A word of advice to the graduating class of 2020.
Hi everyone! I’m a bit late to this campaign, but still wanted to share my thoughts. Congratulations to the class of 2020! You are graduating during such a unique time in medicine, and have the potential to make a very meaningful impact.
Things I wish I knew intern year:
Just because you’re a “doctor” now, doesn’t mean you have all of the answers. Please ask tons of questions! Remember, intern year and residency are about learning, education, and training.
Likely, your career in medicine will be a marathon, not a sprint. Please pace yourself accordingly.
Read, A LOT!
Be a team player.
Spend some time with your co-interns. It’s so important to have a social support system during intern year. You may find that some of the relationships you curate during intern year will be lifelong.
Keep your eyes and mind open to what interests you. Your career in medicine can have many different paths, and there are endless possibilities. If you find something that really interests you, search for a mentor within that field.
Prioritize your health and well-being. It is easy to put these two on the back burner. But you can’t take care of others if you haven’t taken care of yourself.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own path. Push yourself to be better than you were yesterday. Set small, tangible goals and do your best to work towards them.
Don’t forget to pursue interests that you have outside of medicine.
Most importantly, HAVE FUN! Even though it won’t seem like it sometimes, training will fly by!
I think the bottom line is that you are finally embarking on the beginning of your career in medicine. You have control over how and where you take it. At the end of the day, remember that you have the unique power to bring health and healing to so many people.
Shivani Chopra, MD 