I learned a lot from my first week of PA school. I learned about my personality, my study habits, and my mindset. The growth has already began and I can't wait for it to continue.
1. It is okay to be nervous.
I was very nervous/excited going into my first day. I moved across the country from California to West Virginia for PA school. I have never been to West Virginia so EVERYTHING was new to me. Grocery stores (no Trader Joes! 😠), gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops, streets, highways, and so much more. I was out of my comfort zone and had to adapt my life to this new environment. I also knew NO ONE. I made an effort to meet everyone in my class and attend activities the first week of school to begin building relationships. I was very nervous my first day, but once I got into the groove of school and met all my amazing classmates and professors, the nerves faded.
2. You deserve to be here-DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS.
Everyone has traveled a different journey to get to PA school. Each individual person is unique. They may have a different science GPA, different healthcare experiences, or cool medical stories that you may not have. That is okay. Remember, YOU WERE SPECIALLY PICKED. Out of all the applicants and all the interviews, the program found something special about YOU! Embrace the differences in everyone's journeys, but do not get discouraged if yours does not look like theirs. You are just as qualified and just as great.
3. Utilize your classmates (teammates).
Each person likely has a different background, so utilize that! Someone may have an extensive amount of knowledge in pharmacology and they can help you in your studies and in return, you can help them with theirs. Your classmates are your teammates. You are all there to accomplish the same goal: become a Physician Assistant. Work together to help each other succeed, not beat each other down. This has been a great dynamic in my class so far. We have shared helpful diagrams, study guides, and so much more to make sure each person is getting what they need to achieve. I love this collaboration because our profession will be extremely collaborative. Learn to be a team player and find what you are your fellow teammates strengths and weaknesses are.
4. It is A LOT of information.
Yes, what everyone says about PA school is true. It is a lot of information and you learn that quickly in the first week. Stay on top of your studies from day one. In the beginning, it will seem like you have some extra time but make sure you understand the material because it will continue to pile up week by week. This will make it easier in the long run...hopefully :)
5. Let your mindset be your patients.
We are no longer in school just to pass and move onto the next step of graduate school. We are now in school to learn how we can be the best provider for OUR PATIENTS. All the information that is being taught to you now has a meaning and purpose: your patients. Let that be your focus and your motivation. You are not going to be able to understand everything, and that is okay. Switch your mindset to motivate you and inspire you.
7. You may have to try new things.
Within the first week, my study habits changed. I was so accustomed to taking hand written notes during class as that was the way I best remembered the information. However, the amount of information we are receiving at the pace we are receiving it at did not allow me to do this. I quickly had to adapt to taking notes on my computer (OneNote will become your best friend!) and then studying the content at home after.
It is okay to make these changes. It is a part of your growth! Don't be afraid to try new ways of studying to see what works best for you in this fast pace environment.
6. HAVE FUN!
This is such a new and exciting chapter of your life! Embrace it and all that comes with it. It is going to be hard and difficult, but also fun and rewarding. This week, we had a long week of lectures that were filled with A LOT of content. We ended our week with practicing vital signs and it was the best way to end it. To physically put into practice what you will be doing as a provider was so rewarding. It was so much fun to use my own stethoscope and treat my classmate like my own patient!
Also, remember there is time for coffee/happy hour/dinner with a friend. Something great about my program is that they have a tradition each year where the cohort above plans some fun events with the new cohort the first weekend of school. Our school had an ice skating night and we all went out ice skating together. It was a great way to meet the cohort above us but to also build relationships with my cohort as well.
Comments
Post a Comment