I Almost Dropped Out of Med School

So my mum has been coming for clinic sessions at the teaching hospital where I school. Don’t worry, nothing serious. It’s really just check ups to make sure she’s in good shape.

But that’s not even the gist. What is is the reception she’s been getting.

As you already know, I’m really just a medical student. But you should see how my mum walks around the hospital, head high, shoulder squared, mentally screaming at the other patients “Yes! That’s my daughter the Doctor!” 😂

Honestly, it’s adorable.

The doctors themselves aren’t even helping because once they clock that she’s my mum, they start acting different. Friendlier, more colleague-ey. One nurse even told a doctor to give my mum special treatments because, apparently, I’m their colleague 😂😂

Omo!

It’s been a lot for me but I can’t deny how much more motivated this experience has made me.

I’ve always known my mum was proud of me, she has never been silent about it, but seeing it in real time? Nahhh, this hits different. It’s like a whole new level of pride.

In these moments, I’m just so thankful I didn’t give up.

There were so many times I wanted to throw in the towel. So many times I just wanted to find somewhere easier, do something easier. I’ve wanted to quit more times than 2face has been accused of cheating. No jokes!

There were days during my preclinical years when all I wanted to do was run away and not look back. I can’t count how much precious time I wasted daydreaming about what my life would look like if I dropped out of medical school, instead of actually studying.

I believe my doubts about being here made my journey even harder. It’s been hard feeling like I don’t belong here, battling that constant sense of not being “good enough”. My mental health definitely took a hit.

It’s also very hard to pour your heart into something you’re not 100% sure about, something you sometimes don’t even believe in.

In spite of all this, look how far I’ve come. In less than a year, you get to call me “Doctor”.

When they said “na who give up nai lose”, I promise you, they weren’t joking. If you’ve ever tried to do anything challenging, you can possibly relate.

You may have been in a “I should probably give up” situation, or may have even quit things you started a couple of times. But as someone who ended up not quitting, I’ll spend the next few sentences telling you what I found out.

What did I find out? – I learnt to try again.

When I didn’t quit, I found that I began to develop resilience. I had to develop the habit of picking myself up and trying again. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve had to do that, exams I’ve had to rewrite, results I’ve refused to tell my family about. But every time that I didn’t give up, I got one step closer to my goal.

What else did I find out? – I finally got to know my “WHY”.

Whether it’s family, pride/ego, a personal goal, or something bigger than yourself, knowing why you’re doing something makes all the difference. It’s what fuels you when the journey gets tough.

For me, it’s my mum. Knowing how proud she’ll be. Imagining the women in the streets calling her “Mama Doctor”. This has kept me going.

Sticking to something, whether or not I was tired or discouraged, had its rewards. I’m stronger, smarter, and proud of myself for sticking with it.

In the end, as long as you don’t give up, you’ll be fine.

Sending you ❤️&💡,

Tega💗

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Have you tried to do anything that was too hard for you? How did you cope with the challenges? How did you survive?

I’d love to see your responses! 💬💬💬

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