Stephanie Debrief's her 1st Week of Medical School

Is there really that much studying to do week one? No. I don't know what everyone's doing. Okay. One, two, three, action.

Hi, everybody, and welcome to the podcast. My name is Stephanie and I'm joined here by my colleague, Dr. Sarah Davis, who's also my mother. We're also joined here by our IT person back there, Dr. Matthew Davis, who's going to be behind the scenes throughout this. So if anything looks weird or off or anything, that's who you can blame.

He got changed from worst podcast guest ever to producer and IT and technical support. So maybe that's the right role for him.

Yeah.

Ooh.

So, yeah, as you can see, we're in a different location here. We're at an at home studio right now.

So our other studio, our off site studio.

Studio.

Right.

Offside studio. That's what, that's what we're going with. But I'm officially an Ms. One.

Because you're one. One week down.

One week down.

Let's see. Should we count, like, how many weeks of med school and training you still have to go?

No.

Okay. Okay. Anyway, one week down.

That's a lot.

Wow.

No. Yeah, but one week down, so, you know, that's. That's something.

It is. And how was week one?

I love it.

You love it?

I love it. Yeah, I do. I. I don't know. Have you been following my TikToks or anything?

Well, of course. I saw the move in one.

Listen, I didn't intentionally not. She's upset because I didn't mention her in my move in TikTok.

Well, she totally gives credit to dad for helping her move in, which he did a lot, which was fantastic. And then there's credit to Thomas, who kind of was late to the party, if you're asking me. But he did. He helped with a lot of things, too. And there's one part of the TikTok where I'm literally walking by in the background, and yet it's like I'm the hired help or something. There's no mention of me in the TikTok. Listen, I just.

Just kind of threw a bunch of clips together and then just did a voice memo. And like, I didn't.

It wasn't. I didn't film.

You did a lot of help with the shopping and, like, helping me pick out stuff, but I didn't film us shopping or any of that. I just didn't happen to get that. But now is when I will give you credit, Mom. You helped a ton with moving in and helping me feel settled and. Yeah, thank You.

Thank you. But, yes, I have been following your tick tocks of other things, of, you know, your. You know, of your.

So I moved in to my place, and I am obsessed with it. Like, I feel so cozy and comfy and, like, it feels so comfortable. And I'm so, so, so grateful for that. So thank you, guys.

That's so good. I know it is. It looks like. I mean, everything looks, like, clean and neat and, you know, when you go there, hopefully your mind is.

People do think I'm like, serial killer, though, because I like everything in my apartment is like, white, neutral, like crazy cream colored. And like, also all my clothes are. Which I didn't realize because when I was moving, I just got rid of a bunch of stuff. So then I started and then I, like, bought other stuff and everything that I was reaching for was all cream colored, white, and black. Because also then it goes with everything, you know? Like, I just. I'm typically not gonna grab, like, a bright green shirt because I don't know what I'm gonna wear that with unless I'm buying it for something specific. But I was just buying, like, general clothes. But then people pointed that out to me. They're like, I've never. And my backpack is like a cream color. So, like. And my Stanley is also, like a cream color. So people are like, I've never seen you wear anything other than beige, black, or white. And I was like, that's my look. Yeah. I was like, I need to maybe get people. Like, you need more color in your life. I was like, I swear I'm not a serial killer. I'm just. I just. I'm a minimalist.

I think that's nice. You know, I think when stuff gets too. When there's too many colors and busyness, that can feel cluttered. And so I think it's. I think it's good. I mean, now the clothes thing. Yeah, that is kind of a. That's a whole nother level. Yeah. But it's nice for lots of things to go together.

I think that's practical capsule wardrobe. That's what people want. And then people call you out for only wearing the same stuff or only wearing.

That's true. That's true.

Yeah. So had orientation week, which was good. It was kind of overwhelming. And also during orientation week, they just kept re emphasizing like, it's gonna be really hard, but we're here for you, but we're here for you, but it's gonna be really, really hard.

Yeah. Yeah.

And I get they were being nice. Like, they were like, we're. We have resources. We have this. But, like, the more they kept emphasizing how hard it was going to be, it's like, I can't handle it.

Exactly.

I'm like, I know, I know.

Yeah, I remember. I can't remember if I've said this on a podcast before, but, like, at the orientation, when I was going to college at UCLA and they were talking about that went to a stress management lecture, and then I got so stressed out as they kept talking about what we were going to do for stress management stuff. And I left, and I was just like, oh, my God, I'm so stressed out. They're like, who gets stressed out from the stress management lecture?

That was it. That was orientation is. They were just like, they were trying to prep us to be prepared for the stress, which, like, is good. But, like, again, I don't think you.

Can really do that.

Yeah. And they just kept being like, it's gonna be so hard. It's gonna get really hard. It's gonna. There's gonna be so much material. You're not gonna understand how to handle it, but it'll be okay, and we're here for you. And it's like, okay. Like, it was just. That was a bit much.

It'd be good to emphasize the messaging of, we know you can handle this.

Yes.

You know you've got this. We know you can do it. And we're also here for additional resources. I don't know. I don't know how to say that. Really, though.

Yeah. I don't know. They were trying their best, and they did emphasize that. It is like, it does feel being on the other side of it, just like going through the application process and everything of them, it really feels like, you know, you're not good enough. And now they're really emphasizing. They're like, you're here for a reason. We, like, hand selected this class. We, like. We know all you guys can do it. All of that is being emphasized more. So that does, like, feel good. That's really good.

Okay.

It's not. And they even. It's not like other grad programs where they, like, will weed people out, obviously.

Good Lord, you've already been weeded.

Exactly. So that's what, like, so that's good.

So.

But orientation week was like, it was. It was fine. And a lot of people were still kind of moving and getting settled. And, like, even when I came back this weekend, the, like, my friends from home have been like, wait, it looks like you already have so many friends. I think you do People, like, what happened? Like, what did you do? First of all, if you're ever scared about, like, making friends in med school, like, don't be. Everybody is literally looking for friends. Like, everyone just wants to connect with people and all of that. But they're like, I literally had a party at my place the first day that I got there, because I was just putting myself out there. I was just, like, dming people that, like, I saw. They followed me, and they were going to McGovern, and I was just trying to. I really went out of my way to reach out to people. And then, you know, start making group chats, and then other people are added to those group chats. And now it's like, okay, you kind of. You form the web and start making all of these different connections. And that has been, like, really helpful. And I've met so many people, and everyone is so friendly. And I'm being really intentional about, like, not closing myself off to anybody, because I think I was talking to some older people. They're like, yeah, I made my. I made my whole friend group during orientation, and then I talked to some other people, and they're like, that's great. But, like, also, don't close yourself off at all.

It's a big class. There's plenty of other people to meet.

Yeah, exactly. So I've just, like, I don't know. Yeah, everyone wants to make friends, and I've made a lot of connections. And so that whole first week was really just like, social. Getting stressed out about stress management and.

But, yeah, yeah, but meeting people and getting to know a little bit about them and seeing who you want to spend more time with and get to know better. Mm.

I will say, though. And that's kind of what I wanna talk about today a little bit, because I know I've kind of debriefed orientation week with you guys already, but there was a big shift from orientation week to the first week of classes. And I want to put this in the correct way, but I can just see people who come in and say that, you know, they're going to emphasize balance and, like, you know, not being so gunner. Then immediately you get material, and then.

It'S like, yeah, it's like the guns.

Come out, and that is no shade to anyone. And I talked about this on TikTok already, but, like, it is. I feel like I came in with this notion about being like, I want to, like, push toxic people away and keep people at arm's length and try to, like, you know, make sure that I pick the right people. But, like, I am seeing people in a different light now, and I have more empathy for that because it's not necessarily that these, like, Gunner type people are like, intentionally being malicious.

Yeah.

It's that you have a situation where you have a bunch of high achieving, smart people who are thrown into a situation where they're very insecure and trying to alleviate that insecurity by comparing to other people and by trying to figure out. Thing. Figure things out. So it's not in a malicious way, but it is something that is that I think I can't control what other people say to me, but what I can control is like, stopping that loop and trying to, like, pivot those conversations. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, I do know what you're saying. Well, and I think that people have patterns of behavior. Behavior. Right. And so all these people that are there, this is. This has been their pattern and it has worked for them in, you know, I mean, they're here, they're in med school where they want to be, and so they kind of just revert to those same patterns and that comparison. And. And that's just. It's what they know.

Yeah. No, 100%. So that's what. And everyone's just trying to figure out. Nobody knows what's going on. Nobody knows how much they should be studying or like, you know, if any of that. So it's just. It's hard and everyone is stressed out. But the thing that is stressing me out the most is everybody talking about how stressed they are.

Yeah. Yeah. So I think that. Well, I think that's a great skill for you to learn is how to. How to deal with that in a. In a positive, constructive manner. So, you know, what you don't want to do is shut down those people and say, like, you're stressing me out or whatever. You want to, like, validate their feelings and that type of stuff. And yet, you know, talking about studying is not a fun thing to talk about. Yeah, it's not helpful.

We're all still trying to figure it out. But that's the thing is. Yeah, I'm trying to, like, find the balance between being like, yeah, I don't want to shut people down because people are stressed. And they should be able to, like, express those emotions and say that they're. They're stressed. But, like, it just keeps going into the loop. Oh, I'm so stressed out. Like, I have this many Anki cards. They're like, oh, my God, I was studying for so long yesterday, like, I'm so stressed out. Like, all this stuff, and it's like.

We literally have the same schedule.

First of all. Yeah, we literally have the same schedule, but, like, it seems like a. I don't know. And I also. That's what. I kind of talked about this on TikTok. But I want to be the person who is like, oh, yeah, Like, I. I. How do I put this? I don't not. I want to not talk about how little I'm studying in a sense of, oh, I didn't study at all, and I got an A on that test.

Those people are the worst.

Worst. But I want to be like, emphasize that. Hi, I'm not studying till 10pm at night. You know, like, obviously, I'm studying. Everyone's studying. That's my job. I don't need to talk about that. Like, I'd rather be like, oh, well, last night I went to the driving range. I took like. And I did that. Or I like, you know, if someone's like, oh, my God, I was studying so late last night or whatever, I skipped dinner. I'm like, oh, my God, I made this great dinner. Like, I like, you know, trying to just bring in, like, normalize. Not studying so long, you know?

Yeah.

Because sometimes it feels like I need to be like, oh, I. Well, yeah, I was studying a long time too, you know.

Yeah. Is there really that much studying to do week one? No. I don't know what everyone's doing. Okay. Huh. Gosh, that's. Okay. So here's. So I did look up ways to pivot a conversation.

Okay.

Because I saw your TikTok, and I was, you know, thinking about that. So. But I couldn't. I was. I looked up something that had, like, examples of ways to pivot the conversation at Thanksgiving dinner, which is really not the same thing. So that might not be super helpful, but I was giving it a little bit of thought of, like, okay, what. How could you. Could you pivot the conversation by saying something like, oh, what's your favorite thing to decompress to do? To decompress after a long day of studying? Or, you know, other than pivot it to things like, you know, you're talking about food, like, oh, have you found any great takeout places or great restaurants around here? Or, what's your favorite thing to make for dinner after? You know, that's easy and quick. Or are there some of those things that you could kind of pivot to?

No, for sure. And yeah, that's what. And I think we'll kind of find that I think everyone but people are still trying to. I mean, I don't know. Yes, I can definitely do that. So.

Yeah, I think it's very hard to not get sucked into the loop yourself though. I don't know. I just find I do that when people get negative about things. When somebody starts complaining, I get sucked in and I start being negative too. And then when somebody kind of comes in and makes some sort of positive statement, I notice it. I'm like, yes, that's what I wanna do. That's the person that I wanna be. But it's not. It really has to be kind of a conscious choice to do that. I don't know. What other ways can you make the conversation shift?

I don't know. I think like also setting that boundary of being like, hey guys, like, I don't want to talk about school anymore. And that's what even some Ms. Students are saying. They're like, you kind of just got to be like, okay, like, be like. I don't just say it. Just be like, I don't want to talk about school.

Yeah, yeah.

But at the same time, I mean, right now we are all really just checking and trying to see like if we're doing the right thing.

Yeah. But I mean, you know, everybody is coming from like kind of different places and some people have more background in certain subjects than other people do. And, and you just don't. You just don't know what those tests are going to be like. But it's pass fail, right? Mm. So I think that's really great that they make it pass fail because that makes it like. All right, let. Let us figure this out first before you start grading us.

Yeah, for sure. It is kind of funny the day to day we go into class and then we're having like, we're all together and then different lecturers come in throughout the day. And then we all have a lunch break. So we all like pre made our lunches. So we'll go and sit and like have lunch and it feels like the cafeteria, the quote cafeteria, and then go back to, to lecture.

It's like you're back in elementary school. I mean, it's really different from college where you're going here and there and. Yeah, that's.

But like. Yeah. And you know, when you're in school with people all day, then you know, you definitely, at some points you do want to talk about school.

Well, it's what you all have in common.

Yeah. You don't get kicked out if you fail one test.

Okay. You already checked that Out.

Yes, they told us that.

Good, good.

But normally no one just fails the test for just like, just. Cause they, like, normally if they fail the test, they have some sort of, like, circumstance that is happening, you know?

Yeah, it's, you know, you wouldn't be there if you didn't have all the things in line to do well enough on these tests.

Someone was saying they're like, well, I'm scared. I'm being a slacker. I'm like, okay, that's funny.

I mean, I can see it though, right?

Yeah. Like, you're here. You're not a slacker. You're in medical school.

Slacker of the medical school. Yeah, that's not, that's, that's not really possible. Yeah, no, I think that's, I think all that is normal. And, you know, if you, if you weren't, if people weren't asking those questions, like, I don't know if somebody were really too relaxed and be like, oh, yeah, I got this down, you know, that might not be. That, that might not be good either. I mean, I think you gotta be like, you know, it's normal to be uncomfortable. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I think somebody said that on your comments on TikTok.

Yeah, people were really nice in those. Com in that comment section. So I appreciate people who commented on that. TikTok. But now I, I, I feel a lot better by the end of the week. At the beginning, there was just kind of like, I just didn't understand what I was, what my grade was.

Like.

We have all these kind of random lectures that are thrown in there, like, doctoring, like, how to be a doctor. And I'm like, am I like, do I need to take notes? Like, is this testable? I'm like, is this gonna be on the test?

Is this gonna be on the test?

I mean, literally, though, I was like, what? Like, what's going on? That was the whole first day. I was like, they're essentially just being like, empathy is important and like that. And some people definitely need to hear that. But I didn't feel like I was necessarily one of those people and. But I was like, are we getting, like, are we tested on this? It wasn't like, like actual facts?

Facts.

Yeah, okay.

That. I really doubt that's gonna be on the test. And if it is, I think you're gonna do just fine.

No, there is. I figured it out. There's a separate test for doctoring, but apparently you just study for that the night before, is what I heard.

Separate tests for doctoring. Our producer Thinks that's pretty funny.

He's cracking up. Do you have a comment over there from the peanut gallery?

You're going to medical school, and the.

One test about being a doctor, you.

Just have to study for it. I'd like to have dad do that test, see how he does. I think you got this med school thing lit.

You don't know that literally at all. You don't know that at all.

I do. I do. I mean, I am. I am not worried one bit. I've been sleeping like a baby.

Is that sarcasm?

No. I mean, I. No, I'm totally serious. I'm not. You have great study skills. You have great people skills. You are so prepared. All you gotta do is just. You're on the treadmill. You just keep walking. You got it.

Yeah, no, I really. I'm enjoying it so far. Overall, like, I'm really loving all the people. I'm loving the school. I feel like it's. I do feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Yay.

Which feels so good.

Yeah.

And, yeah, I think, like, I'm. I'm excited. We had our first anatomy lab, and I'm pretty sure UT Health has the biggest cadaver lab in the nation, if not the world. Like, it's huge. So it's one of their biggest. Big. Because they have people. They have a lot of people coming in. Like, a lot of kid. Average. Like, a lot of people donate to this lab. So it's massive. It's, like, in the basement. And I was, like, nervous about it, but I really wasn't thinking about it too much. Then we go down there and. And, you know, again with everyone else being nervous, making me nervous. Everyone was just kind of talking about, like, oh, my God. Like, I'm really scared about passing out or scared about, you know. Yeah. Getting lightheaded. And they did prep us before. They're like, well, I don't know. The day before, they're like, okay, you'll have 30 minutes to kind of, like, get assimilated, to practice, like, raising and lowering the cadaver and kind of, like, get used to it. I don't know who told us that, because by the time we got in there, they were kind of like, all right, well, open up the tanks and.

Kind of start cutting. Start cutting.

Like, there's 240 people in this room.

All at once, you have six people.

Well, normally you flip. So we're with. So me and two other people are with one body. And there's another set of three other people who are with another body. They dissect on Tuesdays. We dissect on Thursdays, and that's how. And, like, we teach on Tuesdays, and they teach on Thursdays.

Okay.

So there's essentially. There's six people to a body. Normally only three people are there at a time, but since it was the first time we were all there together. So there's six people per body. There's 240 people in the class. So that's. There's like 40 bodies all down there.

Okay.

And cadavers. Sorry. And, yeah, they were. I was like. I was a little more. You know, I wasn't as freaked out as other people, but I was a little more freaked out than some people. And especially about just, like, seeing the face and everything. So, you know, they're like. We got in there, and they're like, okay, guys, like, here's how you, like, lift the cadaver out of the formaldehyde. So the cadaver is, like, in the formaldehyde, like, this liquid. And you have to, like, pull this lever thing down in order to, like, lift the cadaver up. So they're like, go for it. Lift it up. So we lifted it up, and then there's a towel over. And at first it was like, they're like, okay, now, like, raise the towel. You don't have to, like, take the face covering off yet because we're just dissecting, like, the thorax and, like, the back region. And I was like, yeah, guys, like, I'm not really comfortable taking off the face yet. Like, can we kind of wait on that? But then my lab group was cracking up at me because by hour two, I was in there, like, fa. Like, towel was off the face. I was like. I was cutting. Like, it was just. I got assimilated quick. I was just like, it happens fast. It really does happen fast. And it was physically quite difficult. We were just, like, dissecting skin because we were studying muscle. So we had to do skin of, like, the whole chest region and the whole back. And it was. I mean, y' all have both done it, but it was. It was just crazy. Like, I saw a cadaver for the first time in my life, and then ten minutes later, I'm. I'm cutting. I'm just cutting.

And then we had to.

We had to flip the cadaver, like, to do the back. No one told us, like, how did you. Like, it was really just like. Like, there was a couple people there. They're like, this is how you put a scalpel on. Okay, go for it. Like, essentially pull up your canvas and just see, like, what to do. And like, you know, I thought it might be a little more like, okay, here's where what you do and.

Yeah, yeah, I thought there would have been maybe a little bit more instruction. I don't. Yeah, I don't really remember.

And then they were like, okay, well, then you have to do the back. So you flip the cadaver over and really, like, how do we flip the cadaver? Like, what do we do? So we kind of just, like, looked around what other people are doing. So then you, like, lower the cadaver back into the formaldehyde.

We did not dunk it in any formaldehyde. It was like that part was all done.

I don't know. So we had to put the body back in the formaldehyde. And then, like, then we have six people all trying to, like, flip this body around. And like, our cadaver is quite large. So it was. It was probably 230 pound person. So trying to flip this around. Poor Darian's in there, got his lab coat all wet, like, dunking under, trying to pull it over. I was like, this is the craziest thing I've ever done in my life. And this is just a casual Friday.

Like, week one.

Yeah, week one. Got like some fat tissue in my eye. We don't wear goggles or anything. There's no rules. There's like, no rules.

Wow, that seems. Ha ha. Well, you know, I heard that some. Or read that somewhere, that a lot of schools don't even use cadavers anymore because they're expensive. And so a lot of schools don't have them. They're like, oh, you don't really need them. Blah, blah. But I mean, wow, look at what they'd be missing out on.

Yeah, I mean, I get it. Because it took. I mean, it took like four hours to cut all of that. And that was just the chest in the back.

Yeah.

And yeah, even our, like the medical school that's right next to us, they don't cut at all. It's all done for them. And they also work with all of their other, like the PA School and the dental school or whatever. They all have like, the same people.

Yeah.

The same bodies. But like us, it's all like. It's just. It's just us.

Do you. You're not really, like, graded or anything on the how well you do on the dissection? Is it correct?

Kind of. You have people walk around and do great. I don't know how the grades work. Honestly, guys I have no idea.

We did not get evaluated on that. There was always sort of. That somehow they would. On the test, you know, they're using those same cadavers that, you know, on the practical are, like, labeled. You did feel kind of good if your cadaver got chosen for to be labeled, like, on the test also, it was nice because you're like, I know that, but I don't know. I don't remember if mine ever got chosen, but I had these two lab partners, and the one guy didn't trust me and the other woman to do the dissections, so sometimes he would get there, like, hours early and try to get the dissection all done before we got there.

Oh, yeah. That's kind of nice, though.

I would. I thought it was. It was so condescending, and yet I kind of appreciate it.

I. I really like my tank. We called our tank group, and, like, I really like them. Both of them, very good at positive reinforcement.

Nice.

So it was really nice. They're just like. Like, yeah, they're both, you know, great to work with. And we had to do some other group stuff with them earlier in the week, too. And it was just like, you did. Like, you're doing really good. Like, extra nice. Just nice. And it's so much better to work with medical students than it was to work with random people you'd get set up with in college.

That's true.

Yeah.

Always leading the group project.

Yeah, yeah. Or just participating. It was, like, all hands on deck. Everyone was like, if someone even was backing off for a second, they'd be like, okay, like, if you, like, give me a job, if you need me, whatever. And it was. People would be like, okay, like, can you tap in and do this? It was very, like, very collaborative.

Yeah, very collaborative. That's nice.

That's nice.

See? And that's what your medical school is supposed to be like that, you know? So that's good. You already got colleagues. Mm. That's good. Okay. But then did your hair and your clothes stink so bad?

Yeah, so I definitely have my scrubs that are just the. That's my anatomy lab scrubs and shoes and socks, like, all of that. I'm just that I. Keeping those stuff just there. We have lockers.

Oh, but then you just put your stinky stuff.

Well, I actually. I brought it back on the first time, but I'm gonna leave my shoes there and stuff. I have, like, old hokas that I brought. That's a good idea for that. Honestly, if you have any really old scrubs, that you don't want. I'll take them and use them for lab. Okay.

I used to go home and then just. I didn't. I didn't really enjoy the cadaver lab that much. I mean, when we had to actually do it and the guy didn't do it for us. But I remember just, like, going. And then, like, sitting in a bath, like, with little bath salts and stuff, and I would just sit there to try to like, soak the cadaver. Ew.

Then you were just sitting in formaldehyde. You were like a cadaver. Yeah.

Come on, turn me around, somebody. I just had to, like. I don't know.

You didn't shower before you got in the bath?

Maybe I showered. I don't remember, but I just.

I've been taking baths.

Okay.

But I shower before and after my bath.

That seems a little obsessive.

I don't want to just say in my fills.

It's just. It's water. It like, it. It takes. You just move it around a little bit.

No, shower before and after bath.

That sounds like a waste of water.

Yeah, it's a quick rinse. Okay.

Okay.

Okay, guys, well, I will keep you updated as for how I'm doing. And. Yeah, and I'm hoping to get some exciting guests and stuff now that I'm, like, more connected in the world and everything. I'm going to start talking after one week. Well, you know, now I'm in a system where there's a lot of people and, you know, actually, like, have the opportunity to maybe get some people on the pod. So. Yeah. But thank you guys for listening. You know where to find us on Instagram. Generations. Oh, there was one thing more thing that I wanted to say.

Okay.

People do keep coming up to me and being like, I saw you on my for you page and being like, I saw you on Instagram and stuff. But people love it. People love that we have the podcast.

They think it's fun.

Yeah.

So they're not criticizing it. So you don't have to feel stupid and stop doing it.

Yeah, no, People are being nice about it. So shout out everyone who's being nice about it. So you know where to find us. Find us on Instagram @GenerationsMD. TikTok@GenerationsMD. And we will talk to you next week.

Bye. Good.