This year we asked our incoming 2019-2020 Leadership team one simple question, to help the incoming students, the prompt was:
How do you keep yourself motivated during medical school during tough times? What advice would you give to an entering 1st-year podiatry student?
Here is how our Students Responded.
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Advice to 1st year: Give yourself a 30-minute break
by Marisa Mosier
There are many tough times that medical students will come across, especially during their first year. I worked very diligently in college, but my experiences in University were marginal compared to the academic challenges presented in medical school.
As students under an extremely high-stress environment, we must find outlets to relieve stress. For me, I often needed a mental break when I found myself to be losing motivation. Sometimes we feel that absolutely no time can be wasted while studying for that huge Pathology exam at 8am the next day, however, it is important to put your computer down and just take a simple walk outside to DE-STRESS.
I would give myself a 30-minute break to:
just step out,
breathe some fresh air,
grab a cup of iced coffee,
give my family a quick call on the phone to vent and
then return home to continue grinding.
It is essential to take care of your mental and physical health while in medical school. I signed myself up for a gym membership and regularly attend and take classes that help clear my head. Eating the right foods and taking care of your physical health will make you feel invincible.
I believe it is important to keep the end goal in mind, that although you have to go through hard times now, one day, everything will pay off…
Even though we do what we can to take care of ourselves and study, sometimes getting a poor grade on a test you studied days for can still happen. It is important that in these times, we remind ourselves that one exam does not make or break our future – we are only human, and as humans, we are imperfect. I believe it is important to keep the end goal in mind, that although you have to go through hard times now, one day, everything will pay off and you will be able to see your first patient and truly make a difference in their lives. Everything will pay off in the end when you get your white coat, your diploma, and your residency position.
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A huge piece of advice I would give to an entering 1st-year podiatry student is to keep their family and friends close. Make sure they are all aware of the high stresses in your life. Let them know that you won’t be able to communicate as frequently as you may have been able to in the past, but make sure to let them know that you still and always will appreciate them.
I have learned that it is so valuable to have a good support system intact. I would also recommend getting a gym membership, or if your school provides a gym, that you try to go regularly. Even a simple 30-minute sweat session can provide so much mental clarity. It is also important to build good relationships with your classmates. Podiatry is such a small field that your classmates might be your co-residents or co-workers in the near future. They might provide some insight to future residency directors about your qualities or downfalls. Maintain professional relationships with your community and make sure you remember that we are no longer in college; although there will always still be some fun, you must always carry yourself with professionalism.
Professionalism, respect, and courtesy towards all your peers, academic professors and clinicians will set you up for success in the future.
by Marisa Mosier
School: Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
1st Year Advice: Give yourself a 30-minute break
Creative Writing
Have the urge to write something? Are you motivated to publish something worth sharing? Want to give advice, helpful tips, or podiatry news to the younger generation? Visit our Authors section before submitting. Get in contact with us and one of our student journalists will reach out to you. We hope to get from people around the world that way.
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