If there was any point life was the easiest, it was probably as a kid. Then, we barely had any major problems to deal with.
However, the childlike freedom and naivety came with a cost. Believing lies. Lies with no way of confirmation. For some medical students, it was the allure of the popular book, Gifted Hands by Benjamin Carson. For others, it was a white lie painted in the form of encouragement from loved ones. Although for me, it was neither the book nor the lies. It was a silly bet. A bet I had with my uncle who begged me not to study medicine. So, in short, I did this to myself. But looking back, I find solace in the fact that someone at least warned me.
There are many funny reasons why people are in medical schools now. But a few common ones keep reappearing. For instance, some want to be the first doctor in their family, some want to be the junior Ben Carson of Gifted Hands, and some want to be just doctors because they are the smartest in their secondary school. So many variables.
Now, we are in medical school. We know better. But the lies? They keep coming in new forms.
MediVoice interviewed a few Medical students (IFUMSAites) about the biggest lie that someone ever told them about medical school. Here are what they have to say.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST LIE YOU WERE TOLD ABOUT MED SCHOOL?
“Just read and you’ll pass. Na lieeee”
~Anonymous
We’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced it. The shocks that comes with first incourse scores. Shocks that will have you doubting how you made it here in the first place. I remember standing in front of college, about to cross the road to MDL, when the results dropped. In fact, shocked is an understatement of how I felt.
“Medical school is cool for the average student.”
~Anonymous
Obviously, that is also a crazy lie. In fact, I don’t think I’ve met an average student here. In our first year, a number of us gathered at the secretariat. One thing led to another and suddenly we were discussing UTME scores. That day, I was so embarrassed at my score, which I once thought was cool, that I couldn’t open my mouth to say it. So where are the average students here?
“That you will be okay. You don’t have to be the richest but you’ll be able to take care of yourself. IT’S A LIEEEE!”
~Barty
The situation is quite baffling. Fine, doctors are being paid peanuts. But even those peanuts don’t come on time. Sometimes, they don’t come at all. Imagine spending hours standing in surgery, putting care into relating with patients, taking night calls, without rest, and all for nothing. Sorry for peanuts. There’s a serious problem with the healthcare system in Nigeria.
” Maybe no one actually told me this, but there is an illusion that there is money in medicine. Turns out it is a blanket statement and half the truth. Because all these SRs I’m seeing don’t make it encouraging, even some consultants included. May God save us. Japa plans activated sha…”
~Anonymous
There’s still a lot to learn.
“My father told me that I just need to put all my efforts to get into medical school. Once I do, I only need to pass. Turns out passing is not easy.”
~Anonymous
I remember preparing for 300L MBE. I literally prayed to God to just take me if he had plans to. Now imagine my shock when someone says that what I faced then was nothing compared to the trouble I’ll see when preparing for 400L MBE. I used to laugh at senior colleagues, not realizing their shoes were so uncomfortable.
” Nobody lied to me. It was all me.”
~S
Girl, same.
“They were like you don’t have to be passionate about clinical medicine. That once you get there you can use it to get anything you want.”
~Promise
“Anything you want” is crazy. I can’t imagine doing this hellish course without any passion whatsoever. That’s like living horror twice.
“Medical school is just six years. Ah! Unfortunate lie. At least for this school.”
~Anonymous
Since I’ve been in medical school, the shortest I have seen a set spend in school is 8 years. Aside from that, there’s still a year of housemanship and then a year of NYSC. Then aside from those, there are also the residency programs, of which some last for 7 years. And, in these phases, we are learning. Like, actual learning and writing exams.
Anyway, IFUMSAites have revealed their biggest lies. You can add yours in the comment section.
And, if you’re a secondary school student, thinking of studying medicine, or worse still, medicine in OAU, and you, by chance, stumbled on this article, please don’t. Do not pick medicine. There are other ways to save lives. And help the world, if that is what you want. Or at least, just carry out enough research about the lifestyle in medical school. Make an informed decision.
So that when the time comes, time to feast on two thousand five hundred (2500) slides for 15 marks, while mosquitoes also drink of your blood, you won’t waste much time questioning your sanity. You will just know that you got exactly what you signed up for.
If you enjoyed this vox-pop, click here to read more articles.
Until next time, bye.
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