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WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

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First day in medical school

Ask a child what he would want to be when he grows up and you will hear things like: “I want to be a doctor, I want to be a lawyer or I want to be a Pilot!”. Ask an average science student in secondary school what he wants to be in the future and you will almost always get the same answer: I want to be a medical Doctor. Medical school, a place where many want to go to, a place where many dream of going to yet, have no clue about how things are done in there.

I still vividly remember when we got into first year, it was then that I, for the first time, got to know that there were some conditions attached to crossing over from first year to second year. For us, it was moving from University of Nigeria Nsukka – the Nsukka campus, to UNEC – the Enugu Campus. They called it “moving from a pre-med school to a med school”. “To do that, you must pass all your first year courses.” So we were told. We all worked hard bearing one thing in mind:” I just have to cross over”.

That stage was soon over and we got into “the college of Medicine”. Of course we thought we had arrived….a feeling that lasted less than 12hours! It took only an orientation into the 2nd MBBS work to get everyone on their toes. To be frank, that orientation left me scared to an extent.

Here we were, finally in college after the stressful jamb, post utme and first year efforts and there someone was, welcoming us with a scary orientation! It was far beyond what I had in mind, personally. Med school was all about work, serious hardwork and series of professional exams to write! 2nd MB,BS was our ticket to crossing over from the pre clinical to the clinical class – another crossing over!

We finally, by His grace, made it into “the clinical class” and moved to the new campus, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Old site, only to realize again that the clinical class was imaginarily divided into two: the one before the 3rd MB,BS exams( pathology and pharmacology) and the one after that (the part where the 4th and 5th MB,BS: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, paediatrics, community medicine, medicine and surgery respectively will be written). It wasn’t just going to be another crossing over from the first half of clinical class to the second half but also a crossing over from the old UNTH to the new UNTH, at Ituku-Ozalla.

It was also after we had entered the 3rd MB,BS class that we got to know that after our house job(internship) and Youth service as doctors, we still had to apply and carry out our Residency training for our specialty programs, a training that lasts for at least 6 years here in Nigeria… something we never heard of prior to medical school!

3rd MB,BS was soon over…the shortest and most stressful program in college and we started our main clinical posting, plying the routes of Ituku-Ozalla from oldsite, every single day! The expenses on textbooks and other medical equipment apart, the transportation fee to and fro Ituku-Ozalla was dealing treacherously with every single one of us. Worst of all was the fact that the price kept inflating!
Med school is one place your timetable is planned out for you, given to you and you have no other choice except receive it with open arms with no complaints on how unfavorable it might be for you. Sometimes, you get to have lectures from 7am in the morning to 7pm at night, especially when there are series of topics that need to be covered – of course, around the MB periods. An experience we had a full of during the 3rd MB,BS exams.

The stress and lots of activities force one to reorientated him/herself. You forget your past glory and focus on “what time table or reading pattern to employ in each class with it’s unique lecture schedule, to get the needed result” It goes on and on, waxing and waning. For every new unit you are posted to, it is a different experience and expectation!

In conclusion, College of medicine is a place where you first consider of going to not just because you feel you are intelligent enough. It’s rather a place you go to, with your mind configured and ready to take a tone of stress yet, not collapse. Have the ability to forget the good grades you had in the past and focus on shaping yourself into what you need to become in order to succeed at every point and above all, it is a place you go only if you have PASSION for the course. There will be points when you will ask yourself “what pushed me into medicine?” Only your passion and of course God, can lead you across such moments. In all, it’s still a beautiful journey, one you will look back at and smile!

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32 Comments

32 Comments

  1. Pingback: THIS JUST CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME!!!...a short story - Dera's stories

  2. ViKtorsobe

    February 10, 2021 at 7:44 pm

    Such a nostalgic feeling you just aroused.
    Thanks a lot for such a good writing and eye opener.

    • Dera

      February 10, 2021 at 9:24 pm

      Thanks for reading through

  3. Dera

    February 10, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    Please, don’t forget to post your comments. If not for anything, it encourages me to do more work ?

  4. Show dem

    February 10, 2021 at 8:36 pm

    ?nice

    • Dera

      February 10, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      Thanks dear

  5. Lucky Ibeakanma

    February 10, 2021 at 8:39 pm

    Nice one dear. Love from Lucky

    • Dera

      February 10, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      Wow! Thanks a lot. I’m happy to have you here

  6. amuche

    February 10, 2021 at 9:16 pm

    wow interesting story
    it motivated me

    • Dera

      February 10, 2021 at 9:26 pm

      I’m happy to help

  7. CYRIL JACOB

    February 10, 2021 at 11:08 pm

    This Very interesting… I really Love it.
    Keep up the Good work

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 6:28 am

      Thanks Cyril

  8. Buchi victor

    February 11, 2021 at 6:01 am

    Nne, you hit the nail.. you are doing well

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 6:28 am

      Thanks Buchi

  9. Anasiudu ebube

    February 11, 2021 at 7:13 am

    Nice writeup

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 8:49 am

      Thanks Bube

  10. Chijioke agbo

    February 11, 2021 at 9:10 am

    This is so interesting, keep it up.

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 12:09 pm

      Thanks dear

  11. Obed

    February 11, 2021 at 9:40 am

    Nice one big Sis …Thanks for the info , really motivating .??

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 12:10 pm

      Thanks honey

  12. Nneoma

    February 11, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    You hv said it all…..keep the ink flowing dear

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 2:46 pm

      Thanks dear

  13. Chuka Oti

    February 11, 2021 at 2:42 pm

    What a wonderful piece. Medical school is really a beehive of experiences.

    • Dera

      February 11, 2021 at 2:46 pm

      I tell you

  14. Nnamchi Onyemaechi Henry

    February 12, 2021 at 6:22 am

    Two thumbs up

    • Dera

      February 12, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks Henry

  15. Edmund

    February 12, 2021 at 6:55 am

    That was nice

    • Dera

      February 12, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks dear

  16. Hannah

    February 15, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    Thank you dear, the description of each stage one has to pass through was quite awesome

    • Dera

      February 15, 2021 at 3:57 pm

      Thank you Hannahhhh. It really feels amazing to have you here.

  17. Chibueze Ekeson

    February 20, 2021 at 4:33 pm

    This is very good dear.. keep the good work going

    • Dera

      February 20, 2021 at 11:51 pm

      Thanks dear

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Articles

THE ACT OF WRITING

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The act of writing… Want to write like your best author? Want to finally release that story you have been hurding, for people to see? Want to finally grasp the courage to pen down those thoughts even though you are scared people wouldn’t enjoy reading them as much as you enjoy reading those of your favorite author? then this article is for you!

I started writing a few years ago and from the little experience I have gathered, I can tell you one thing:”writing is a beautiful thing! It’s satisfying, it’s enjoyable, it’s simply amazing!”. If you are a better reader and had ever in one way or the other considered writing, am sure you must have experienced that feeling, especially while reading through your favorite works.

There is this misconception about producing an extra quality work..something everyone would love! Honey, one thing I can assure you is that no plot can ever capture the attention of everyone. As I always tell myself “Dera, you just have to focus on your niche and keep your write ups original”. Funny enough, this is what those writers you admire do. That your favorite writer has a plot, a niche he is focused on. If you didn’t know that, then look again, you will surely discover that for yourself. You enjoy his write ups not because he is the best writer you have seen but for one reason: “his niche captivates you”. Why not release those stories you have written for others to read? There is a fan out there, infact, there are fans out there waiting for exactly that content.

Writing is more of putting down your ideas…its a personal thing. It’s more about impressing yourself with your stories before reaching out to the wider community…a good way to keep your stories original. Those personal attributes you feel are not good enough are what actually make your stories unique! Besides, you never know how good a writer you are untill someone reads your work and confirms it. You never know how much that “wow amidst a broad smile” you get when someone enjoys your story encourages you! The comments and advise you get help you improve!

Also read https://derasstories.com/2021/01/06/the-travellers-hat-a-short-story/

Finally, I want you to know one thing, every writer you see is a working progress. There is nothing as a big writer or a small one! The more you write, the better a writer you become. You are one step away from perfecting your writing skills. Start by releasing that your interesting story. link me up when you are done and I will be happy to read and give you a reply. God’s grace as you start this journey, don’t forget: “I’m your number one fan!”.

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