Marius Paul L Villanueva May 12, 2019

1st Year Medicine Manila Central University

First Year Reflection Paper

The first time I entered the MCU was that typical feeling of entering a new community.

It’s a feeling a rarely ever feel, especially since I’ve been in the same school from grade school

to college. I had mixed feelings of both anxiety and excitement. I wanted to know what I could

do in this University and what it could do for me. I wasn’t even sure about the community itself.

Would it be toxic and competitive or would it be friendly and welcoming? I soon learned that

over the school year, that the latter could not be any more true. As I joined more class-related

activities, whether they’d be extra-curricular (sports fests, video contests, singing competitions,

dance competitions), or even academic (SGDs, groupwork, lab work, seat works), I could

always depend on my classmates to be there to help and support me.

Med school is incredibly difficult. There’s the academics, which can be extremely hard to

get accustomed to studying, especially if one’s undergrad wasn’t that demanding. And even

once you get used to studying all day and night, one would get frustrated seeing all their

non-med school friends going out, spending time with families, travelling and buying nice things

for themselves. However, once you get used to the idea you’re meant for different things, and

that you’re going to be serving a higher purpose, and believe that all the time spend studying

and going to school, and eventually doing rotations at the hospital, it will all be worth it. For me,

knowing that there is a person alive right now who would probably have his life on the line for

whatever reason, the difference between life and death may depend on me. I cannot wait for

2nd year to start, because that would mean that my dream of becoming a physician is even

closer to reality.

But for now I shall enjoy my vacation days after this hell month.