Top Tips on Surviving Med School's First Semester

Top Tips on Surviving Med School's First Semester

The first few moments of any drastic change can be difficult to grasp and deal with. However, there cannot be as many changes as demanding as beginning to study a whole new subject in a brand new city under a completely different system surrounded by vastly contrasting people whilst being engulfed by boatloads of stress. Yet, this change can be one of the best things that can happen to you. I struggled A LOT initially, but have grown into my new phase of life rather enjoyably. Below are a few things I wish I had been told before I began my first semester at UCT Faculty of Health Sciences.

1. 
   

   Sleep - I am reluctant to write about this in case I sound like your mom, but if you want to succeed academically, personally and relationally, YOU MUST SLEEP. A lot. Whenever you can (within reason). At least 7 hours/day. The High School Battlefielders/COD maniacs would know how difficult it is to concentrate after a full 2 and a bit hours of sleep - it really does affect your mental capabilities the next day (check this out). It is also helpful to form some sort of routine that allows you to wind down and relax before bed. You will learn very quickly how much you need to thrive and when you can best get the hours down - but use much of the remaining time doing stuff that causes your body to need rest. Check out here and here for ideas on how to get more and better quality shut-eye.
2. Attend lectures - One of the most exciting things about University is how few COMPULSORY activities there are. Your timetable and schedule can almost be entirely dictated by you. The temptation is to sleep in and skip 8 am lectures in favour of catching the content up by yourself. IT IS NOT WORTH IT. Often I forget that I even missed any lectures or I become too unmotivated to even try catch up. Force yourself to go to lectures; you may even like the people that are there with you.
3. Go out - First semester is pretty much like life - the work is important but the jol** is too. However you choose to define “jol” is up to you. There are enough places/people/internet/books/thoughts/alcoholic drinks/board games/instruments/plant types/good views in nearly every human settlement to captivate a human soul - you just have to find what excites you. This is important because these things provide joy and rest, things that are vital to a healthy and meaningful life. Additionally, even if your ONLY goal and dream is to DESTROY academically, getting out of your “work space” is important to your success. Don't believe me? Be successful.
4. Watch cat videos - Does this even need a justification??



5. Make friends - Firstly, just do it. Secondly, studies have shown that they can help reduce stress (this), make you live longer (this), significantly reduce chances of getting depression and its duration (finally,this), and plus, if the Beatles could "get by with a little help from [their] friends", why can’t you?
6. Join societies - This can hardly be stressed enough. Most universities will offer a wide range of options for student involvement, maximise this. Societies are a great place to meet like-minded people, get fulfilment, develop yourself and find satisfaction. I think most Health Science Faculties around the country have affiliations with Medécins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) as well as some sort of Rural Health initiative or society. Links to the UCT versions of these societies will be available below. However, don’t just join societies that are aligned with your academic vision. Spread your wings. Join a wine society. Learn to play Ultimate Frisbee. Join a knitting squad. Whatever makes you happy and will get you up in the morning. These things will DRAMATICALLY improve your first semester experience.
7. Meet people that KNOW the area - If you don’t post hipster pictures of fresh coffee joints on the gram, are you even a first year medic? Getting thrown into a new city and new spaces can be quite disorienting, so being able to quickly find your feet and bearings is a MUST. Plus, if you are on the lookout for people that are from the area, you may find a new friend - but you’ll definitely find a couple of places to bring your other friends. If you’re at UCT, these places are a must - Truth Coffee, The Mess Cafe, Rosetta Roastery, Caffeen, Starlings and Espresso Lab. UCT is the most, finding places and things to do that are a bit more chilled will definitely be to your advantage.
8. Prioritise your health - Medicine saps you. It will drain your energy, steal your time, rob you of your self-worth. It will basically take everything from you. In return it may give you a decent degree and some fulfilment***. But, at least for the first while, it will take more than it will give. In light of this - you need to prioritise your health. The stress and pressure will affect you, especially if it didn’t during high school. Eat right (as many fruits & veg as possible), get exercise, meditate, talk to people when stuff gets difficult, find a church/mosque/synagogue and keep track with yourself. Don’t be afraid to seek help. Med school is known to be hyper-masculine and performance-driven and the vibe around campus can make it really difficult to be vulnerable and admit your shortcomings. Don’t let that stop you. Everyone else is also struggling, be brave and admit that you are. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group offers a 24 hour helpline at 0800 12 13 14. I will have a whole bunch of links to mental health sites/hotlines/places below that can direct you, if needed. GET HELP.
9. Your perceptions about people who study medicine are probably wrong - I can’t emphasise this enough. Maybe you think that everyone at Med School will be the same as you, humanitarian-driven and empathetic or hard-working and ambitious. You are wrong. People study medicine for a whole bunch of reasons; from prestige to potential earnings, from the challenge to the fulfilment and a whole bunch are just studying it because their parents forced them to. No matter which category you fall in - do not fear. You will get what you want out of it. But don’t make the same mistake as me and romaticise the people you will be studying with by imagining them as being similar to you in intention, ambition or even altruism. You will be let down.
10. Find people who are on top of life - Not all of us will be able to succeed/enjoy/survive university. For us, those who can are important. When they aren’t indirectly making our parents angry at us for “underachieving”; they inspire us, encourage us and can seriously help us. These are usually the people to follow when you aren’t sure where you are meant to be, what you are meant to learn or why you are even alive. Find them. Stick with them. Make a Whatsapp group. Mute the Whatsapp group. Make a concerted effort to surround yourself with people who will drive you to your best, because there will DEFINITELY be times when you cannot do it on your own.
11. Medicine is a lifestyle, not just a course - One of the most frustrating things about first semester was the seemingly infinite amount of time we spent in lectures and tutorials and labs compared to people from other faculties. It was kinda demoralising (I’m sure some of my friends would have different choice words about it). But when studying medicine, like most things in life, it is important to remember WHY you are doing it. The extra motivation will go a long way when you feel like giving up. Whatever you are studying, remembering why you chose to study it and what your life may be like once you are done studying it - that is some proper motivation. Hold close to that - it will help. If you don't, there is a good chance your first semester studying medicine will be kak ****.
12. Like this page on Facebook - Dopameme Rush . Oh, and subscribe to my blog to keep up with the new content I will be pushing over the next few months.

Overall, my first semester wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Sometimes it was far less rewarding than I hoped it would be. But, it was so worth it. And I am so excited to start my second semester.

** - a good time. Usually used when referring to a nightclub/party scene.

*** - mostly ironic exaggeration.
**** - pretty flippen terrible.

UCT Societies
https://www.facebook.com/groups/216833151673828/ 
+ https://www.facebook.com/RuralSupportNetwork/

Mental Health Help

http://www.students.uct.ac.za/students/support/health-counselling/student-wellness + https://adaa.org/tips + http://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=114


Special thanks to my UCT Med School friends that helped me come up with some of these tips, it’s been a jol - CathGBall, Vuthlari, Lauren, David, Aneesa, Moya, Sam, Qiniso, Sinead and Makhosini. Y’all are the real MVPs. And to my special Wits friend Steph - you’re the bomb.

Disclaimers

I do not claim to be any authority on mental health, succeeding at university or even at sharing my own experiences. Consult relevant professionals before making any changes to your health and wellness plan. Do your own research and find what works for you. Make your life yours.