What a strange statement.
Watching a Netflix docuseries about a pandemic in January wasn’t enough to prepare me for what was to come. At the time, I had no idea how relevant the show would be and I surely didn’t think I’d be living through a pandemic any time soon! I guess I should have paid better attention to the warnings the show provided…
Prior to Covid-19, I didn’t ever envision starting medical school in the middle of a pandemic. I’m one of those people that typically prepare themselves for multiple scenarios, but I wasn’t prepared for this one. It took several months for me to accept the reality that the commencement of my medical career would be unique and unlike what I had previously envisioned. Now, you might even say I’m eager for this new beginning!
For years, the beginning of my medical [school] career felt like a far off dream. This past fall when I received a medical school acceptance offer, that dream finally started to feel real. I had made it! Getting accepted into medical school overjoyed me. All of those nights I spent studying, grueling over the MCAT, perfecting my personal statement, preparing for interviews, and all the anxiety after the interviews – that was all finally justified. The weight that is lifted off of your shoulder when you get an acceptance is unbelievable! Of course, afterwards, I thought I’d be walking on a cloud until medical school began.
Ha Ha Ha
I think most people’s plans have been derailed in the wake of this pandemic. My plans for the summer included abroad travel to visit family as well as taking advantage of all of my free time pre-medical school. My family and I realized that we likely would not be traveling abroad any time soon. Obviously, a change of plans is unfortunate, but safety first. I know thousands of people have had to cancel summer plans, vacations, weddings, and so much more; this inconvenience is just that, an inconvenience, but a manageable one compared to other harsh realities faced by others in the wake of this pandemic. On the plus side, I definitely have a lot of free time to take advantage of before medical school, right?
My perspective on this pandemic has changed so much throughout these past 3+ months of pandemic life. I think everyone can relate to the ups and downs of dealing with having to turn your home into an all-purpose space. I’ve had days filled with doubt about whether this thing was actually real and I’ve had days of doubting whether we’d ever see an end to this. I’m so grateful for those who risked their lives treating this very unfamiliar virus in the midst of a PPE shortage, for the researchers dedicating their lives to finding cures and treatments, for the healthcare workers, the sanitation workers, the service workers, mail people, delivery workers, every essential worker, and every other person that bravely continued to work in order to make the lives of those staying at home easier.
One thing this pandemic has done is reassure me of my choice to pursue medicine. I am so proud to one day join this field of dedicated individuals who work every day to better the lives of others in some capacity.
With the beginning of medical school right around the corner, the realities of starting virtual medical school are finally setting in. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand the dangers associated with bringing together 200 people. However, that’s not to say that beginning medical school primarily online ISN’T going to be challenging. I know that many students choose to not go to class, preferring to watch recorded lectures from home at their own pace, but how do things change when your only chances of interaction entail a virtual conversation with peers you’ve never met in person? Will lacking social interactions during these formative years of medicine affect us as future physicians? I don’t think the answers to my questions are clear, nor do I think there are right or wrong answers to these questions.
It’s crazy to think about all of the aspects of society that Covid-19 has impacted. It’s shaken up everything from the global economy to the norms surrounding a trip to the grocery store. As a future physician, I understand the importance of following safety guidelines, but as a future physician, I also worry about the long-term effects that this pandemic will have on present medical students and even future medical students. With all this worry and uncertainty, I like to remind myself of the positive things in life and of the things that I can actually change.
Some things to remember:
- This is all temporary – there will be lasting effects from this pandemic, but we trust that this pandemic will end someday with the development of new technologies to combat this virus. Some positive things will stem from this pandemic.
- If you’re healthy, be thankful – many people have not been graced with good health in the wake of this virus; some people haven’t received proper treatments, others have lasting organ damage, some people are mourning the deaths of their loved ones; I think it’s critical to live in gratitude.
- If you’ve been lucky enough to escape financially stable – consider yourself amongst the lucky (although luck may not play a role in this). Many people are struggling financially, emotionally, and physically due to this virus.
- Be a helping hand – If you find yourself having extra time or resources to help others in a safe way, donate your time by volunteering with organizations (sign up to do grocery runs for the elderly, temperature monitoring, Covid testing volunteer, etc.); or you can donate some spare cash to organizations fighting to end health, racial, or social inequities.
dose of val 