During my sophomore year, I signed up for a class called “The Diagnosis of Human Diseases.” I had no information about the professor, the course material, or what I was getting myself into. On the first day, I opened the door to a cramped classroom in a building on campus that took me an hour to find, and gazed on an entire room of unfamiliar faces. Dr. Flint, who immediately asked to be called Andy, began the class routinely by asking the students our majors and years in school. Judging by the class name, I assumed my peers shared my pre-medical studies, but as everyone shyly introduced themselves, I was surprised to find myself in the minority among economics, pre-law, anthropology, history, and majors I had not encountered before. I sat up, preparing myself for an experience that defied all expectations.
Andy’s class changed my experience as a pre-medical student. Focusing on the process to establish a differential diagnosis was not only different than anything I had previously studied, it has made every doctors appointment I have had since a personal, in-depth learning opportunity. I believe the classes I have signed up to study this summer will further my education in this manner, stretching beyond the classroom to impact my understanding of medicine. In “Human Health and Disease: A Clinical Approach,” I would be able to directly build upon what I learned from Andy, while “Medical Biotechnology and Drug Development” would expose me to a part of medicine that I have not been able to explore before, enhancing my understanding of an important aspect of my future career.
While I enjoy my diverse experiences on campus, from working with a variety of majors in classes like Andy’s to participating in organizations that bring a variety of different people together, I want to put myself outside of my element and comfort zone. Studying abroad is an opportunity to widen my Americanized perspective of medicine, and further develop the skills I will need to become a doctor. This perspective has been shaped thus far by my volunteer work at the University of Michigan Hospital and the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, as well as my hours spent shadowing physicians. My volunteering positions have taught me about hospital dynamics and different professions and responsibilities. Through my shadowing I have been able to see a variety of medical procedures first hand, while also getting glimpses of the lifestyle these doctors lead. I have loved every minute of these experiences and appreciate the valuable contribution they have made to my education, but I want to broaden my understanding of how medicine is practiced outside of my home town and nation. Learning how the medical profession differs abroad will enhance my understanding of my future career. Studying abroad will also expose me to a level of diversity I have yet to experience. This will not only force me to adapt and grow as a person, but also enhance my ability to understand, appreciate, and work with the diversity of my future patients and colleagues.
While studying abroad offers so many benefits, it also presents students with a range of challenges that we have to face to grow as people. As one of my abroad advisors told me, I will never be fully prepared for all of the challenges I will face while abroad. Knowing this, I have taken every opportunity to prepare for the expected trials so that I may focus on the unexpected difficulties I will encounter. On campus, I am a participant in the Michigan International Internships and Service Program (MIISP), which has led seminars all year to prepare us for our travels. Most recently, our last session focused on respecting our host communities. We spent a great deal of time discussing challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences, both of which I expect to face in Copenhagen and on the study tour. After studying French for 8 years with teachers that refused to speak english in class, I have learned that a great deal of communication relies on gesture, tone, and patience. These are critical in both being able to get your own ideas across, but also being a respectful listener. This is respect for not only the person you are talking to, but their ideas, beliefs, and own personal perspective. I believe that the key to maneuvering any cultural differences while abroad is to approach the situation with respect and the willingness to cooperate and possibly try something new.
During the MIISP session, we also discussed our own identities, filling out a social identity profile that asked us to consider not only our identities that we are born with or chosen, but also the privileges associated with those identities and how they may differ abroad. I am both nervous and excited for my experience abroad as I will not only learn from my classes, but I will develop myself as a global citizen. It is this development that I truly cannot gain from any other opportunity I have been given yet, and what I know will be fostered by studying abroad. I can only prepare so much, but as Andy taught me with the diagnostic process, while the end goal is important, it is the process of development that you learn and grow from. What is there worth learning without challenges?
No comments:
Post a Comment