With only one month left of classes, I can’t help but feel a little sad.  I am definitely burnt out on school, and I am really looking forward to no more lectures, but there are a few things I am going to miss about my first two years of medical school.

1. Anatomy Lab

I miss my cadaver, Walter.  I miss dissecting and being able to visualize everything so easily.  It’s sad how much anatomy I have forgotten over the past year.  I used to know it so well, and now when I come across anatomy board questions, I really struggle to recall the things I learned.  Honestly, if I could dissect again, I would.  Maybe someday I will have another opportunity…I have heard of surgeons and other physicians who buy a cadaver (I know…creepy) or use one from a local medical school or something.  I would definitely jump at that chance.  I think I would do better the second time around, after learning all the clinical applications of human anatomy.

2. Free Time

Don’t misunderstand me…I don’t really have a lot of “free time,” but what I do have is the ability to make my own schedule.  I can learn when I want to learn, take a break when I need to, and even sneak in the occasional nap.  I am really not looking forward to 8-5 hours, everyday, on my feet, seeing patients.  I know it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, but I have really enjoyed the freedom to be home and get things done around the house while I study.

3. Security

There is a lot of security during the first two years of medical school.  All of my patients are fake, and there is no chance I can screw up and kill somebody.  But pretty soon, the patients will be real, and the stakes will go up.  Luckily I won’t have the responsibility of a “real” doctor just yet, but that is only two years away!  I am definitely going to miss the comfort and security of being “only a first/second year.”

4. Friends

At my school we only stay in Kirksville for the first two years.  For the next two years we scatter all over the country for our rotations.  I am excited to be moving to Arizona, but I am really sad all of my friends aren’t going with me.  I have formed really strong bonds with some of my friends in med school, probably because we have suffered through some pretty tough times together.  I don’t know what I have would have done these past two years without my friends.  They have definitely had my back a number of times, and I think it will be tough to go the next two years without them.  Luckily, we can still message each other and share our woes of getting pimped on rounds and looking like complete idiots in front of attendings.

5. Umm….

I wanted to make this a nice little list of five, but, let’s be honest, I won’t miss that much about the first two years of med school.  They were both challenging and rewarding.  I wouldn’t want to go back and do them again; and I am very, VERY happy to be moving on.