What’s on your mind?

THINKING LIKE A MEDICAL STUDENT

As a medical student, I know a few things about coping with times of high stress and anxiety. During COVID-19, this type of thinking is really (really) useful. t’s beyond clear to all of us that when we ended 2019 and

Irang in 2020, not of us could have imagined how much our lives would change. Even after months after the COVID-19 crisis rocked all of our worlds, we still have not clue about how much longer this pandemic will lasts, or how or lives will be altered moving forward.

To be honest, we really just have to come to grips that it is still very unclear what the impact of this pandemic will be long term, and millions of students do not know when, or if they will return to campus. This is a lot. I, for sure, will not dare to form an idea of how I think this will all unfold in the end, but I do, however, know a thing or two about how to successfully move through tough times and bouts of uncertainty. As a medical student, I’m presented with the ups and downs of the medical school journey on a daily basis. I wake up each day knowing that things will get harder before they get easier. While the current pandemic has certainly brought a whole new element into the mix, my anxiety about keeping it together as a medical

student played a huge role in my reality even before this COVID-19 mess hit. The funny thing about all of this of course is that as a future doctor, it is my duty to care for others, even if my own reality is battling with keeping it together on the most basic and simple level as one needs to make it through a day. Over the course of my journey as a medical student, I have had the opportunity to learn that navigating through challenging times isn’t just a part of getting through medical school – it’s a very important skill for doctors to have as they enter into the workforce and begin interacting with patients. No matter if you’re a pre-medical student, still in high school, or just a college student having a hard time managing the bizarre stress that they we’re all undoubtedly going through at this present time, there are a few pieces of advice I’d like to offer that have helped me manage the feelings of uncertainty that have tried to break me down:

1. Shape Your Premed Experience Successful medical students do a good job at taking time to reflect on their lives and take a close look at the desire to practice medicine. They write their thoughts down. They can actually see themselves being successful in their classes and along their journey. While many students may not take the time to organize their thoughts and think deeply about the intentions behind each and every step of the process, successful medical students write down the vision they have for their lives and the goals they are going after. Then, they get started on crushing their goals. If you are willing to commit to constantly working on yourself, you will naturally begin to get a better understanding of yourself and your self-confidence will grow as well. As someone who is pursuing a career in taking care of others, when you have a firm understanding of yourself and value your strengths and the characteristics you bring to the table, you will have a greater ability to also understand and value those around you, including your future patients.

2. Learn to Focus Your Energy It is this characteristic that is one of the most critical when it comes to succeeding as a student. With the great demands on pre-medical students, it can be easy to become distracted and overwhelmed by thoughts of to-dos. Successful premeds learn to hone in on the ability to concentrate to make the most of your resources and efforts. Think about ways you can constantly “work on yourself ” and gain wisdom that will help you reach the goals you desire. To be successful, you will most likely need to acquire a greater set of skills than you currently have. Working on your ‘medical school mindset’ is one of the best kept secrets to performing well as a students and it is one of the best actions you can undertake. Who you are, what you tell yourself, your study habits, and thought process will undoubtedly put you on the right track.

3. Be a Motivated Self-Starter Successful medical students are not only motivated to reach their goals but are also bona fide self starters. They are more likely to face obstacles and challenges directly. Being a self-starter is an overlooked way to become a well-rounded student. Students who strive to be lifelong learners make sure they have opportunities to learn new concepts and ideas. Many students may think that with their super packed and busy schedules there is no additional time to learn anything more than what is already being required of them. Successful medical students understand the importance of personal growth. They are in a constant state of striving to learn and do more. This self-directed quest for knowledge pushes them forward and helps them stand out from others. Think about some of the simplest ways to nurture this trait. One easy way to get started in this area would be learn on the go. Find an audio book that suits your interest as a way to gain new knowledge in an easy way, low-stress way. 4. Collaboration is Key Successful medical students learn very early on that sharing is caring and they become very good at it. As a future physician, being able to work with others in an important part of being a medical student. In fact, admissions committees recognize that a student’s ability and interest in collaborating with others is just as important as more obvious skills such as effective communication and motivation. As a pre-medical student, it is important that you understand the importance of sharing information and ideas, but also know that the opinions and feedback from others is just as helpful.

5. Critical Thinking is Critical Studies have found that college and universities do not do a very good job at teaching critical skills to students during their undergraduate years. So, as a pre-medical student, it is important that you being developing and improving your skills in critical thinking as early as you possibly can. Think about critical thinking as more than just gaining more knowledge but as a way of thinking about whatever challenge or obstacle that comes your way so that you’re planning for the best possible solution. Students who are good critical thinking. “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” - Albert Einstein. p.