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By Mira Pavan<\/p>\n
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We have finally reached the next glorious step in med school: clerkship. Or, to the rest of the world: where we start the never-ending road of becoming safe and competent doctors.<\/p>\n
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05:30 \u2013 First alarm goes off. Switch on water tank. Crawl back into bed for last moments of warmth and safety.<\/p>\n
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05:45 \u2013 Second alarm goes off. Shower, put on clothes, preferably with pockets. Make breakfast. Because food is important and necessary for me to be a functioning human being and not a growly bear.<\/p>\n
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06:45 \u2013 The walk to the hospital is a bit chilly, and very dark, but there is no torrential downpour. +50 points for not showing up for rounds looking like a drowned rat!<\/p>\n
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07:15 \u2013 Arrive in the dark locker room that smells vaguely of damp apples, change to nice shoes, and mumble a not-too-cheerful-to-elicit-grumbles \u201cgood morning\u201d to anyone you might encounter. Check your ID badge, name badge, black pen and phone are all on your person.<\/p>\n
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07:30 \u2013 Find your team. Realize that\u2019s not your team. See your team walking away and run<\/span> purposefully walk to catch up. Listen and make note of the patients so you can come back later and ask for their permission to be a practice exam scenario.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 08:30 \u2013 Make your way to theatre. Realize that your scrub size is gone because it\u2019s after 07:30. Pull of XXL scrubs like Beyonc\u00e9 wearing a poncho and hammer pants.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 13:00 \u2013 Realize that amidst being grilled by a stern, but friendly, surgeon, you haven\u2019t eaten lunch yet. Or had water since 07:15. Thank the team for their time and level up on that glucose. No casualties in the theatre, please.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 14:00 \u2013 Clinic. Take a patient. Any patient. Try to be as useful as you can while realizing you feel like you know nothing but patients have faith in you because you are on the other side of the desk. Reality sets in.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (sometime around) 18:00 \u2013 Brave torrential rain on the walk home, and thank your past self for batch cooking meals for the week. Warm up, check personal life, open Question Bank.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 21:45 \u2013 Realize that you can barely articulate, let alone retain knowledge. Push on for another 15 minutes or questions because you might be quizzed on that tomorrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 22:30 \u2013 In bed, lights out, happy to be off your feet. No energy to watch Arrow tonight. You\u2019ve adopted the bedtime of a 10 year old, but you know it\u2019s necessary.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s hard work, and it\u2019s long work, and this life comes before the rest of your other life for now \u2013 but without a doubt, these hospital beginnings will lead you to a \u201cthat was damn worth it\u201d end.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n