When I look back at the past few years, studying medicine at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, I feel a mix of emotions: pride, exhaustion, joy and gratitude. Reaching 400 level feels surreal, the so-called “clinical stage” that once seemed so far away. Sometimes I still can’t believe I survived the pre-clinical years. Which of the favours of my lord will I deny? Absolutely none! Alhamdulillah.
In 100 level, everything felt new and shiny. I walked into the faculty with dreams of becoming an obstetrician/gynaecologist. But I soon realised that medicine in Nigeria isn’t a straight path; it’s a constant test of endurance, discipline, and faith. Between lectures that stretched endlessly, power outages during study hours, and the pressure to “measure up,” I learned that determination and consistency often matter more than brilliance.
Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and integrated papers — the “four giants” of pre-clinicals — became the centre of my life. I still remember how I cried my way to sleep, feeling so overwhelmed that “I was cooked”, a popular slang used in my med school when there were tons of materials yet to be covered. It wasn’t easy. There were nights when I felt completely burnt out, when I questioned if I had chosen the right course. But somehow, the verses in the Quran where Allah SWT says “And upon Allah let the believers rely” [3:160] kept me grounded.
One of my toughest moments came during my first-ever written exam in med school, CBD-IBS. CBD-IBS (Cell Body Defence – Introduction to Body System) is the first posting exam written in pre-clinicals. I remember the sleepless nights, the constant updating of my outlines, the panic attacks and anxiousness that followed me all through the preparations. After the results were released, I scored way below my expectations. That served as a wake-up call.
Despite the challenges, there were moments that reminded me why I chose this path. Like the day I got the explanation of a concept and I was able to perfectly teach my friends, or days when I marvelled about how perfectly the human body is created. Those small victories felt like sunlight after long nights of rain. They have also shown me that becoming a doctor isn’t just about learning the human body; it’s about learning yourself. It’s about resilience, humility, and the courage to keep showing up, even when you’re tired, unsure, or afraid.
Now, standing at the edge of my clinical years, I feel both excited and nervous. I’ve heard so many stories about what lies ahead in the dreaded 400 level class. Is it the long ward rounds, the endless case notes, the real patients who will soon replace our plastic models and textbooks or the constant writing of exams with little to no breaks in between? But deep down, I know that everything I’ve been through has prepared me for this next chapter. I ask Allah SWT to ease this next phase, as He eased my previous levels for me.
As narrated by: Muhammad Jamiu Sumayyah (Ilorin, Nigeria).
This snippet is published as part of the series, Surviving Medical School.
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