Still Here: My Experience with Repeating a Year of Medical School

On a hot and humid July afternoon, the white coat ceremony for the class of 2025 at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine was in full swing. Not even the threat of a giant thunderstorm, which happens often during the summer in Miami, could dampen the excitement of 150 aspiring physicians and their families. I walked onstage, slipped on brand-new white coat, and accepted the coveted “medical student” title I had spent years working for. I thought about why I was embarking on this journey: my family of Vietnam War refugees, my brother who has autism, and my father who suddenly passed away five years ago after dedicating his entire adult life to securing his family’s safety and happiness. I was excited, but also aware that medical school is not for the faint at heart. However, I still felt ready for the challenge because after all, I had made it this far. What could possibly go wrong? Within the first week, the excitement I felt at my white coat ceremony quickly faded as I became overwhelmed and fell behind. Even with seemingly endless hours of studying, I was still doing poorly. I was exhausted every day and neglecting my well-being. For the first time in my life, my hard work was not paying off. On top of that, I lived at home with my brother who was prone to sudden behavioral outbursts consisting of screaming, spitting, and self-injury. Each time, my mother and I would have to drop everything we were doing to care for him. However,...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: 1st Year Med Student Motivation Resilience Source Type: blogs