Lessons Beyond the Lectures: Dr Diane’s Med School Reflections
A heartfelt reflection on becoming a doctor without losing yourself in the process.
Dr Diane is a qualified medical doctor 🩺 who completed her MBChB at the University of the Free State in 2021. Since then, she has served in multiple healthcare settings — completing her internship at Edenvale Hospital and community service at Rob Ferreira Hospital. She’s Christian, a proud gym girly and vocal — unafraid to speak on the hard realities of working in South Africa’s public healthcare system as a medical doctor.
Recently, Dr Diane joined Med Echoes as a keynote speaker at our MBChB Transfer Expo on Hatfield campus. Her voice stood out for its honesty and depth. She doesn’t glamorize the profession — instead, she speaks from lived experience about the sacrifices, the cost, and the crises that can come with becoming a doctor. But even more importantly, she speaks with heart — reminding us that we’re allowed to be fully human while wearing the white coat.
In this piece, she reflects on what she wishes she had done differently during med school — not out of regret, but as an offering of wisdom to those still walking the road. We hope her words help you walk with intention, joy, and a stronger sense of self.
Things I Wish I Did in Med School to Set Me Up for Success… ⚡️
Looking back after finishing community service, there are a few things I really wish I did differently during med school. Not because I regret becoming a doctor, but because I wish I had become more of myself in the process. Here’s what I’d tell any current medical student trying to make it through:
1. I wish I networked better 🫱🏻🫲🏿
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Your net worth is your network,” but it never really hits until you’re out of the system and trying to find your place in the real world. I’m not saying you should fake friendships or force connections — just be kind, open, and willing to step out of your shell. The relationships you build now can open unexpected doors later.
…be kind, open, and willing to step out of your shell.
2. I wish I did more than just medicine 🌱
Yes, your parents sent you to university to get a degree. But these years are also about becoming a person. Don’t just study and survive, live. Join a campus club, try something random in res, go on spontaneous coffee runs with friends. Say yes once in a while. These moments won’t just give you joy — they’ll shape your confidence, creativity, and clarity. After med school, you’re a full-time adult. So let yourself be young while you still are.
3. I wish I sought out mentorship earlier 🔃
Medicine has a way of making you feel like you’re alone on an impossible mission. But you’re not. You’re never supposed to do this alone. Find a lecturer you admire or a senior doctor who has the kind of energy you want to grow into. Ask questions. Be curious about their story. Learn from them. People want to pour into you but you have to reach out first. (And guess what? That’s networking again! 💡)
People want to pour into you but you have to reach out first.
4. I wish I had more hobbies 🛝
Students without hobbies turn into professionals who lack dimension. Hobbies are not distractions — they’re investments in your humanity. Start that YouTube channel. Learn how to draw. Start baking every Sunday. And if it turns into a little side hustle, even better. In Cupcake’s economy, passion and income don’t have to be separate.
Hobbies are not distractions — they’re investments in your humanity.
5. I wish I identified as a person first, and a doctor second 🔅
Please don’t make medicine your entire identity. I say this with love and lived experience. I only realized after failing my third year and feeling completely shattered. If your whole sense of self is wrapped up in your performance or your profession, what happens when it shakes? You are more than your degree. You are a soul with depth. For me, my foundation is Christ — that’s what holds me when everything else crumbles. But whatever your anchor is, make sure it’s solid and not based on your career.
6. I wish I took care of my body from the start 🫀
You don’t need a gym membership to move, and you don’t need Woolies produce to eat well. Start small: walk 10K steps around campus, cook two meals a week, cut back on the takeout. Three months of movement and mindful eating will transform your energy, your waistline, and your brainpower. You’ll feel unstoppable. Medicine might be your job, but your body is your real lifelong asset — treat it like one.
Med school will stretch you in ways nothing else will but please don’t let it shrink who you are. You are allowed to enjoy, explore, and expand even while becoming a doctor. Let this be your reminder.
Medicine might be your job, but your body is your real lifelong asset — treat it like one
what a beautiful story! thanks for sharing it 👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you for the opportunity to share ♥️