Advice from Phase One Students

I’ve always found it grounding to have close relationships with people who are not in medicine. As a former pre-med and current medical student, I’ve realized that it’s so easy in spaces with our peers to get caught up in the realm of grades, exams, publications, etc. and lose the bigger picture. However, my time spent with my non-medical friends always serves as a nice reality check that there’s life outside of medicine and helps remind me of my priorities. It also helps me support a better school-life balance because whenever I’m with them, I get to show up as my whole self and not just as a medical student. Maintaining long-distance relationships with friends and family can be difficult but is worth prioritizing. A little communication is better than none, so I often find myself sending random texts, memes, songs, etc. as I think of loved ones. I also utilize my walk home from school and mealtimes at home for catch-up FaceTimes and phone calls, especially with my parents. Phone calls with my mother always remind me that school isn’t everything and that self-care is a top priority. Overall, fostering relationships with those outside of medicine helps keep me balanced, on both a personal level and as a medical student.

In my short time here so far at WashU Med, I’ve realized three things: there’s always another research project to work on, another specialty to shadow, and another specialty interest group to get involved in. And while you’ll want to get involved in these opportunities, you may also feel the pressure to do it all within the context of being a medical student. You’ll be faced with a lot of material to digest, and not a lot of time to do so; this will only become truer over time.

All this means is that it may be tempting to let your health and hobbies take a backseat, especially if you see some classmates doing “so much more than you.” However, remember that the things that keep you well will also keep you successful in class. Module 1 is a great time to learn how and when to say “I’m done for today.” Sometimes that means leaving a lecture video for tomorrow because it’s already 12 a.m., or skipping optional morning sessions in favor of a run in Forest Park. Other times, it may even involve taking an entire day off because you feel particularly worn out. (I speak from experience in all three cases.) Phase One grading is truly pass/fail, and students aren’t ranked, so use this opportunity to lay the foundation for both your academic and personal success through a healthy school-life balance, whatever that looks like for you.

Learn to get comfortable with saying “No” when you’ve already got a lot going on. Your health is worth more than an extra line on your CV.

Most of you reading this will probably ignore my advice, and that’s okay. BUT, and I cannot stress this enough, take it one day at a time. Medical school is a lot, and the amount of information you receive can be overwhelming. However, as you learn and realize just how much you’re learning, the whole experience becomes really rewarding. In medical school, you’re also surrounded by people with so many shared formative experiences and interests, which makes your time so much more enjoyable. Because of this, there’s always more to learn and to do. But if you earnestly engage with all of it, you’ll look up after a while and wonder where the days, weeks, and months went. So save time in the day to relax, engage with your hobbies, catch up with family and friends, and reflect. You may not realize it now, but the time will truly fly by.

Every incoming WashU Med student is paired up with a Big Sib in the class above them based on their hobbies, backgrounds, and/or medical interests, and it’s a channel to direct any questions you may have about St. Louis, medical school, or life in general. And while Big-Little relationships vary quite a bit, I personally view both my Big and my Little simply as close friends. Don’t get me wrong — it’s been super helpful to be able to ask my Big Sib about topics like study tips, recommendations for the best scrubs, or the clerkship experience. However, my favorite thing to do with her has just been getting “girl brunch” and talking about life. Meanwhile, my Little and I are exceptionally similar and have a shared interest in good food, so we spend time cooking together and exploring the restaurants in St. Louis. Personally, I try to hang out with each of them at least once a month and find it to be a great way to get out of the bubble that is my own medical school class. The Big Sib system provides a way for classes to mingle among each other, and I’ve met so many of my friends in the year above by going to events with my Big.