Med school is more than just lectures and exams

Remember what they say about med school? Exams. Practicals. Case Reports. SGDs. Hospital rounds. But as you enter med school, you'll realize there's more to this bunch of responsibilities. I'll try to talk to you about that, House, MD and Grey's Anatomy way.

Upon entering med school, I was too anxious of everything. New beginnings always scare me the most. New environment, new set of people to meet, new lecturers (and not just lecturers, they are successful doctors!) and any other things that might intimidate me. I have already anticipated all the superficial facts about med school - exams, sleepless nights, endless topics to review, no time for everyone, blah blah blah. But I did not expect to learn about things that you will acquire outside the classroom.

1. You will get numb in med school. You will learn to just accept things and move forward ALWAYS. You got 75% on your exams? Good. You got a failing grade? Learn from it. You cannot cry about it and throw tantrums just like a child. Lift your spirit up and redeem yourself!

2. Med school will always be a handful. You will always feel like you've been missing out on everything. #FOMO. Despite studying your as* off on those exams, there will always be the voice in your head that you're not giving it your all. You're not doing any good, and that thought, my friend, MUST not be entertained. It's cliche to say but sweetheart, we are not allowed to give up in med school. Keep fighting!

3. You should be hungry to learn up to the point that you feel like you can't stop from seeking new medical information. C'mon, learning never stops! :)

4. It is NORMAL to screw things up during your first time. You're still a student, you are bound to be introduced into new things. In short, YOU ARE STILL LEARNING. Do not be afraid to grab chances, ask questions, or even try procedures you haven't even done.

5. With med school, you are assured to face disappointments and even fail to meet your own expectations. Sometimes you just have to hope for the best when you know you have done everything you can and pushed yourself to your limits. Remember, God always provides.

6. Your whole journey in med school will always feel like everything's falling apart that you won't even know which one to focus on. Compose yourself and find your support system so you can have a reason to pull it all together.

7. You will have your sabog days after failing an exam, or after not getting at least an hour of sleep that you won't even know what you're doing. Fix yourself, do great, and move forward!

8. Physiology taught us that cortisol stimulates your appetite. In layman's term, STRESS EATING. You will always ALWAYS find company while you crave for all the tempting carbs after having no sleep and taking exams while you feel like you did not study anything. In short, you will get fat. Accept that.

9. Don't get stuck after getting disappointed and pressured. You need to get back up and start studying again. In Medicine, there is no turning back. Just always keep in mind that there is always a sunshine that will strike you with all the motivation and positivities in life.

10. The most unexpected news will always be the great ones. Do not assume when you know you did well because you can never tell the odds. Just pray for it and God will give you what you deserve. :)

11. Metaphorically speaking, yes. Use it (your brain!). Because you really have to make good decisions. Remember, you will be handling your patient's life in the future.

12. Finally, do not be scared to fall apart or have your mental breakdowns. It's totally part of the road since you're meant to handle tons of work and overwhelming decisions. Keep in mind that you feel scared because you're still holding on to something that can be and IS your source of strength.

So basically, med school is more than just using your brain. You will always learn something new that will definitely mold you as a resilient human being. Keep soaring high while you reach your ultimate goal!