A dream come true.
You've spent endless days waiting for your med school
experience to start. You've even got that white lab coat which you've probably
tried on at least ten times by now and have probably taken a couple of selfies
wearing that. You've informed all inquisitive relatives that you've made it and
have shared the news and celebrated the fact that you're a step closer to your
ultimate goal of becoming a doctor, with your close friends and family. You
might have even received a few presents from your parents.
You might have heard many people tell you that getting into
a med school is the most difficult thing as everyone who gets admission
eventually graduates as well and while you may take solace in the fact that the
most difficult time of your life when you had to take those endless hours of
tuition at the coaching centers, worry about your equivalence marks (in case
you did O/A level) and take the dreaded MDCAT is over, it's my painful job to
tell you that it is just the beginning. While it may feel like a dream come
true after years of hard work, it’s just the first step towards your goal.
There will come times when you'll be overwhelmed and when
you might even question if you're made for this. You will at some point doubt
your intellect and learning abilities because everyone around you is just as
smart as you if not more. You might find it hard to keep up with the incessant
series of tests, vivas and substages. You might even feel sorry for yourself
when you see all your other friends who didn't choose medicine apparently
having the time of their lives. You might not enjoy the next few times it's Eid
or you may not be able to dance all night like you had imagined at your
favorite cousin's Mehndi because you might have an exam next day that you need
to prepare for. You may even fail a couple of tests here and there but you
won't be appalled like you cried when you scored that 85% on that chemistry
test in school. You might even notice how your hopes for yourself shift from
acing to just passing the professional exams. While it all may seem impossible
to you right now because you've always been a high achiever, there's a high
likelihood that you might end up experiencing at least some of it. And it’s
like that with everybody so you’re definitely not alone in this!
But on the flip side, the journey you've embarked on, will
allow you to experience some of the most memorable times and make great
friends. And it might sound cliché, but you'll miss this place like anything
when you graduate and move onto the next academic or professional endeavors.
Seeing the patients during the ward visits will keep you grounded and you'll
grow a lot more grateful for what you have.
You'll even get undue importance or attention by the
patients' attendants who'll often mistake you for house officers once you start
going to the wards in third year. While some of the subjects may seem mundane,
you will also study subjects or topics that'll intrigue you that you'll find
yourself describing your field as incredibly interesting and there will come a
point you'll be grateful for being in the profession that you've chosen. So no
matter how hard times get, never forget the dream you had behind wanting to be
where you are now and make the most of it to make that dream come true because
there are thousands of students out there who’d give anything to be in your
place, to have a shot at achieving what you dream to achieve. Never get
disheartened by a few failures you might face on the way because eventually
what you become is dictated only by your perseverance.
As for the books, don't go on buying every book you find
even remotely related to the subject like most people do.
Here's a list of books for the three subjects that you'll
need.
Anatomy:
-KLM (especially for clinicals)
-B.D. Chaurasia
-Atlas by Netter
-KLM embryology/Langman embryology
-Junqueira's basic histology
-Histology by Laiq Hussain
-Handbook of General Anatomy by B.D. Chaurasia
Biochemistry:
Mushtaq volume 1
Lippincott
Physiology:
Guyton is enough. But if you want to go the extra mile, use
Ganong as well.
Review books for quick revision:
-Firdaus-physiology
-Faiq-biochemistry
-Sharjeel-embryology
-Essential of histology by M. Amir
Lastly, try to enjoy the life CMH has to offer. No matter
how much you hate waking up early in the morning for the 8 a.m. classes right
now, it’ll all be over before you know it. There will be quite a few events or
extracurricular activities you can participate in. From having tea at the
cafeteria with your fellows to devouring samosas at the hospital canteen,
you’ll make valuable memories that you’ll cherish forever. So, while you try to
study hard, don't forget to be grateful for this whole experience because
you’ll miss it when it ends! For sure!
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