I have learned many things in this first year of my medical education, but I can’t say that I have enjoyed them all.  I thought I would share a few of them with you.

1.  Life isn’t fair.  I’ve heard it since I was a little kid, but I am constantly reminded of it nowadays.  Some people get to do what they love while making relatively few sacrifices.  Others will make sacrifices their entire lives to live their dream.

2.  Sometimes there is more than one right answer.  Seems like it would be a good thing…at first.  But when it comes time to answer exam questions, this one really sucks.  Hmm…A, B, and C are all correct answers…but which one is the most correct?

3.  Hard work doesn’t always pay off.  I’ve learned that even if you study for hours and hours, there will always be questions that you don’t know.  Hard work generally pays off, but sometimes not as much as you would like.

4.  There is light at the end of the tunnel…it’s just a really long tunnel.  One of my professors said this a few weeks ago, and it has stuck with me.  There are days in med school that can be overwhelming, and it feels like I am getting nowhere, but I have to keep the end in mind.

5.  Nobody is going to give you what you want.  When the little girl I used to nanny for would get upset, she would often exclaim, “But who’s gonna give me what I want?”  Sometimes I ask the same question, but the answer always comes back – no one.  No one is going to give you what you want.  You have to work for it, and you have to take responsibility for yourself.  I often find myself frustrated with my school and my professors, but at the end of the day, I determine my own success.