Tales of the Invictus Medicos Class
November 2024 to August 2025 are months that will forever linger in Invictus Medicos’ memory. These months were filled with worries, struggles, hopes, sacrifices, tears, and ultimate gratitude. As we transition from Part 2 to Part 3 in medical school, it is compelling to document our Part 2 experience. Not only because it was tough, but because it shaped us in ways we barely planned for.
Before the Storm
Even before the holiday in July 2024, Invictus worries revolved around completing the almighty Anatomy topics before resumption. It was barely a three-month holiday, yet not even enough to cover 40% of the outline. For just Anatomy, we had six solid topics to cover: upper limb, lower limb, thorax, abdomen, histology, and embryology. Anatomy, the bulkiest of the three preclinical courses, was also the most hyped. Little did we know that Biochemistry , the “small but mighty,” as I like to call it, silently awaited us.
Looking back, everything feels like yesterday. Our resumption circle was a mix of the Stufflords, the Stuffless, the bosses, the Nerds, the I-Know-a-Prof, the I-Never-Cover, and the All-Rounders.
The Stufflords who had completed the entire upper and lower limb during the holiday, ready to resume and start thorax.
The Stuffless who barely recognized the humerus.
The Bosses who knew the clavicle was just the “beauty bone,” struggling to differentiate between ulna and radius.
The Nerds who hadn’t read much during the break but faithfully grabbed lecturers’ “dos and don’ts,” then went back to their hostels to hold on to Dr. Najeeb, Ninja nerd and Adel Bondok like a baby awaiting the comfort of a long-lost father.
The I-Know-a-Prof students who had family connections with doctors, navigating with privilege, while the average student could only shake their head at their own comparison.
The All-Rounders who had read extensively during the holiday, still attended classes, watched videos, enjoyed life, and somehow aced exams.
In one line, we all resumed with the spirit of “don’t worry, we can still cover.” But reality soon unfolded
During one of our first Anatomy lectures, the lecturer stormed out of class in annoyance, his claim? No one came to call him and some other reasons we could not even comprehend. Perplexed, we wondered: Is this really how college is? Biochemistry and Physiology started smoothly, though at first they felt like extensions of Chemistry. By the third week, questions arose: are we truly in Part 2 Physiology or back in Part 1? Biochemistry, initially manageable, soon bared its fangs
The Tempest
First In-Course Beckons: About six to eight weeks in, our first Biochemistry in-course was announced. The slang then was: “na person wey don cover dey attend class.” The slides were bulky, abstract, and demanded cramming. At the same time, Physiology and Anatomy were rounding off their first in-course topics. Suddenly, everything moved at lightning speed.
The night before the exam was filled with anxiety, encouragement messages from seniors and friends, and hidden doubts. One popular senior advice was: “Don’t worry, BCH will judge you as you read.”
On exam day, shock! Questions came from both familiar slides and totally strange corners. By the end, some students smiled, some wore sober faces; genuine or sarcastic, only the result can tell. Results brought relief to some and pity to others. Also, it brought discouragement in a way. But one thing was clear: we had entered the real battlefield. Anatomy and Physiology in-courses followed soon, and though exhausting, we moved straight into second in-course preparations. MB Exam was somewhere, laughing at our naive rush.
Waves of Doubt
Second In-Course Palava: Histology and Embryology, once interesting, turned tough when one of our lecturers stopped teaching as a punishment to the class. We resorted to Dr. Najeeb’s lectures and Medicovisual videos. It wasn’t easy, but we had no excuse. Because, as usual, this is college; college do not take excuses.
Thorax and abdomen classes were another hurdle. Some avoided the classes at first, being clueless about the content, only to regret missing valuable explanations after attending one or two lectures to the end of thorax class. When we finally caught on, the weight of backlog was overwhelming. Meanwhile, Biochemistry and Physiology rolled on. Our MB exam loomed, demanding we adapt to both objectives and theory after two years or more of mainly objective questions.
When Anatomy’s second in-course ended, Biochemistry struck again with 90 concise questions to be answered in 37 minutes, the same day Anatomy results were released. Crazy, isn’t it? The BCH questions required sharp thinking: pathways, mechanisms, not mere recall. Physiology second in-course soon followed, leaving us drained and staring directly at MB preparations.
The Storm
MB Preparation Times: Unlike our Part 3 seniors who had over a month, Invictus had just two weeks. Six bulky Anatomy topics, equally 6 demanding Physiology topics, and Biochemistry pathways all stood tall before us.
The MB weeks are not the deadliest, the two weeks preparations were. Timetables were constantly rewritten, hopes built on “I can do it.” Families already called us “Doctor” at home. But behind the bravado, lies sleepless nights, fragile mental health, starved bodies, eye bags, and endless overnight struggles.
The scariest part was watching even the Stufflords crumble. That shook everyone and one thing kept ringing in our heads; if these people should fold, won’t I fail?
Yet, seniors assured us it was normal. That reassurance gave us perspective: this was college reality.
Anchors in Chaos
The best way to stay sane during MB preparations is to stay around people. While personal reading may work early on, isolation before exams can breed heavier thoughts and slower understanding of important aspects to read. Group reading often becomes the resort. This fosters togetherness, accountability, and reduces fear.
Another important lesson: know what to read. Time will never be enough, therefore you must balance studies by touching all topics. Prayer, the core of surviving college must not be found wanting. It really matter.
The Calm After the Storm
Finally, Our Part 2 MB results were released. Mixed feelings flooded the air as pass, resit, repeat, and withdrawal lists were all pasted. It was yet another game of fate, like all others we had been playing, this was the real deal.
Heartfelt congratulations to those who passed. To those resitting a course: it is not the end, but a chance to prove your strength. And to repeat students: it is an opportunity to redefine your capacity. Then to withdrawn students: it is not the end of the world, but a chance to start afresh and better. It’s not easy but it doesn’t define our worth either.
Surviving the Storm
Now, the Invictus Medicos are on holiday, yet already worrying about Part 3. How will it be again in this space, Invictus?
Credit:
1) Idris Ruqoyah Temitope
2)Agunbiade Balqees Damilola
3)Ibukun Oluwafemi Augustus
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