Repeating The Year – Some Words of Wisdom Part 2

To be told you have to repeat the year to remain in medical school is a scary thing, but having the option to repeat the year is an opportunity that is not provided to all medical students. Medics’ Inn have provided a few pearls of wisdom for our readers, we have gathered some advice from several medical students who repeated a year of medical school. Have a read of Repeating The Year – Some Words of Wisdom Part 1.

 

 

*Sigh*

Let yourself feel rubbish for a while, your feelings are valid. Repeating the year is a big deal and it is not easy. Let yourself go through the journey. Failure is part of the human experience.

 

 “My family are not supportive…”

It’s difficult to not take it to heart, it’s not right but it’s not your fault. They will come round eventually, but mean while find your support from elsewhere. Don’t bottle it up, there are other people who are genuinely concerned and there are lots of places to get support from.

 

“Is medicine still right for me?”

Talk to people about your concerns but make sure you frame your own thoughts first, the pros and cons. Intercalating or taking a year out may be beneficial. Give yourself as many options as you can. Have a think about these questions:

1. What were the reasons you initially chose to do medicine?
2. Could you see yourself working as a doctor several years (or decades) from now?
3. What is stopping you from pressing on? Fear?

 

“I don’t want to be judged by colleagues, lectures, friends, family…”

If you’re being judged, that’s their problem, not yours. You cannot control what other people think about you, but you can control how you respond. Don’t hide away and don’t be scared of making friends in your new year.

 

“It will just be the same thing, and another year wasted …”

Use your old notes to help you. Try new things, join a new club, etc. It may be scary, but new experiences will tell you who you are as a person and not who you should be. With the right attitude, you will have a new found sense of freedom and there will be open doors of opportunity if you’re looking. You will develop resilience and courage. This experience can stop you from fearing failure.

 

At the end of your repeated year, ask yourself these questions and really thinking about your answers and what they mean to you. (It might help to write your answers down on a piece of paper)

1. How did you feel when you first received this information?
2. What was your greatest motivation?
3. How have you used your repeated year to better yourself?
4. What did you learn about yourself that you did not know?
5. What were your greatest fears and how did you overcome these fears (if you have)?

 

 

Medics’ Inn