10 Years Excluded From Medicine: A Story of Resilience
Resilient Bibi answers 12 questions relating to failure and exclusions in medical school.
In this newsletter, we bring you an inspirational story attesting to resilience and success against all odds from Bibi who is a 5th year medical student.
When Bibi was 4 years old, she wanted to be either a police officer so she can carry a gun or a nurse to follow in the footsteps of her aunt. Her mother played a vital role in exposing her to various careers, including scientists, before she turned 5 years old and it was at this early age that she resolved to grow up and become a doctor.
When Bibi was in grade 11, she toured universities offering medicine across South Africa and knew with absoluteness that she wanted to not only do medicine but study it at the university of her choosing. Despite the difficulty of getting accepted for medicine immediately after high school, Bibi was given final acceptance to study medicine as soon as she finished matric.
As a requirement of most medical programs in South Africa, Bibi had general science modules in first year of medicine including Physics but despite studying hard, she failed the module and was excluded from the medical program. In her frank words, she was kicked out for failing Physics.
It was at this point that she learnt that if she is excluded from any medical program in South Africa, then she cannot study medicine at another other university for the next 5 years that followed. Trying to forge a way forward, Bibi then studied a BSc in Human Life Sciences and excelled incredibly to the point of attaining a Masters degree and working as a research scientist in healthcare.
10 years passed since the exclusion from the medical program and despite working collaboratively with medical doctors in her new-found profession, Bibi still wanted to be a medical doctor but it was not going to be an easy feat. She had to file an appeal with her university, write a supporting letter attesting to her progress in the 10 years that she was not a medical student, write an entry exam, and do an interview with a committee of appeals.
Regardless of it all, Bibi maintained the belief that medicine is where she is supposed to be and what the Lord had strongly purposed for her to do. After the 10 years of loss, grief and wondering in purpose, Bibi was finally accepted again to study medicine!
In totality, Med Echoes features Bibi and her story because not only is it unique but it tells of admirable resilience and purpose being fulfilled against all odds. Hers is a story of someone who had been kicked out of medicine for 10 years and yet will still become a doctor.
Now that you know her story, Bibi answers 12 questions that speak to her resilience and our hope for you as the reader is that you may draw encouragement and inspiration; to know that studying medicine is not without challenge and that resilience is necessary for as long as you strive to become a doctor. If it happens that you do fail either a block test, a semester, a rotation and more, this is our sign to you to say that you are not alone and becoming a doctor is still within reach.
1. Why did you decide to pursue medicine? 👩🏽⚕️
From a very young age I always had a conviction towards medicine/healing and in primary and high school my heightened interest and natural aptitude for the Sciences were clear. Medicine I feel is a calling but I’ve also had to choose it.
2. What has been the best part of studying medicine so far? 💥
The intimate connection forged with my patients is the highlight of practicing medicine for me, on those hard days that’s what reaffirms my purpose. It also fills me with a profound sense of fulfilment to see my mind grow and make connections in the clinical space from things I learnt theoretically.
3. How was your experience of medical school? 🎒
Med school for me is a constant dichotomy between moments of sheer passion and undeniable challenges. Despite the occasional hardships, each experience has contributed to my growth and shaped me into a more compassionate and resilient healthcare provider.
4. What circumstances led to your exclusion? ⚡
I failed 1st year physics and didn’t know I could appeal exclusion.
5. What did you do in the time between your exclusion and your re-admission?⌛
I studied further because the conditions of my exclusion stipulated that to return I needed to prove without a doubt that if readmitted I could pass the module I had previously failed.
6. After being excluded, were there any moments where you considered giving up on medicine, and if so, what motivated you to persevere? 💪🏽
Not once did that occur to me to quit, I might’ve just been young and not really understanding what exclusion meant, instead I took it as my conditions had stipulated it, as a break to prove myself.
7. Can you discuss the importance of seeking support, both emotionally and academically, during tough times in medical school? 🫂
In medical school factors like the immense workload, continual growth and adaptation, academic high stakes and witnessing human suffering can lead to anxiety, depression and burnout.
Having a support system in place, whether it be friends, family, mentors, or psychologists, provides a safe space to express vulnerabilities, process emotions, gain perspective and enhance your learning experience.
Seeking support is not a sign of weakness, but rather a demonstration of self-awareness and resilience.
8. Can you share any strategies you used to overcome the societal and personal expectations associated with completing medical education within a certain timeframe? ⚡
Certainly. Due to my departure from medical school being earlier on, I never had the opportunity to consider completing my education within a specific timeframe. My primary objective has consistently been to return and complete my studies. Even now, in my thirties, my focus remains unchanged: to become a knowledgeable, kind and compassionate clinician, regardless of the time it takes.
9. Were there specific moments or realizations that helped you shift your perspective and find acceptance in being a few years behind your peers? ⏳
No, because time has never been a factor for me.
10. What good can come from being academically excluded? 🪴
This is undoubtedly a challenging experience, but it has also lead to so much more personal growth:
Self-reflection and Resilience: it prompts deep introspection, cause you need to honestly assess your strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.
Clarifies Goals and Priorities: Academic exclusion forces to reevaluate your goals priorities. It provided for me an opportunity to reassess how badly I wanted medicine and what I was willing to do to get it. For some of my peers it provided them the discovery of alternative career paths in healthcare which opened doors to fulfilling and rewarding opportunities outside of traditional medical practice.
Empathy and Understanding: Experiencing setbacks firsthand created a heightened sense of awareness and cultivated more empathy and understanding toward others.
11. Reflecting on your journey, what valuable lessons did you learn about resilience, patience, and the importance of one's unique path in the medical field? 📈
My journey with academic exclusion has been a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the value of patience, and the beauty of embracing one's unique path. It has instilled within me a profound sense of purpose and gratitude, guiding me towards a future defined by authenticity, compassion, and fulfillment.
12. What advice would you give to someone facing exclusion from the medical program? 👂🏽
Read your conditions so you know what your exact terms are.
Be honest about why you failed and seek assistance and support in that regard.
Use the school counselling services for as long as you can.
Tell your family earlier on.
Remember, YOU ARE MORE THAN your marks.