3 Things I Learnt From The First Semester of Medical School

By Tahmeena Amin

(Editor note: I am always amazed by how similar experiences are regarding medical school across the world. Sure, some of the terminologies change a bit, but there is so much in common. Here is a quick post from a student in the UK that was strongly similar to my own experience following the first semester of medical school.)

There are so many weird new terms to learn!

From Latissimus dorsi to infundibulum to zygohyseal joint – these are some of the weird terminologies you come across from the start of your medical degree! It’s like a completely different language…its no longer front and back – it is anterior and posterior, no longer middle and side – it’s medial and lateral, no longer on your front or on your back – it’s pronated and supinated!

At first, I was taken aback by all these new words but to my surprise, I picked them up quite quickly. It’s amazing how all these anatomical terms become second nature to you even in such a short space of time!

It’s a challenge living away from home

I moved out of my family home when I came to medical school and it definitely is a challenge at times. During the first week or so, my eating schedule went completely out of the window – I found myself starving at the end of the day after not having found the time to eat my meals…but thankfully I’ve got a bit more of a routine now!

Before coming to university, I had this idea in my mind that I’d be cooking delicious freshly prepared food with my flatmates, but in reality, student life consists of microwaveable foods and instant noodles – whatever is quickest (and easiest)!

At home, I never had to do much in terms of housekeeping, but at my university flat, I have to do my fair share of the chores. My flatmates and I take turns taking out the bins and the worst chore in my opinion – unclogging the sink!

Medical Students work hard, but play HARDER!

The MedSocial at my medical school has a ball/party for every event, from Halloween to Winter, to End of exam season, to ‘half a doctor’ parties once you’re halfway through the program… not to mention the countless ‘pub-crawls’!

One of my flatmates is a non-medic and when I tell her about all these events, she is shocked – many people, including myself (before starting medical school), had the impression that medical students would be really serious and work all the time, with no time for social activities – but how wrong was I?! I personally don’t like the partying aspect of socializing and would rather stay in with friends but there’s something for everyone…medics certainly like to have fun!

Tahmeena Amin is a 1st-year Medical Student at The University of Manchester, UK. She blogs a Diary of a Student Medic and can be followed on twitter at @tahmeenaAmin. Her interests include blogging, backing, photography/videography, and swimming!

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