An Honest Reflection of TB1 in Year 2 If I were, to sum up, the first term of my second-year experience in one word, it would be “satisfactory”. And that’s not to undermine the hard work that went into delivering a “blended” learning experience; it’s merely a judgement of what has been a challenging first term. There is no doubt that the situation we all find ourselves in is unique. Not only are we training in the middle of a global pandemic, where things are uncertain (to say the least), but we also need to remain mentally resilient to keep afloat. I have often found myself chronically bored with looking at the same screen and after prolonged use, irritable at the sight of Zoom or Microsoft Teams. However, I would not say it has been all “doom and gloom.” I have been able to engage with content on a much deeper level, balance Medical school with other university roles and also learn more about myself (deep, I know). The blended experience also offered the chance to teach aspects of Medicine creatively. A moment that stands out would have to be our “Lifestyle Conversations” lecture with Professor Trevor Thompson - where best-selling author and nutrition expert, Dr Rupy Aujla, joined us from his kitchen! The less glamourous aspects of online learning - remote tutorials and lectures, have been a breath of fresh air in comparison to first year. The clinical focus has put things into perspective and serves as a foundation for the later stages of medical school. Learning to escape the online environment with fresh air has been my saving grace, and with the introduction of E-Scooters in Bristol, I have been chasing the adrenaline rush from a quick ride! Under the current circumstances, the start to second year has been okay. It is encouraging to see the potential for some face to face teaching in TB2, and with the new vaccine being rolled out, it could spell the end of Zoom and Microsoft Teams (I joke!)
Written by Adewale Kukoyi
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