Student Profile – Jumaina Ali
When I started at Birmingham Medical School I had an excited kind of fear but all the current students were extremely friendly and helpful. It was daunting because I had never been part of such a large cohort, never mind being part of the whole medical school with a few thousand students.
As cliché as it most probably sounds, the highlight of the course is being baffled by the human body and its complexities every single day without fail. Studying medicine humbles you in the sense that you truly understand how intricate the human body is, and how fragile health is. The other highlight has been the amazing friendships I have formed with people from such a wide range of backgrounds that I know will be lifelong friendships.
The initial challenge for me was gauging the depth of knowledge that was expected of us as there is no set limit like there is at school. However, I have been surprised at how you adapt to the workload and pick up the concepts and all the medical jargon without even realising it. Although it remains challenging it becomes increasingly doable!
A typical week in first and second week is primarily based in the medical school. Usually there are quite a few lectures, small group teachings and some anatomy practical sessions. Two or three days a week might be starting at 9am and finishing at 6am. However, on Wednesdays we finish early so it is a chance to relax and do something I enjoy as well as catching up on any work I'm behind on. My favourite day of the week is our fortnightly visit to our GP practices where we meet patients and practice some of our clinical skills. It reminds me that at the end of all the studying and hard work is a patient who will need our help.
Birmingham is so vibrant and busy, and there is always something happening! The canals are beautiful if you just need to relax and get away from the busyness. The shopping and restaurants are bustling and there is so much variety. The multiculturalism makes Birmingham such an interesting and exciting place to meet people from every part of the world, and really acts as a means to allow the formation of friendships that may otherwise not have come about.
To all new first year students, I would say don't compare yourself to anyone else because everyone learns in a different way and also it's ok to not know everything!
Jumaina Ali
Course: MBChB (five years)