To All MS1s:
My bedside clock said it was 4 AM. I had been tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. Tomorrow was the first day of medical school orientation, and I was excited to meet all of my new classmates — my future friends and family. I couldn’t believe where I was — about to start medical school, something that had merely been a dream of mine for so long and was finally becoming reality. I had been talking to my future classmates all summer and felt like I knew them so well already. I didn’t feel like I was in a new place, just a new home with people who would quickly become my new family.
For the first few months, I dreaded going home and sleeping each night — only because it took up time that I could have spent getting to know my new classmates! Each person had such a unique story and background: where they came from, what their passions and hobbies were, and what drew them towards medicine. There was so much that I could learn from each and every one of them that I was worried four years wouldn’t be enough time. However, I knew for sure that I wanted to make the most of whatever little time we did have together. Whether it was planning a study date at JMEC or getting dinner with someone I rarely saw outside of school, I tried to get to know as many of my incredible peers as I could.
Coming from a large state school, I definitely had imposter syndrome. This is completely normal (regardless of whichever school you come from) when you are surrounded by a community of intelligent, hardworking individuals who always strive to be the best that they can be. But this isn’t even what makes my classmates stand out — rather, it’s their passion and humbleness in everything they do. Never before had I been around so many diverse, highly talented, and down-to-earth individuals with such a wide range of hobbies and quirky skills, be it ice-skating, DJing, dancing competitively, running marathons, writing novels, or singing acapella.
If there’s one thing I can tell you, it’s to cherish your time together. (Or as much as you can in a safe, socially distanced manner because of COVID-19.) You may never get this kind of time with one another again. You may forget the steps of oxidative phosphorylation or which defective enzyme causes phenylketonuria, but you will always remember what you ordered at late-night Wawa, what you talked about that night, and most importantly, who you shared that time with.
Another thing to be aware of as you’re starting medical school is that you have to learn to be okay with uncertainty. It is perfectly normal to not know everything; in fact, it’s a given. It’s basically impossible to know everything there is to medicine. That’s just how the field is — constantly changing and evolving and improving. It’s our job to come to terms with this, a process that starts right now in medical school.
Don’t forget that you are only human. During medical school, especially your first year, you may want to do so many things and will be pulled in so many different directions. So many more doors will open for you, and you will feel overwhelmed. This is a very normal feeling. Remember to take time to reflect on what it is you’re really interested in and want to explore. This is the best and only time that you will have to dabble in various specialties, so branch out and try to learn as much as possible about what all is out there — without getting burnt out.
For me, Penn Med has been more than a home away from home — it’s become a family that I love and am thankful for every day. One year from now, I hope that you’ll feel the same. In the meantime: We’re incredibly excited to have each and every one of you here with us! Welcome to the Penn Med family. 🙂
Much Love,
Manasa
Manasa Kadiyala is an MS2 at the Perelman School of Medicine. Manasa can be reached by email at [email protected].
