DR HARLINA'S SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tips no. 11 - 20

(Those who wish to read tips no.1 - 10, kindly scroll down)

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 11 - Try your best to make your teachers feel respected and appreciated. Take what is good from them, whilst forgive them for their shortcomings. Assist your teachers by getting actively involved in teaching learning activities. Make them interactive, lively, fun and enjoyable. Help your teachers, they need you to be on board!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 12 - Strengthen your friendship with peers, seniors & juniors. Don't be a loner. Help one another always. Study in a group, studying alone limits your understanding & perspective. The best way to learn is to teach! So, teach one another - you'll be amazed by the result of such teamwork.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 13 - Spend your holiday/semester break with your family. Visit your grandparents, uncles, aunts & cousins. Let them see the `new, better, matured' future family doctor whom they're so proud of. Impress them with your improved communication & interpersonal skills. Listen attentively to their complaints, groans & moans. Gently remind them, you're not yet licensed to treat...

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 14 - Manage your time wisely. Sleep early and wake up fresh. Do not compromise your sleeping time by spending too much time online. Chronic sleep deprivation will only result in higher level of stress! Stop the vicious cycle, NOW!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 15 - Pluck your courage to greet ALL your teachers when you meet them at the corridors/cafetaria/lifts etc. Don't expect them to remember your name, unless you're really exceptional. They might not be smiling back to you, but your consistent greetings will somewhat make your face familiar to them. At least they realize that you EXIST....and that really matters.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 16 - Train yourself to serve others always. After all, medical profession is about public servitude. Your calling is to go all out to help, assist and facilitate others. Altruism (placing other's interest before one self) is the keystone of medicine. Without it, the whole arch of medicine collapses!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 17 - Overcome your fear, sadness and uncertainties with constant reminder that what you're aiming for is not something ordinary. Training to be a medical doctor pushes you to your limits! Be warned, the sailing is not going to be smooth, it's an uphill climb, a lifelong commitment.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 18 - Learn to be genuinely interested in your patient's life - not simply his/her diseases. Remember this equation : Patient = Person + Disease. While learning how to doctor the disease, never forget to doctor the PERSON, who is made up of body, mind, heart & soul.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 19 - Jump out of the bed with enthusiasm and excitement each morning. Promise yourself that you're going to make full use of the many golden opportunities in front of you. Say your morning prayers consistently, without fail. Look into the mirror and say it out loud : I believe I can be a better person today, better than yesterday, InsyaAllah!

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS : Tip no. 20 - Be emotionally intelligent. Manage your emotions wisely. Remember, emotion is the window to your thoughts. When you're feeling happy and motivated, you're thinking positive thoughts. When you're feeling down and demoralized, your head is full with negative thoughts. Ask yourself, how much do you want to ALLOW the trigger/stimulus to affect you emotionally...it's your own choice!

Loves,
Dr. Har