This
semester has been hard. Cardiology, Respirology and GI, the basis of internal
medicine. Did I mention that I work like crazy? Well, for people out there who
never saw a med student studying, let me tell you, we work hard. How hard? I
study every day until midnight, 7 days a week. I am not the most efficient in
the morning (I’ve never been a morning person), so I am rarely very useful
before 9:30, but it depends what I have to do. If I have a lecture to listen
too, I can do that at 8:30. My sister-in-law was saying that she was working 20
days straight without a day off, and that it was crazy... and then I realized
that I am doing that for 4 months straight... and usually more than 8 hours a
day. So by the end of the semester (meaning, right now!), I am exhausted.
Anyway, all
of this to say that I study hard. Harder than my classmates? I don’t think so. Maybe harder than some, but
then others might do more than me. (Yes, I know... how can it be, there is only
24 hours in a day... I have to confess that I rarely do anything between 4:00
and 8:00PM, because this is family time).
I had some
comments last year about my age, but not so much. Maybe, I am more sensitive this
year because it is one of a big change... The big four-oh is just around the
corner. Or maybe it is because it comes sometimes from people I care about. For
example, an uncle I appreciate very much told my mom, who was saying that I was
studying so much, that it was more difficult to me because of my age (to which
my mom also agree). And a colleague of my husband told me just last week that
it was surprising that med school would accept someone my age...
So, am I
too old? Do I learn less quickly because of my age? I believe there are more to
this than just the speed of learning. There is the part where you just
have to remember, to put more and more data in your brain. Maybe for that part,
I am not as quick as I was when I was twenty. I can live with that. Even though
I don’t believe it is really significant. Studies have shown that our learning
capabilities might start to decline during our forties, but not before. And I
never stop to learn, I’ve always been in school, so my brain didn’t forget
about how to learn.
But, there are
also other part of learning and studying... First, there is the foundation on
which you build your new knowledge. And I know the foundation of my knowledge is very strong. I
need to revisit information I’ve learned a long long time ago, but it’s not
like learning it for the first time. And there is new stuff that I learn for
the first time. Even though it’s new, I usually have some knowledge on the edge
that helps me to make connection and better understand the concept. I also have
life experience, and I know a lot of sick people. It’s unfortunate to say but
this helps solidify information because you can link it to something (or
someone) you already know.
I have
worked for 15 years on a normal schedule (9 to 5), travelling for work,
studying in between flights, organizing my life around all this. I have learned
a few things about organization. I believe I can handle my life and studying
pretty well. I am not overwhelmed by having to dedicate 60 hours a week to
this. I am not saying that it is easy, but I am used to it, done it before and
know I am able to do it again.
Finally,
there's the motivation to do it. And no one can beat me to this. I love what I
do. Yes, sometimes I am tired and would prefer to take the weekend and go visit
some friends. But it doesn’t happen too often. Most of the time, I don’t feel
the weight of doing it. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful husband who
support me so well; and a nice cottage where I can go to isolate myself and
study. I am not sure I would have had
all this motivation but also dedication earlier in my life...
So, again, am
I too old? I believe your age is in your heart and your head... And I think that
I am a much better med student now than I would have been earlier. I also bring
a different perspective to my fellow med students.
In the end,
I believe each med school should have a mature student J!
