I HAD MORE FUN IN PA SCHOOL THAN I DID IN UNDERGRAD⁣

... AND BY FUN, 𝘐 𝘔𝘌𝘈𝘕 𝘔𝘈𝘙𝘎𝘈𝘙𝘐𝘛𝘈𝘚.⁣

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It’s a common misconception that life stops when you enter PA school. As students in the medical realm, it has become honorable to complain about the lack of free time and endless amount of studying that consumes our lives. Don’t get me wrong. PA school is not a walk in the park. You will, however, become more proficient at managing your time.⁣

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I was lucky enough to attend a program that highly valued school-life balance. We were on a modular curriculum and because of that, I had nearly every other weekend “free” without responsibility.⁣

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I also was a part of a very socially inclined class that was tight knit from the beginning. We quickly developed a tradition of celebrating our successes together after almost every exam. This celebration was often my motivation for getting through the long hours of studying. We frequented local breweries and bars, went hiking, laid out by the pool, had cookouts, vacationed, and bashed at our favorite restaurants. ⁣

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The week leading up to the exam was not as glamorous. We spent hours on end studying independently, quizzing each other, and practicing for check offs and OSCEs. If you surround yourself with the right people, this part can be fun too.⁣

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In the end, it’s not about how long you study, but rather the quality of your study time. You can choose passively study from dawn to dusk or you can actively study for a couple of hours each day. The results will likely be similar. ⁣

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Regardless of what “fun” looks like to you, you have to make time for it. Prioritize the things that make you whole. Social deprivation will not lead to academic success. ⁣

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𝗪𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃, 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃. 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐓.