Dear M1,
Congratulations, you are getting your first white coat! Years of hard work and sacrifice have paid off and I hope you really soak in the love and praise today because you’ve absolutely earned it. I wanted to share some advice as you start this incredibly difficult yet rewarding journey.
Trust the process and take things one step at a time.
When I was in your shoes, I had no idea that a significant challenge of medical school was going to be figuring out how this process works! I’m still learning about all the steps, tests, and applications that stand between us and (finally) being a competent practicing physician. I find it very easy to get overwhelmed by the entire journey. My advice with this being said, is to remember that countless others have walked this path before you, and remember that you’re never alone in this journey. You have lots of upperclassmen like myself that will be here for you every step of the way, and we’re lucky at UNLV School of Medicine in particular because our faculty is accessible and always eager to help us. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
Try not to compare yourself to your peers.
I know it’s impossible to completely avoid comparing yourself to your classmates, but try from the beginning to limit it as much as possible. There will always be someone studying more than you, scoring higher than you, and who seem to overall have things more together than you, but it does no good for your mental health to constantly compare yourself to them. And honestly, no matter what appearances we keep up during class or on social media, we all have our own battles we’re fighting.
Every one of us will have things we struggle with and things we excel at. Try to stay calm and do your best when you’re struggling, and stay humble and help others when you’re excelling. If you’re like me, the things you excel at may not come until you’re talking to patients in your third and fourth year, so if you’re asking yourself when your strengths will come around, just try to be patient.
The days are long but the years are short.
Gretchen Rubin
Dr. Haycocks actually told us this quote in our first year, and I still think about it all the time because of how perfectly it describes medical school so far. At the end of 12+ hour days of studying, it can seem like this journey will take forever. But I promise you the time will pass so quickly that before you know it you’ll be on to the next step, and someone will be asking you to pass along some words of wisdom. With that in mind, try to enjoy the journey as much as possible.
Accept help from your support system, take care of your mental and physical health, and remember that while studying is important, your future patients will also benefit from being treated by someone who knows how to take care of themselves first.
Congratulations again!
Sincerely,
Monica Rose
A note for the Class of 2024:
I wrote the message above one year ago, and I do still stand by my advice. However, I want to acknowledge that for your class, “trusting the process” looks different than it has for any other new M1’s in many ways. There will be a few more unknowns for you, at least during your first weeks to months, but, just like so many other challenges you’ll face as a medical student (and in life), most of those obstacles will be beyond your control. That being said, I would like to especially encourage you to take things one step at a time, know that us upperclassmen will be here for support and advice, and although you’re probably tired of hearing it try to remember that you’re not alone.
Try not to let social distancing and other limitations discourage you from getting to know your classmates as best as you can. Those peers who are strangers to you now may become some of your best friends and the support system that gets you through the difficult and rewarding road ahead. Take advantage of learning from home by incorporating things into your daily routine that support your mental and physical health. Someday when your days finally take you into clinical rotations you’ll be grateful for those habits and the time you spend now cultivating the things that ground you and keep you motivated.
This pandemic is a crazy time for everyone in many different ways, but especially as medical students. Those outside of the healthcare field may assume you’re “on the front lines” already, and that can be uncomfortable at times. If you’re like me it may even cause a sense of guilt. Just focus on why you started this journey in the first place, and try your best to react to the challenges with humility and positivity.