Oh yes fam, I am now in my second semester of my medical school as a freshman. Hopefully you'll be with me with this journey :)

I have a lot of stories to tell and much experiences to share and I hope you find this interesting and helpful to those aspiring medical students like me before.  

I can still remember those moments of my childhood when things are running quite smooth~~no so much dramas in life. When I was in gradeschool or highschool, I remember those times when going to school interests me a lot and my only problem back then were my homework.

Then, I went to college and I must say it was a fun experience and include the amazing people I met. I graduated and landing in a job could have been my priority for now but that did not happen at all.

Entering in medical school was a very brave step for me. It was never an easy one by the way. I have pushed myself so hard to have atleast the best credential of my college and made so much effort in my admission exam and interview just to be accepted finally in medschool. And when I got accepted I was so happy but so much scared, I was like hiking in a jungle where no one is around, no directions and sign boards where it would lead me, but all I know I want to go and explore things.

At this moment of my life it hasn't really sunken yet that i am one of the students I was wishing for. I am now one of the people walking along the pavements of a college I was dreaming of. It got to a point wherein sometimes I am telling myself "hey wake up, you are now wearing that white gala uniform at the College of Medicine".

Oh yes finally I was feeling accomplished after the struggles I have been through in my first five months of becoming a medical student. I can say this has been the most difficult challenge of my life. With this, I have with you some truths and what to expect in medschool.

Truth # 01 Reading is very important

They say, in first year you're expected to read and read and read and I think it's true. You always have to expect a quiz in every subject and shifting you have. Coming to school empty-handed is not a good idea, you must always have something with you. But that did not work with me always, you know I am not a perfect student anyway, i hate cramming when exams are there threatening me. Medschool is far way different from undergrad school, they never give you all the information in class, it's more like an exchange of ideas with the doctors, so they let you ask all the questions you want to clarify from your self-directed learning knowledge. Reading is a very sacred for us which is always taking the biggest fraction of our time. So when you see a med student reading, do not disturb hekhekhek that moment could save a patient's life someday.

TRUTH #02 ALWAYS Listen and Follow all instructions, they are important

It will hit you hard like a bullet train hahahaha. I cannot take away my frustration after I realized I need to capitalize my answers in my quiz or else I would lose my chance of having a correct answer, and it happened it was heartbreaking :( I was once called an attention after not writing my Surname first in a piece of paper HAHAHAHA and very embarrassing . These simple instructions are very important if you want to enroll in Medicine. Discipline is the key :)

TRUTH #03 You will be having lesser time for family gatherings

Though you don't want to be absent in every family occasions, you have no choice but to be in your cave memorizing the origin, insertion, innervation and action of your cadaver. That's what making me very sad sometimes. Lucky for me I have to be with my family at night because I don't wanna be in a dormitory.

TRUTH #04 You will be experimenting with your study and sleeping habits

Sleeping is fun not until you have a long exam the next morning. Up until now I'm still experimenting what's the best sleeping pattern, how much sleep I'll get and what are the most effective study habits.

TRUTH #05  Expect people will call you "doc"

Whenever someone recognizes me, most of the time they call me "doc", which is sort of annoying sometimes especially in public places because of the intimidating stares I get around me. I still prefer to be called by my name, hence, I am not yet a doctor.

TRUTH #06  You are forced to think mature

I am now in a transition from teenage and adult life. Medschool for me is not just a place for me to learn but it has become my working place us well. They've given us a great responsibility and you need to be mature enough to accept those. I am no longer a kid, I am meeting real people here and I remember those stares I got whenever we go to community, they were treating you as if they trust in you and believe in you. So you need to stand and be a good example.

TRUTH #07 MedSchool is very HARD

Difficulty level = 10 out of 10

TRUTH #08 You will always hear "SOBRANG HIRAP" from a med student

Though I feel it sometimes that  as if I am exaggerating things when I have to meet some of my friends but I cannot help but to be honest, it is truly HARD. 

TRUTH #09 You question yourself many times, "Is it worth it?" 

YESS it is worth it !! This is very interesting ! Even how much dramas I've been through, I am still getting my little successes from the people around me.Getting a failing score was a bit depressing but I need to stand firm and be brave. I know I am still far away from my goal of becoming a doctor but I can feel the happiness I get when they say "You CAN do it" or "You did your BEST". Challenges will come along the way but I still believe, God has put me in here and it's up for me to see my purpose.

Truth # 10 Medschool is Fun

This has been my life now and enjoying everything even how bad and good that may be. Meeting and working with new people, learning new things everyday and making improvements in my life. To those aspiring medical students, do your best now :) hopefully I'll see you somewhere in the college or in other universities. 

I am always saying this to everyone I meet "I have been in my most difficult and rough moments in my medschool life, i have received failures and downfalls but God has always been showing me the positive side of everything". And if God would make a good doctor soon, I can never promise to be the best doctor but i can promise to give my best to be one. And hopefully bring back to people who have been with me with this journey.  #LabanLang <3 PEACE 

PS: My vacation is almost over my first day of second semester in on monday :)

-lesterrific[01/12/17]