Second year, no joke, was the hardest year of my entire undergraduate experience (I know I’m ONLY just a second year). But trust me when I say you will be losing hair, throwing TONS of temper tantrums, and will be consuming 4+ espresso shots (provided caffeine is your day 1). Here are my top five tips, and biggest lessons I’ve learned in second year:
1. Peers: Drop the entire “wow, she’s gonna help me out and is doing everything that’s in my best interest.” Nah, she isn’t. It’s a self-centred, entirely “me before you” world. No one is going to care about your med school dreams, or even what you’re doing. The goal will always be to take you down, or to do better than you. People are VERY salty and highly envious of your 81.25, if they get an 81. Yes, I know you did POINT TWO FIVE better than they did, however, the jealousy is enough to tear apart the closest of friends. Especially if you’re in a competitive field, you’re going to find yourself taken down, or used. That’s right. If you’re excelling in Linear Algebra, be prepared for the temporary fake parasites who’ll leach onto you for a semester. They ain’t your friends. They’re simply hitting you up 12:01am for that lab that’s due tomorrow at 8:30am. Do yourself a favour, and put yourself FIRST.
2. Grades: your grades will drop. The people claiming that second year was their “best” year, are pathological liars. Be prepared for that 2-3% drop, even if you’re on top of things, you’re going to find that your GPA will suffer. Don’t be disheartened, my friend, you can definitely pick yourself back up. Don’t compare yourself to the person getting a 101% on every midterm, or the person who’s studying 24 hours a day. You do not know what resources they have, or if they have an older sibling who’s helping them every step of the way. You are doing this all on your own, and once again, everyone has an entirely different journey. You are unique. Don’t compare. Try your best, work your bottom off, and eventually you will succeed (and if you don’t, NOT the end of the world). It’s a hard year.
3. Mental Health: Prioritize this. You never know what’s going to hit you, and how horrible it is to get a bad grade after you studied super duper hard. We’ve all been there and done that. Sign up for therapy, take those yoga classes, and book that vacation. Always, ALWAYS make time for yourself, even if it’s just a warm vanilla scented bubble bath.Take time to PAUSE before hitting RESTART. You’re going to find that you’re going to have a lot of “restart” moments, because a lot of times your hard work just won’t pay off. It’s always important to pick yourself back up, and fight it. Giving up really isn’t your best revenge – plow through it.
4. Extracurricular activities (E.C.’s): Although you should get involved with different clubs and organizations around campus, it’s often not best to OVERDO it. Now is not the time to sign up for the Canadian Cancer Society, volunteer for three clubs on and off campus, and start an internship at the hospital. It’s a no from me. You’re going to have SO much stuff to do for all your classes (assuming you’re doing 3-5 courses), and volunteering is demanding. Managing both can often be cumbersome, so it’s best to prioritize school and maybe do only a couple of E.C.’s.
5. Relationships: Second year was particularly eye-opening for me, and made me realize who’s here to stay and who’s here temporarily. I fought my parents, didn’t talk to my family for days on end, but eventually realized that they’re actually my day 1’s (along with caffeine). Everyone else was only in my life temporarily. It was all bound to end eventually, and my parents were here for all of it. They can be annoying and overprotective, however, they’re the only ones who stood by me blindly. Strengthen that relationship, and don’t prioritize temporary relationships. Eradicate toxicity, and foster healthy relationships.
Second year is daunting and overwhelming, but always feel free to reach out to me for advice. You got this, and you will overcome this hell-of-a-year. I have faith in YOU.