Dear MS1s,
Medical school is a lot like Chipotle. It’s fast – seriously, where did my MS1 year go? It’s casual – socks and slides were a staple in my wardrobe for visits from even the most high-profile of speakers. It makes you sleepy – just ask my classmates for picture proof. And, like Chipotle’s famously overstuffed burritos, most of us are working hard to keep it all together. As such, it feels only right to convey my unsolicited advice for thriving (and surviving) during the first year of medical school through the lens of my burrito bowl order at Chipotle:
Brown rice – The base of any good burrito bowl is a hearty helping of rice. This is akin to the sturdy foundation provided by the faculty and staff at Penn Medicine. There were so many times during my first year that I felt lost, whether it was in the classroom, my research, my career aspirations, or the confusing passageways between buildings on campus. Yet, course directors, research mentors, faculty advisors, and friendly security guards guided me in the right direction. Throughout your MS1 year, you will get innumerable emails from these helpful folks. Take them up on their offers of assistance — it’ll make the year a lot smoother.
Black beans – Rice without beans is like peanut butter without jelly. While Penn Med’s faculty and staff provide structure, the students themselves add the requisite depth and flavor. Both inside and outside your class year, you are going to meet some of the most brilliant, quirky, and passionate students you’ve ever met. Take advantage of the opportunities available to get to know your peers, even if the interactions are a little awkward over BlueJeans or Zoom. The conversations that you have and the friendships that you make will be among the most impactful takeaways from your MS1 year.
Sofritas – I have been a vegetarian my entire life, so I always substitute sofritas for meat in my burrito bowl. Being a vegetarian, especially one growing up in the meat and potatoes-loving Deep South, has always been something that I took pride in. I share this with you all because I am confident that each of you has many facets of your identity that make you unique, including your hobbies — whether it’s playing a cool instrument, visiting fascinating parts of the world, or being able to recite every Drake lyric. While starting at a new school may be daunting, I encourage you to keep up with the passions that you have already cultivated. They will provide you with solace when times are tough and allow you to build community with those who share your interests.
Grilled vegetables – An assortment of bell peppers and onions makes my burrito bowl healthier. Taking care of your physical and mental health during your first year is particularly crucial, given that medical students are notoriously overworked and over-caffeinated. Activities I enjoyed outside of medical school last year included playing on a championship-winning intramural basketball team of MS1s, schooling my roommates in video games, and drinking (a little too much) boxed wine. The road to becoming a physician is long, so establishing good self-care practices at the onset is vital to making the journey enjoyable.
Mild salsa – I prefer mild salsa on my burrito bowl, which directly contradicts the preferences of my spice-loving Indian family. Likewise, at Penn Med, you will find that different students have different approaches to medical school. Some students will be steadfast in their desire to become pediatric orthopedic surgeons and complete four clinical research projects by the end of Mod 1. Others will engage deeply in curricular content and trust the process to figure out their future plans. No one path is absolute, and it is completely valid to take some time to figure out what is best for you. Most importantly, no matter where you fall on this spectrum, you were admitted to Penn Med for a reason and deserve to be a student here.
Corn salsa – A more recent addition to my order has been a scoop of corn salsa. While I was skeptical of this topping at first, its hint of sweetness has added a new dimension to my burrito bowl. Similarly, Penn Med is full of new and exciting experiences. Take advantage of Penn’s One University policy and sign up for a free class in another graduate school. Join a new organization and learn from some of the most brilliant minds in the country. Partake in an activity you’ve never tried before with friends in Philadelphia. Perhaps this is corny, but MS1 year is a great time to allow yourself to grow; your future self is waiting.
Sour cream – A large dollop of sour cream can be overwhelming to the palette. In contrast, sour cream in small quantities provides the perfect dash of creaminess to each bite of any burrito bowl. I like to think about the medical school curriculum in a similar way. When you start school in August, you will be expected to keep up with Genetics AND Cell Biology AND Biochemistry AND Embryology — all at the same time. Trying to remember every single fact in each of these courses is stress-inducing and quite frankly impossible. However, breaking down each lecture into small components, utilizing resources prepared by upperclasspeople, and taking learning day-by-day is a recipe for success.
Guacamole – Let’s be real: an additional $2.49 for guacamole is egregious. While I have yet to develop the mental fortitude to decline guacamole for my burrito bowl, I have learned how to say no to professional opportunities. The moment you finally figure out how to log into your Penn email, you will be flooded with messages from faculty members interested in using your expertise and work ethic to explore novel research questions, dangling publications, poster presentations, and mentorship in return. While these may seem alluring at first, keep in mind that the transition to medical school may be unexpectedly challenging, and it is okay to learn how to be a medical student before engaging in these opportunities.
Cheese – I like to share my gratitude with the employees who make my burrito bowl by ending my order with “a sprinkling of cheese, please.” Apart from demonstrating my deeply ingrained Southern hospitality, I hope this serves as a reminder to be kind during your first year of medical school. Be kind to your classmates who may not agree with your views but may have different interpretations of a shared set of values. Be kind to the faculty and staff who work hard every day to cultivate a truly exceptional learning environment. And most of all, be kind to yourself as you embark on the simultaneously exciting and scary journey to serve patients equally and equitably.
I hope these reflections from my MS1 experience can provide you with some guidance as you start medical school. Over the next year, you will be exposed to new concepts and new people in a completely new environment. However, your experiences thus far have prepared you for this moment, and you are more than capable of rising to the occasion. Even when things are challenging, know that the entire Penn Med community is here to support you. I am confident that with a lot of hard work, a little bit of luck, and a burrito bowl or two, you will be well on your way to becoming a leader in the medical field.
Much love,
Rohan
Rohan Palanki is a MS2 at the Perelman School of Medicine. Rohan can be reached by email at [email protected].
