The ongoing (strike) industrial action by MDCAN has left clinical medical students in the middle of nowhere, with no classes and postings, just silence, vibes and uncertainty.
This unexpected break has sparked mixed reactions among students whose academic calendar goes on for months without a break. Some see it as a necessary breather from the stressful clinical postings, others worry their graduation date shifts farther and farther.
Is this strike a setback or a blessing in disguise? MediVoice has gathered opinions of clinical medical students on how they feel about this situation. How is the strike affecting their lives, plans, and mental space?
Let’s see what they have to say.
Hey there, what was your initial reaction when you heard about the strike?
Fela Dammy: I was initially glad about the extended break.
Anon: I was taken aback. I did not expect a disruption in the calendar till I graduate.
Samuel: It didn’t come as a big surprise to me because I was aware of the MDCAN strike action in UCH but I expected it to be a short one.
Chidinma: I heard about it late and I was very much ready to resume.
Anon: Honestly, my first thought was, “More time to flex, but please, not a long one.” I was hoping it’d be over in two weeks, like usual. But here we are, hanging on for dear life.
DML: I was happy 
because I needed that kind of long break after our part 5 MB
Feyikemi: I was indifferent.
But to be honest, maybe I was happy initially. I needed enough time to recover from part 4 stress and the strike came right in time!
Anon: I was indifferent to the news.
Jhay: I was indifferent. I assumed, naively, foolishly, that it would be just another brief disruption and a fleeting inconvenience. A few days, maybe a week, and it would all be over. Alas, I was wrong.
Anon: I was very pained because I had planned to be home for just two weeks.
Abdulmalik: I was ecstatic, I was hoping for a 3-week holiday after over a year of consistent schooling. The strike represented more resting time.
Personally, would you say the strike is a setback or a blessing in disguise and why?
Anon: It is a set back. I planned something for one month before resumption. Now there is a strike I don’t know when it will end. I don’t know whether to delve into something else or prepare for resumption. I am torn.
DML: Well, I’ll say a bit of both. I can’t honestly deny the fact that I’m enjoying this ease. However, I still want to resume so that I can get this medical school over with.
Anon: If I’m being real, it’s more of a setback. I was aiming to be inducted this year (or at least complete all my exams, just like the Stalwart class last year), but now I’m wondering if that’s still feasible at this rate.
Abdulmalik: At first, I thought it was a blessing in disguise. But then as the days count on and the strike prolongs, I start to realize how much this strike is going to extend the amount of time that’ll be left for me to graduate.
Anon: At this point it’s a blessing in disguise.
Feyikemi: Omoooo, both ooo. A blessing because there’s more time to make money and also rest. A setback because we’re stuck academically, and it’s really frustrating.
Anon: I see the strike as a setback because the plan was to graduate or at least finish my last MB exams this year but with the current state of things, I don’t see that happening.
Fela Dammy: At this point, the strike feels like a setback because that means an extension on graduation time. But then, I still believe there’s a blessing in everything happening.
Jhay: Now, it is nothing but a setback and a rupture in the timeline I had carefully laid out. I was supposed to graduate this year. Now, I can’t. And there is something profoundly dispiriting about having your life placed on hold, not by choice or failure, but by forces beyond your control. And the worst part? There is nothing I can do about it.
Samuel: Personally, I’d say a blessing in disguise as far as the strike doesn’t extend for too long. And it’s been the time to get back to projects I’d suspended for over a year.
Anon: It’s been a blessing in disguise.
Chidinma: A setback. We could have started our session, this is just a waste of our time. Valuable time.
How are you mentally coping with the uncertainty of the academic pause?
DML: Being in Gloryland with my guys has been kind of relieving
Jhay: There is no guide to mentally coping with this. No wisdom to prepare you for stagnation. So, I’ve drowned myself in writing gigs, in movies, and in a forced social media presence. By some miracle, it seems to be working.
Samuel: I’m trying to not make an issue of the delay at graduation anymore, I’ve quite accepted it, I’m more concerned about finishing really well and getting things done as a student before graduation, so I’m buying into the time to get boxes ticked.
Anon: To be honest, I don’t know but I guess engaging in other interests that I have.
Fela Dammy: I just make a short prayer for quick resumption anytime it comes to me. What can we do? It’s beyond my control.
Anon: I’ve been sleeping, exercising, seeing friends and family and watching movies
Abdulmalik: I’m not, I’m bored out of my mind and I’m already tired of staying at home.I try to pass the time by doing the things I’ve always enjoyed but didn’t get as much time to do while in school.
Anon: Not so well. I am currently feeling very lost. I hate myself for choosing medicine and surgery in the first place.
Feyikemi: At this point, I just dey. Happy and sad at the same time. I don’t know if I’m coping or not. They should just wrap this strike thingy up before April abeg.
Anon: I don’t like uncertainty, so my coping mechanism has been not thinking about it too much. Denial works wonders sometimes. But on a serious note, I try to focus on what I can control—staying engaged in productive activities.
Chidinma: Well, this isn’t the first time it’s happening, so for me, I’m not really coping per se. I’m waiting for them to call it off.
Anon: It’s not a source of mental concern for me as I am not paying attention to it. I am optimistic that resumption will happen sooner than later.
What plans have you made to stay productive during this unexpected break?
Jhay: Let’s be clear: I have made no grand plans for productivity. I don’t want to “make the most of it.” I just want school to resume.
Abdulmalik: I have not been productive at all. Home has this way of making me lax. I’ve just been procrastinating.
Anon: Staying productive by highlighting the important things I had planned to do especially with other areas of my life and taking them step by step.
Fela Dammy: Well, I have been up to little things here and there. I plan to do more, and take up opportunities that come my way.
Anon: It’s easy to make plans. The challenge is in executing them. But Yeah I’ve been pretty busy this break.
Feyikemi: Running business and growing my brand too Doing what I love to make me happy. When they’re ready, they’ll call off the strike.
Anon: I’m currently working towards developing a new skill and I’ve been engaging in a few extra-curricular activities.
Anon: I decided to finally tackle that programming language I’ve been putting off forever. Who knows? Maybe this is a sign that Tech is the way.
Anon: I’m currently focusing on my business and also going for conferences that I haven’t been able to go for because of med school.
Samuel: came back to Ife (GL) rather than stay at home, so it’s easier to reset say after a recess from productive work.
What is one unexpected productive outcome you have had from this break if any?
Anon: I started exercising.
DML: Maybe my circadian rhythm 
,it was really messed up during the latter aspect of part 5
Anon: Being able to read my Bible everyday
Fela Dammy: None yet.
Samuel: None yet 
, I’m only trying to prevent potential unproductive outcomes.
Anon: Well, I’ve had more time for my babe 
. So, technically, I’m working on my relationship skills. Productivity at its finest. The pause has also made me reflect on other areas of my life, more than I’ve been able to do previously.
Abdulmalik: Well, it’s Ramadan. I actually have time read the Quran, be more spiritual and intentional about my worship. And I have time to tutor my brother that’s preparing for exams
Feyikemi: Me wey just dey sleep? Okay, to be serious…Apart from doing business, I worked on some projects(not disclosing that) earlier this break and it made me realize I’m a badass at it. I’ve seen the light and who knows? Might just venture into that later in the future.
Anon: I’ve been able to move my business properly in the right direction that God has laid on my heart.
Chidinma: Hm. I’ve had a few. Both behavioral and economical.
Anon: None for now.
Jhay: Because no growth, no silver lining, and no so-called “hidden blessing in disguise” has ever come from my education being unnecessarily paused.
Different people with different worries but one common wish – a swift resolution of the strike and resumption of the academic calendar without further disruption.
Although we wait in uncertainty, one thing is sure, our brightest days are ahead of us. So stay strong and keep fighting.
Till next time, stay jiggy.
Check out other interviews here.
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