Perks Of Being A Med Student - Amna Kamran (Batch Of '18)

Wow, ‘med student’- has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? And that, everyone, is the first and most major perk of being a medical student. That specific sense of glamour you carry just by waltzing into a restaurant with either your  lab coat or SIMS hoodie on.  And if your mom’s there she’ll definitely be introducing you to all her friends as her beloved doctor bacha/bachi.  That is what we’re all primarily here for, right? To provide our parents with that sense of pride and accomplishment :’)

So why do our parents and relatives celebrate when somebody’s on their way to becoming a doctor? Because of the money? The fact that we’re in such a noble profession? Yes and yes. But, I think, the cherry on top is the fact that WE MADE IT.

Medicine is the hardest profession you can get into. There’s O levels/Metric , then A levels/ FSC; and then directly after that we’re hurled into the abysmal MCAT mess. It’s really not that easy having that much stamina and working that hard consistently. *shudders at the bad memories*

And that’s the other major perk of being a med student: the unhesitating assumption a third party has of all med students being smart. It doesn't matter if you think you’re stupid…all non-med bachaws are going to think you’re a genius despite your insecurity :D (shhh let’s not tell them the truth)

That’s the beauty of it all. The confidence and self-assurance you obtain just by knowing that you're on your way to adding the ‘Dr’ label riggghhhhttt before your previously ordinary name :’)

The admiration people look at us with isn’t uncalled for, of course. This is where the comparison with LUMS comes in (don’t worry we’ll win this one;)). In med school our tears are brought about by the endless hours of studies and dealing with difficult patients. On the other hand, LUMS/Business Students are brought to their knees by mere ‘assignments’. They feel cool when they type out a five-page essay…we, on the other hand, feel cool when we dissect a cadaver and pinpoint its nerves and muscles. Our life sounds more meaningful doesn’t it? See, told you we would win in this comparison!