Things that are wrong about the medical school system (things I observed and feel angry that these things are happening to other classmates)
Please deidentify and make it less obvious so the writer does not get into trouble. Thank you!
1) Classmates are arrogant, don’t know also pretend and put a front
2) Classmates prefer to gossip, if not be by themselves and be selfish. Avoid helping others even if others are clearly facing difficulties or struggling in school work, say “the school doesn’t spoonfeed” “everyone is studying the same thing, I don’t get it why you can’t and are spending so much time on this”
3) Too many classmates who are putting up a façade and entering Medical School for the wrong reasons. E.g. former policymaker entering school cos “money goes to school rather than MOH”, a former pharmacist wants to seek revenge on doctors who scolded her when she was once a pharmacist. Entering for the prestige and reputation of the school. Friends who are “friends” – want to be friends with those who have benefits only, emotional dumpers, psychopaths who are shape shifters and subsume others’ personalities – copycats, and not sure what to label them, “the school is out to get us/cockblocks us”
4) “Friends” who don’t share learning experiences and struggles openly
5) Pretend nothing is wrong despite knowing that some things are the truth, such as gaslighting and brushing other people’s feelings aside after hurting them “get over it”, “roll with it”, brushing others’ concerns and thoughts aside. Ironically students are taught to explore ideas, concerns and expectations of patients and be more empathetic
6) Showmanship is more valued in Medicine rather than being humble, quiet and actually knowing your stuff. Erosion of values that medicine once upheld, such as professionalism, punctuality.
7) If you stand out because of your kindness or something good in your personality, people gossip and get jealous and try all means to bring you down
Mentors who like to show off and scold/nag when they themselves don’t know certain things, not nurturing or encouraging
9) Lack of proper guidance in school, a lot of comments are not useful for learning e.g. “maybe you’re from (this previous background) you question things less” “How can you be so blur” “You’re awkward” VS in other schools, a sentence by other mentors can be enlightening and motivate the student in the right direction, the student knows what exactly to do just 5 minutes talking to the mentor
10) People say not bowing to such negative influence and becoming bad is growth, but how long can you stay positive and principled in such an environment?
11) People are judgmental, just because people are short and small-sized doesn’t mean they are easy to bully or don’t know their stuff. People don’t take others seriously because of their personality or appearance e.g. “this girl is nipple line” “she lacks emotional quotient” when they are actually projecting their past hurts or trauma in their previous lives /careers on innocent classmates who are just there to study and not hurt anyone