On Becoming a Physician with a Heart: Of Friends and Foes (Part 4)

First year med is one of the most crucial parts of the journey. Just like the first note to set the pitch of the whole song, our first year in medical school sets the tone of the music for the long journey towards the coveted “M.D.” Classical, pop, rock, heck even metal or rap, we have no choice but to dance along.

Ha! I’m giving metaphors when I’m supposed to be writing about tips to ease the burden of PBL 1. A word of warning, these are at high risk of becoming burdens in PBL 1 with carelessness and lack of self-discipline.

Group dynamics with dynamism

Group 17!

You will become a part of a small group for the regular small group discussions (duh). Each group consists of 11 to 12 members, with 10 to 11 freshmen and 1 to 2 not-so-freshmen. Small Group Discussions (SGDs) are the venues for healthy discussions about the competencies. Ask questions regarding matters that you are unsure of; just see to it that they are not shallow questions answerable by a verbatim quote from the book, since that would only be a waste of time. You will be sharing many things with them, including but not limited to your understanding of the topic at hand, your resources and study materials, and frustrations after exams. They are the people that you’ll be facing for the first 10 months of your stay in CIM so you better work on your group dynamics early on. Group dynamism (syn: vigor, energy) is also important as you continue to adjust to the demands and harsh realities as you go along your first year.

Find a special friend

I don’t mean a boyfriend or a girlfriend, just a friend who is special enough for him/her to become your study buddy. Your study buddy is not just someone who will sit close to you at the library or at the coffee shop but someone who will help you pace your studying. You will be encouraging each other, learning from each other, and pressuring each other, so you better choose wisely.

Good food and chika in between :)

Internet, more like “enter the net”

…and try to remember what you came for in the first place. I sometimes prefer calling the internet as a “vortex of doom” because once I start clicking links to random stuff, I just can’t seem to stop. However, I also think that the internet is a good study resource right at your fingertips. Maximize it by using YouTube videos like anatomyzone.com), websites from other universities, existing mnemonics and that Ryan Gosling or Emma Watson meme with “I want you to study right now”. Just make sure you abide by your set time for surfing the net and you’re good to go.

What is your intelligence?

This is quite different from asking how intelligent you are. Remember that there are different kinds of intelligence and reading books may only be scratching the surface for you. Know your learning style and apply it in studying. Try this quiz.

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Your SGD group, your study buddy, the internet, and even your own intelligence can either be your friend or foe during your adjustment year. It’s about time to show your wisdom in deciding who you’ll be with and how you'll work with them. The music in this journey is not your choice but the dance partners are. Best of luck.

Until the next adventure,

Dena