Looking back… 05/07/15

It’s been a week now since I nervously entered the common room at the Medical Teaching Centre and tried to keep it together while I scanned the pass list for my name. I found my name and immediately burst into tears; I resorted to thumbs up signs so friends knew they were tears of joy and made my way outside, as a second year medical student.

This past year has been the hardest ever.Moving to a new city and getting to grips with seemingly endless amounts of information was difficult but what was harder was that life doesn't stop because you're at medical school; old friends repeatedly ask if you’re free, parents worry, grandparents get older and the juggling act is never easy.It’s not easy but with supportive friends and family it is manageable and I certainly wouldn't have got through this year without family and friends, old and new.

Considering how much I've complained about being busy this year I seem to have a talent in finding more things to do, so my first week of freedom was spent at the Royal College of Psychiatrists annual congress which was in Birmingham this year.I'm interested in psychiatry because of my research background and joined the society as a student member. As a medical student you can end up signing up for a lot of things all of which send many emails, however amongst those can be some amazing opportunities.I was able to volunteer at the conference and attend for free, attending talks about new research and treatments was really inspiring and definitely a good way to start the summer!

This week I also got started on my URSS summer research project. This a scheme that provides funding for research projects across Warwick University. My project is to conduct a systematic review investigating the relationship between poor sleep and child obesity, which will hopefully be publishable.I've never done a systematic review before so I'm a bit nervous but also excited to try something new.

So looking back on my first year as a graduate medical student, what have I learnt?I've learnt many weird and wonderful medical facts, I have learned how to communicate with a whole host of patients, I've learnt how to conduct basic examinations but I’ve also learnt a lot about myself.I’ve learnt that I am my harshest critic and that I do have a limit, beyond which is not productive or fun. I've learnt the importance of working in order to avoid reaching that limit and I hope that next year I can put these lessons into practice- see you in second year!

Megan Earle : 13 Aug 2015 11:48 |  Tags: Joanne Mbchb Student Warwick Wms |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem