Moving away is difficult especially if you are leaving people you love and care for behind. I have been going to resiliency meetings as an intervention for medical students to feel more supported and I wanted to share what I gathered from it. I know I didn’t move too far to go to school but I don’t get to see the people I love everyday like I used to. I sometimes still get a little lonely over the weekends when I don’t get to see as many people and I know I have to crack down. I sometimes become unproductive because of the lack of supervision. This is definitely something I need to improve about myself. Being alone should not be the reason for being unproductive, and I find having an accountability buddy really helps.
I felt grateful for everything I have, I am lucky because I found friends that click really well with my personality. Those friends are really getting me through and reminding me about how to take things one step at a time. Sometimes I look at a pile and I just feel overwhelmed by the amount of studying I need to accomplish, but I feel better when I just complete small tasks a little at a time. I found the pomodoro technique works well, but I also take longer breaks than I should. My habits have improved, but I still have a long way to go. Horace, a wise Roman man once said “He who has begun has half the deed done” and I really trust this advice. Once I begin, a rush of excitement occurs when I learn something new and I just feel like I want more.
Another thing I am grateful for is the fact that I did not move too far from home and so I still have my family nearby if I need their support. It still feels like I’m a world away because I don’t get to see them as often as I used to, but I think of the people who came to school with nobody and I am humbled by their resilience. I want to reach out to them and be there for them just as my peers have been for me.
I also want to give a shout out to my randomly assigned Big Sib at school. She has been so helpful and amazing. She has given me just the right amount of support and she is the reason I feel that I will be ok. Her friend group seems to take life in by having fun and they are still fine at the end of the tunnel. It makes me believe I can do it too!
So whether you are moving down the road or really far out of your comfort zone. I implore you to reach out to others and find support where you can. Medical school is a huge transition, but so is moving away and the life adjustment that comes from that might hit you differently than you expect.
You can even shoot me an email or hit me up on social media if you need someone to talk to!
Thanks for reading, sorry it’s a little tangential.