My academic persistence
During my time in school, there were several difficult moments. Times when things were so difficult, I felt like almost felt like giving up. I look back at those time and smile because I conquered it.
During my time in school, thing would get difficult both academically and financially. Academically, there was so much to study that it seemed impossible to cover even half of it and failure seemed imminent. I went to medical school and it was such that you can't afford to fail anything because it would be really detrimental and it could cost you an extra year.
I would try to combine studying with classes and going for clinical postings. It was a crazy situation. I would go to the hospital from morning till afternoon, then I would run to the class room for lectures till late in the evening. I would get back exhausted and feel like sleeping all night but then I couldn't because I had to study and what I had to study was always enormous.
I had to repeat this cycle everyday and it was draining both mentally and physically. It was also draining financially. One would just want to give up in such situation, but that was never me.
Financially, I kept spending money like it was automated. From one book to another. Sometimes it could be an urgent departmental payment to make. This came up a lot of times. I also have to include the money I spend on transportation going to the hospital almost everyday because the teaching hospital was far from the campus.
The worst period financially for me was in my final year. My project drained me, several final year payments came up well. These were the kinds of bills that had to be settled urgently. It was almost difficult to keep up.
In all of this, one thing that helped me was my mindset. I kept telling myself to keep going no matter what. It might sound cliché but it worked for me. No matter what came up, no matter the difficulty, I took it in good faith and just kept on going. I believed everything has an end and it gave me the energy to keep going.
Another thing that helped me, financially this time, was the support from my parents and friends. My parents were phenomenal and were steadfast in their financial support even when the financial demands doubled. I also had incredible support from friends
Eventually, I overcame and I made it. It gives me reason to be proud of how much I persisted. I worked and persisted because I couldn't afford to disappoint those who were rooting for me.
Getting through those difficult times in school is an achievement I will always be proud of.