you're not into blogging, then create a journal and write in it regularly. Not only does it lift a burden off your shoulders, but you can also see how you grow as a person as you progress through the course.
  • Get organised - One of the greatest mistakes a lot of people make is not getting organised early on in the year. There are plenty of utilities to help with this. I have a diary which I cannot live without, it contains a detailed account of what I need to do every day and it helps me to get all my work done in time. 
Also, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! God bless.


Friday 2 January 2015

CHARITIES OFFICERS

Earlier on in my blog, I mentioned that I got the opportunity to choreograph the dances in the MedSoc panto - Aladdin. Well the event was a huge success!

Source
In order to respect confidentiality, I have blurred everyone's faces. It's not because we're an ugly bunch...
I have even more good news! At the annual winter ball, myself and my friend (R) got elected to become the successive charities officers on the exec of the medical society. This means that we get to organise the panto next year (Lion King is on the cards!) and many other events in order to raise money for charity. We're both very excited for the year ahead of us!