I don’t know if anyone else is guilty of this, but when I become overwhelmed and busy with school, I am terrible at keeping in touch with my close friends and family away from school. My mom has already had to ask me a few times to make more of an effort to call home and visit whenever I can. A couple of weekends, I made the 2.5 hour drive home for the first time since I started med school to surprise my family, and I saw how extremely happy it made them. Although it may seem like a time investment at the moment, taking a bit of time out of your schedule can make a world of a difference in another’s day. I am telling myself that it is especially important to not skimp on time spent with your loved ones because they are the ones supporting you in your times of weakness, and the people that matter the most in your life, through school and beyond. Besides, there is nothing better in times of stress than to find comfort talking with or being with friends and family! My goals towards the end of clinical rotations have slowly veered away from the academic path and more towards personal goals, one of them being to spend more time communicating with family, even if it is just making sure to text them a few times a week. While school is obviously one of a medical student’s primary priorities, remember that you could not have gotten to where you are without the support of those closest to you.
