Happy Monday readers!

I’ve been thinking about this topic for awhile now, and I feel like there isn’t enough explanation on how it really feels to be pre-med. There’s always a different story and perspective as everyone has a unique journey. However, I’m going to share what I think is most familiar to see as a pre-med in college that isn’t sugar-coated. Without further ado, let’s dig into it!

The Good: Benefits

As there are many benefits and good things about being pre-med and aspiring to become a physician, I believe that there are more significant benefits than potentially getting a lot of money in the future or a “title.”  So here’s my two cents on what I believe is the real benefits of being pre-med:

• Having a constant drive.
• Improving your work ethic.
• Commitment.
• Unlimited amount of compassion.
• Building your patience.
• Becoming a lifelong learner.
• Making true friends.
• Improving your critical-thinking skills.
• Time management skills.
• Beginning to understand what opportunities are right or wrong for you.

Although these are only a few benefits, I feel like these can definitely be expanded upon and explained through different viewpoints. Nonetheless, you have the opportunity to save and heal people as a physician which is the most significant gift of all.

The Bad: Negatives

This is one thing that I hardly read or hear from people but here are my personal negatives on being pre-med and maybe you’ve felt or experienced the same as well:

• Failing… a lot!
• Falling into the comparison trap with other individuals.
• Not having a social life. (Fear of missing out is real if you let it be)
• Stressing out over grades.
• Not having the time to yourself.
• Signing up for too many extracurriculars.
• Sacrificing hobbies.
• Losing friends.
• Becoming “on edge” when you let stress get the best of you.
• Emotional breakdowns.
• The long, long, everlasting days of studying and being on your feet.

As with anything in life, I hope to know that I’m not alone while experiencing these feelings on my journey to medicine. Times will get hard, and there have been moments where I just felt like quitting and giving up for the more comfortable options in life, but I always take the time to reflect and remind myself of how far I’ve come.

The Ugly: Uncertainty 

Being pre-med, there’s a lot of uncertainty that will come your way, and I remember sitting at my freshmen biology camp having one of the counselors tell us that only a few of us will make it all the way to medical school. That moment sat with me for a long time because becoming a doctor has been my one and only dream ever since I was little and the harsh truth stings a bit. Of course, I still have my Plan B, C, D, and E. However it’s scary to think that this journey is never promised. Life has its way of throwing a million curveballs and never have I experienced that statement more in my life than during college. Although I pretty much summed up the ugly within this paragraph, here’s the following summarized:

• Not knowing that your future is set in stone.
• The uncertainty of getting into medical school.
• The fear that your application isn’t good enough.

The honest truth of being pre-med is that it’s a long journey ahead and it’s not going to be a smooth ride all the way through. You’ll be pushed to your limits, told that you aren’t good enough, and fail a tremendous amount of times. Keeping these things in mind, I find it essential to set yourself up with a positive network of friends, family, quotes, and anything that keeps your spirit alive. Because without these things, it’ll become difficult to get back on your feet and seize the day.

I hope you all enjoyed my sincere and honest thoughts on being pre-med! Let me know if you’ve ever experienced the same feelings while on your journey. 🙂

Until next time,

Ari

“Whatever you do, do with determination. You have one life to live; do your work with passion and give your best. Whether you want to be a chef, doctor, actor, or a mother, be passionate to get the best result.” – Alia Bhatt