Med school is not really like a walk in the park... It's not that difficult either and there is a lot of support if we need it. Still, once in a while, we need to let a friend go, and this is very hard.
Since we started, we lost 3 colleagues during first year. Five joined us from the year above, and one of them even decided to let go of her dream of becoming a physician. This is a very hard decision to make, and not one that you feel supported from your family and society in general I suppose...
From those who left last year, there is one I was closer too. I saw him work through the decision of taking a year off to come back stronger. It was a very though decision, but I believed then it was the best decision he could make. I think time showed I was right and I see him this year so much more motivated and happy, it is good to see. He'll make a great physician, very open-minded and able to listen to his patients. Still, he won't be with us when we graduate...
Then, a few weeks ago, another friend took the same decision. As I saw her navigate through her feeling about starting over next year, I feel her decision was easier to make than some others. I love that she respected herself, she could see that she wasn't going anywhere and if she continued, she would be in a worst situation later. I am brokenhearted that such a nice person have to leave us. I believe she has taken the best decision for her, and even though I will miss her very much, I am happy for her. She took the decision "she" needed, not thinking about what the others would think. I am proud to know such a great lady who is going to make a fantastic physician one day... Still, she won't be with us when we graduate...
Since then, another colleague informed us that she will be taking a year off to do other projects, another great loss for our little cohort of future physicians... She also won't be with us when we graduate...
And for that, I am brokenhearted...
As we progress in this journey, I know we are probably going to loose other players, for good or not-so-good reasons. Each of them is like a little bereavement. We need to take the opportunity to reflect on where we are, the road we have already traveled, remind ourselves of the luck we have to be there and make sure that this journey is, still today, the one we want to travel...
