We all realize quickly in medical school that while in fact we may no longer be good at what we used to think we were good at (mainly studying and getting good grades), we are all in fact good at something. and you just have to figure out what that something is and how to use it to your advantage.
I learned early that apparently people find me hilarious. It is a great asset to have, because people find my sarcasm and smarminess to be funny, so I can constantly bitch about things I hate or people that drive me crazy and instead of being seen as that negative person who never has anything nice to say about anyone, I'm seen as that funny girl that can make people laugh. It's good for everyone, because laughing increases good feelings (which many of us don't have much of anymore) and I get to get a lot of things off my chest.
I'm also good at a lot of other things, some that are new discoveries and some that I'd always known. And since I am no longer good at studying (which I should be doing right now instead of blogging) or getting good grades, I have to use my other assets to my advantage. One of them is that I find it very easy to talk to faculty and get myself involved in organizations that get me noticed. I like being the girl everyone knows. I like being known for being outspoken and saying what others are thinking, for being the go-to person when someone needs something done, and having people know and remember who I am. I like planning events (but don't like cleaning up after them) and I like being a member of different organizations on campus.
Why am I boring you with the things I'm good at? Because medical school is great at making you feel like you aren't good at anything anymore, and so you have to hold on to the things you are good at, even if they don't seem to have any relevance to succeeding as a doctor. The fact that I can make people laugh while I bitch means I will always have some kind of way to vent. The fact that I like to be a go-getter, but can do it without making other people look like they are slacking, makes me noticed by residents and interns and attendings as a strong medical student. And the fact that I know people in high places who respect me for the work I've done means I'll have good letters of rec for residency, since my grades are not going to get me very far.
My favorite example of using my assets was during anatomy. I hated dissection lab. I thoguht it was the worst possible thing I could have to go through. I rarely found any of it interesting, mostly it was gross. I had a lab partner, however, who found everything fascinating. One day I realized that sometimes, if I said that I found something interesting, she would come over to see, and slowly take my work away from me. I would joke that all of a sudden the scalpel would be out of my hands and I'd be pushed across the room. I noticed this, and eventually used it to my benefit. Some people may consider this me playing someone, but I'm okay with that. Because when I'd get bored with dissecting or didn't want to do it anymore, I'd just mention how awesome what I was doing was, and all of a sudden my lab partner would be dissecting for me. And I could take a little break. What did she get in exchange? She learned way more anatomy than me, and apparently she found my jokes funny enough to get us through lab. Gotta use what you've got.
Everyone has random skills that are going to help them get through medical school, and if they are lucky, get someone else through medical school as well. They may not seem super important, but you have to take what you can get. Sure, I can't memorize all the drug interactions I'm going to have to know for the boards. But I can figure out the system of the hospital I'm in so I get my work done in half the time and have time to go study all the stuff I don't know. I may not be able to cure anyone at this point of anything, but I can make my patients feel at ease in the hospital and like they have someone working hard for them while I either try to figure it out or let the real doctors fix things. All of these little things are what gets us through, makes us good, and we can do all of it without being an asshole. So take a second and think about your special skill. Everyone has one, and no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you, you need to figure out how it is going to help you be an awesome doctor and get through this hell we call medical school.
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