We are halfway through the semester, and yet it only feels like I began Med 2 yesterday. This semester has been moving extremely quickly for me, with the minutes flying into days, fleeting into weeks. This is mostly because of Med 2, but it is gratifying that Med 2 is hard. At least it’s not slow – I do not think I would be able to bear the combination of those two things.

The saving grace of anyone in medical school is your favorite pastime, the hobby which you prize above all else. More than anything, one needs a consistently effective release. Some people do it by watching TV. I personally do it by playing guitar for hours at a time – and these hours present themselves on that Saturday after the mini. After hanging out with friends Friday night until the wee hours of the morn, I usually sleep for 10 hours, waking up at around 2 pm on Saturday. I then spend the next 8 hours in me-time: I watch tv, explore the internet, call friends at home, play guitar, and then, around midnight, I fall asleep again and wake up on Sunday refreshed.

Now, this is clearly not what everyone does, and it may be I am one of the only few who do this. However, it is a fact that, while med school is about working hard, its also necessary to take a break every once in a while. I find this even improves my ability to learn, rather than constantly forcing information into my head 24/7. And, more importantly, it keeps you sane and it keeps you motivated. If I had to give one piece of advice, I would say this: study when you have to study, study even when you don’t have to, if desired, but know how and when to take breaks. I can’t imagine being able to go all the way without letting my brain rest, but perhaps that is just me.

by Prakash Jayanthi, Class of 2014