The Fire Hose is Real - How to Survive Your First Year of Medical School
消防软管是真实的-如何生存你的医学院的第一年

by Jason Spears
饰Jason Spears

Let me begin with by extending a hearty congratulation on matriculating to medical school. The premed years were tough with organic chemistry, staying involved with leadership activities, chasing down the elusive letter of recommendation, and sitting for the MCAT.
让我开始衷心祝贺你被医学院录取。医学预科的几年是坚韧的有机化学，保持参与领导活动，追逐难以捉摸的推荐信，并坐在MCAT。

But you did it!
但你做到了！

Be proud of what you've accomplished because you're one step closer to becoming a doctor.
为你所取得的成就感到骄傲，因为你离成为一名医生又近了一步。

You may have fears, concerns or misgivings about what is coming your way and this is where I step in. In June, I completed my first year of medical school so trust me that I am qualified to share advice on making a successful transition to medical school.
你可能会对即将到来的事情感到恐惧、担忧或疑虑，这就是我介入的地方。六月，我完成了医学院的第一年，所以相信我，我有资格分享关于成功过渡到医学院的建议。

Write a letter to yourself
给自己写一封信.

Now this isn't any letter you'll be writing. I want you to think about why you want to be a doctor, what practicing medicine means to you and recount the euphoria you had upon learning you were accepted.
这不是你要写的信我想让你想想为什么你想成为一名医生，行医对你意味着什么，并讲述你在得知自己被录取时的欣快感。

This letter writing business should be done immediately.
这封信的写作应该立即完成。

Medical school is a grueling process where you are going to be stretched in ways you never thought possible. For all the myths and rumors you have heard about sleep deprivation, the amount of material you're expected to learn, and the responsibilities you'll have there is an inkling of truth to it all.

Now your letter is something for you to look back on as the school year drags on (yes, you'll think so too after a few months) and your motivation begins to decline under the pressures you're facing. This letter is going to be your pick-me-up that you read with fondness, excitement and renewed passion for the study of medicine.

To be honest my physiology professor who is a physician was the one who encouraged our entire class to write our letter. Not a lot of students took him up on this, but I certainly did.

So before the excitement wears off from your medical school acceptance letter reading: "Congratulations, it is with great pleasure I welcome you to the class of"; write that letter to yourself because it will get you through tough times.

No Loners, Have a Wolf pack. As I write this, I've recently watched the Hangover, so forgive the wolf pack reference. What I want you to do is make friends with as many of your classmates as possible.

Be social; get out to as many of the orientation and class-mixers as possible (well at the beginning of the year at least). You never know who in your class will become your study buddy or your biggest cheerleader during rough times.

More importantly, your classmates are unique and diverse in their own right each bringing something to the table that will make you a better physician. Although, you may hear about or attend a school with "gunners" this does not have to be the case for your entering class. You have the power to change things and be a class of collaborators.
更重要的是，你的同学是独特的，在他们自己的权利不同，每个带来的东西，这将使你成为一个更好的医生表。虽然，你可能会听到或参加一个学校与“枪手”，这并不一定是你进入类的情况。你有能力改变事情，成为一个合作者的阶级。

Here's what I mean...
我的意思是...

If you're like me you like to study alone and learn the material by yourself. Often this is an efficient strategy but I wouldn't chance going into your exams not working with your classmates.
如果你像我一样喜欢独自学习，自己学习材料。通常这是一个有效的策略，但我不会冒险进入你的考试不与你的同学。

I studied by myself but the week before an exam would review with my classmates and it is amazing what some of them picked up as important, need to know concepts whereas I brushed them aside in my original studying as not being high yield. I'll tell you what, after some exams I'd walk up to my classmates and say, "Hey, thanks to you I definitely got the questions on XYZ correct."
我自己学习，但在考试前一周会和我的同学一起复习，令人惊讶的是，他们中的一些人认为重要，需要知道的概念，而我在原来的学习中把它们放在一边，因为它们不是高产。我会告诉你，在一些考试之后，我会走到我的同学面前说，“嘿，多亏了你，我绝对把XYZ的问题做对了。"

So go ahead and collaborate with classmates.
所以继续前进，与同学们合作。

And of course upperclassmen are a great resource too. They can give you the inside scoop on what to expect, how to prepare for exams and general advice on surviving medical school.

Be Selfish. I said it, go ahead and be selfish. But let's put things in context. When you're studying, study. When you're relaxing, rest. When you have personal time, no distractions.

Set boundaries and adhere to them.

It is very easy to study 24/7 and lose touch with yourself along with family and friends while in medical school but you don't want to go this route. Family and friends are your support group and will be the ones who help you in the difficult times you may encounter.

You may have to limit your communications with others but don't shutdown completely where all you know is your textbooks and nothing else. Medical school is about studying very hard, yet having balance.

Specifically, with selfishness it means being laser focused on the task at hand and not multitasking. Therefore, if you plan to take a night off from the books be selfish and indulge; don't sit around and feel an urge to mentally review on your downtime.
具体来说，自私意味着专注于手头的任务，而不是一心多用。因此，如果你打算从书本中抽出一个晚上，自私地放纵自己;不要坐在那里，感到有一种在休息时间进行精神回顾的冲动。

The same goes with friends and family. Set boundaries of when you're available and unavailable. I can assure you they will understand in due time.
朋友和家人也是如此。设定你有空和没空的界限。我可以向你保证他们会及时理解的。

Most importantly take time out for yourself. Medicine can be all consuming and the only way
最重要的是给自己留点时间。药物可以消耗一切，唯一的方法you'll survive is taking a break to recharge when needed. Please don't feel guilty when you are recharging because you're human and not a machine and there's only so much you can handle.
就是在需要的时候休息一下充电请不要感到内疚，当你充电，因为你是人，而不是一台机器，只有这么多，你可以处理。

In the same breath, be prepared to push yourself beyond what you think is possible too. There are going to be times when you'll have to perform what you believe to be superhuman feats of Olympian nature and this is when you have to find your internal motivation to push past the fatigue.
与此同时，也要做好准备，推动自己超越你认为可能的事情。有些时候，你必须表现出你认为是超人的奥林匹亚性质的壮举，这是你必须找到你的内在动力来克服疲劳的时候。

Humility
谦卑. You'll learn very soon that there are some very narcissistic individuals in medicine. Don't become like them.

Have humility because although throughout your life you may have been the best at everything you've done, medical school brings together everyone who was the best.

A humble person is one who admits when the tasks are greater than him and seeks help when needed. I had a professor who said, "Trust a doctor who tells you when he doesn't know, because when he tells you he knows, then you know he really knows."

Trust me when I tell you the doubt and uncertainty you feel is not unique to you. Medical school is going to test your breaking point and so much more.

If you're feeling overwhelmed whether from personal issues, academic troubles, social concerns or simply adjusting to medical school, reach out to friends, counselors, faculty because everyone is on your side and willing to do whatever it takes so you can be the best doctor possible.

The Fire Hose Is Real. I'm sure at this point you've heard the analogy of how the volume of information in medical school is equivalent to drinking from a fire hose, this is the absolute truth.

If my memory serves me correctly the first year medical student learns approximately 13,000 new terms.

You need to develop a solid system to handle what will be coming your way because it's no longer tee ball - you're in the major leagues. What you know or don't know in the bluntest of terms means whether a future patient lives or dies. You have an obligation to yourself and future patients to be a knowledgeable and competent doctor.

Make a schedule for yourself so you can be efficient in your studies.

I'm talking a schedule where you mark all your class time and obligations. Then input time for eating, hygiene, appointments and sleep. Once you do this you'll see how much time you have available for studying. You'll probably be shocked at the outcome.

Then go ahead and divide your days and week into how much time you'll estimate you need to get through the material and learn it cold. I should remind you that you want to study the material as though you'll never see it again.
然后继续，把你的日子和星期划分成你估计你需要多少时间来读完这些材料，并把它学熟。我应该提醒你，你要学习的材料，好像你永远不会再看到它。

I say this when in reality it will take about three to seven encounters with the material before it is put into long term memory. Often times you won't have the luxury to review this often so you have to make every encounter count.
我这么说是因为在现实中，在将这些材料放入长期记忆之前，需要大约三到七次与这些材料的接触。很多时候，你没有时间经常回顾这一点，所以你必须让每一次相遇都有意义。

Remember how I discussed being selfish, now is where it comes into play with your study time and not having any distractions while you are hitting the books. No texting, social media, television or multitasking. Basically if it won't help you get a passing grade then it shouldn't be around while you are studying.
记住我是如何讨论自私的，现在是它发挥作用的地方，你的学习时间，没有任何分心，而你正在打书。不发短信，社交媒体，电视或多任务处理。基本上，如果它不能帮助你获得及格分数，那么它就不应该在你学习的时候出现。

Lastly enjoy your journey in medicine. You're going to work hard in medical school but take time out to smell the roses. I don't have to tell you how to have fun because I'm sure you and your peers have imaginations much more creative than mine.
最后，享受你的医学之旅。你在医学院会努力学习，但也会抽出时间去闻闻玫瑰的芬芳。我不需要告诉你怎么找乐子，因为我相信你和你的同龄人的想象力比我的想象力更有创造力。

Rest assured by the end of first year you’d be amazed at what you have accomplished. Embrace each and every experience you have in medicine and don't take anything for granted.
请放心，到第一年年底，你会惊讶于你所取得的成就。拥抱你在医学方面的每一个经验，不要把任何事情视为理所当然。

March confidently, be thirsty for knowledge and know you have what it takes to be a doctor otherwise you wouldn't be here in the first place.
自信地前进，渴望知识，知道你有什么需要成为一名医生，否则你不会在这里摆在首位。

I commend you, student doctor!
我赞扬你，实习医生！