Year 1 Perspective

I don’t think I will ever forget that first day. Sunday 2nd October 2016. With two cars packed full to the brim, my mum, dad, sister and I began our journey up to Lancaster, ready for me to start the next chapter as an adult. Completely daunting I must admit! Being the girl I am, I managed to recruit a grand total of 8 people to unload the cars and move me into my lovely flat in Lonsdale – obviously the best college!

The whole first day was a complete whirlwind; from the moment I said goodbye to my family, I was meeting the rest of my flat and house whilst playing ice breakers in the October sunshine (believe it or not, it’s actually a real thing). Everyone hates that moment where you feel like a complete fish out of water but your reps make you feel at ease. From that moment on, fresher’s week had officially begun. It was one of the best weeks of my life, filled with college events and meeting so many new people it was overwhelming – some I know will be my friends for life.

Yes, Fresher’s Flu is a real thing.

I guarantee you will suffer to some extent from fresher’s flu, hopefully not for a month like I did, but you will definitely suffer.

Next it was time to meet my medic family. I was assigned a ‘medic dad’ in second year called Mike and a ‘medic mum’ in fourth year called Lauren (although technically my great grandma) who are both amazing. I significantly remember being given my welcome pack with so much information in it made my head spin and Lauren told me not to panic – and I’ve lived by those words ever since.

Settling into the medical school is like starting anything new – it takes time to adjust. My weekly anatomy sessions are a life saver and are both informative and enjoyable. Clinical skills takes place in the infirmary and it makes you feel very professional I must say! The sessions quickly allow you to get you over any embarrassment you may have and by week three you’re examining your friend’s abdomen!

Medsoc is another part of medic life. In the 2nd week of term Medsoc organised our fresher’s ball which gives you an opportunity to fully mingle with the people you are going to spend the next 5 years with (say it quick!) You also get to meet people from the other years who are more than happy to ‘calm your qualms’ and offer advice.

Being a medical student is amazing, and I couldn’t think of a better place to be experiencing it than at Lancaster.