When people ask me how medical school is going, I usually describe it as a time vortex: as soon as a new theme begins, it seems I put my head down attending lectures, studying diligently each day, and answering practice questions until our exam a short two to three weeks later…after which I’m able to take a breath, look up, and realize another half month has gone by!
I can’t believe it’s already the end of February, and I’ve taken three exams this year! This second semester of the second year of medical school is a funny place to be: with each exam, my classmates and I celebrate the baby steps of progress we’ve made, yet our fears and apprehensions regarding Step 1 only seem to grow. With only two weeks until our next exam, a week of spring break, and just two organ systems to learn about in our final two themes, it’s somewhat exciting to look back on all that we’ve learned this year but also scary to think we’ll have to know all of that information in the excruciating detail that we knew for a single exam when it comes to that big day in June.
What I try to remind myself to calm my nerves is to take life day by day. Experience has taught me that it doesn’t help to be nervous or freak out. It’s not always the easiest advice to follow myself, but “take it day by day” may very well be my mantra in the coming months!
