When I started medical school in August of 2019, I told myself that I needed to take these next four years to mold myself into the person that I wanted to be someday. Studying hard and focusing on academics would be a priority, of course! But I also knew that these next four years would be filled with opportunities, friendships, and memories that would help me to grow into a compassionate young professional. The stress and burnout of medical school are real. It is so easy to get overwhelmed with studying, internships, meetings, and evaluations. Burnout continues to be real for physicians, too! From day one, I wanted to make sure I was living in the moment and cherishing the moments that would make me love my time in medical school and graduate a better person.
Part of living in the moment and maintaining my wellness needed to come from my faith. As a young girl, I was raised Catholic. I was taught prayers in school and sat in the pews with my family every Sunday. I got a great education at a school that surrounded me with a community full of love and support. Faith has always been an important part of my life. It has and always will give me hope for my future, strength when I am struggling, and a joy to cherish every day.
The Sunday after my first medical school exam, I decided to invite a few classmates to my house for a women’s bible study with an opportunity to talk about Jesus, life, and faith on our journeys through medical school. It was just a way for each of us to get the stress and anxiety from our busy lives off of our chests and offer it up to God. I wasn’t really sure anyone would come, and I wasn’t too sure what we would talk about. To my pleasant surprise, a few girls rang the doorbell, we opened in prayer, and our conversation was filled with so much positivity and joy. I ended the evening feeling so full of joy and refreshed to start the new week.
From that first bible study, the circle of friends grew. Friends invited friends to come and sit on my couch and pray together. And six months later, it became a thing. Every other Sunday evening at 8PM, my living room was full of young ladies on journeys of higher education and faith. We don’t talk about school. We don’t talk about grades. We just pour out our hearts to Jesus and each other in the most honest ways we can. There is rarely a week without tears – sometimes happy and sometimes sad. It was great to hear that other classmates of mine had similar values – wanting to have a family someday, wanting to make a difference, and wanting to cherish memories and people that come into our lives as we learn. It was also encouraging to hear that other classmates of mine had similar struggles – missing our moms, losing loved ones, and losing focus in the classroom. I was not alone. And I was not weak. Sunday evening bible studies became my favorite night of the week.
In bible study we often talk about living our lives with “the blinders on”. By this we mean that we focus on school and getting through every day, nothing more. There is a little bit of competitive edge in medical school. You are ranked by test scores, evaluated on the way you interact with others, and must constantly seek out experiences to boost your resume. It is so easy to get consumed in it all and forget to focus on yourself. It is easy to forget to pray and be grateful. It is easy to forget to check in on your friends, classmates, roommates, and family members. In our bible study we are forced to come together to make ourselves aware of these blinders and focus on the other blessings and opportunities in life that we should cherish. We are forced to look around us and live in the moment.
I had never sought out my own leadership role in faith before starting this bible study. I did not really feel like my faith was strong enough to put into action in that way. I also was not sure I had the time to make this happen. By starting this bible study, I have seen myself grow in faith and appreciation for the Lord. It really was effortless and worthwhile use of my time and wellness. I am witnessing some of my classmates grow in their faith before my eyes. I did not realize the impact this would have on others. And it makes me so happy when my friends tell me what an impact our conversation and prayer has made on their life. It is truly amazing to see God working through other people. And it is baffling to think that God might be working through me as well.
Starting this bible studying in my living room has taught me a few things.
First, I learned how to pray out loud. Before when I would hear other people pray out loud, I would get intimidated because their words seem to gracefully flow together. I thought that I would embarrass myself if I tried to speak. But honestly, no one is judging when you are praying. Once I did it a few times, the words seemed to just roll off my tongue. It is really quite beautiful.
Second, I came to further appreciate how God puts people into your life for a reason. I always tell my little sister that God puts people into your life when you need them most. He knows what you need and will answer your prayers in a timely manner. It is truly amazing to think that God put these ladies into my life now when I needed them most. He surrounded be with a group of genuine, thoughtful, and intelligent young ladies who will boost up my spirits and cherish life's moments with me. I am so grateful for the love and support they bring.
Third, it has given me a whole new perspective on God’s plan for me. Career-wise, I am going to be a physician. But there is so much more to life than just work and careers. Friendships, family, and sweet moments like bible study bring true joy to my life. I have learned that my joy comes from making others happy. It is hard for me to focus on myself. I have surrounded myself with so many authentic and genuine friends that make spreading that joy and receiving that joy in return so much easier.
I always hoped that medical school would be a part of God’s plan for me. And here I am, making it a reality! However, I know that there is a lot more in store for me than just being a physician. I am eager to see where life takes me from here. I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had and the ones that will come in the future. I intend to continue this bible study through medical school and adapt it as I move through new seasons of life. Faith is an important part of my identity as a daughter of God, and I find the most growth when I surround myself with other people seeking a similar journey through life as Christians.
This bible study is just a small part of my journey of faith. For many, having faith helps us through tough times. Whether it is battling cancer, losing a job, or finding yourself alone, any faith can be enough power to weather the storm. God has a plan for you, for me, for everything we see. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wonderful. God’s plan is an incredible thing to think about. He handcrafted each of us with gift and talents to fit our individual life journeys. It is up to us to acknowledge and embrace these details of our mind and soul and put them into action. Having faith and confidence in God’s plan makes life so much more enjoyable.
Wishing you all well!
Happy Easter! Jesus is Risen! ✞
Follow this link below to read and reflect upon a bible study that I did with my women’s group in March. The topic was blessings, joys, and happiness during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know this is a hard time for so many people. I miss seeing my friends. I miss hugging my family. But when we come out of this, all of those things that we missed will mean so much more. It really gave me a new perspective on how fortunate I am to have the things that I have. I encourage you to try it with your family or friends over the Easter Triduum.
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