<p>Heart pounding, misgivings aplenty and trepidation gripping every inch of me, I stood near the bus stop, waiting for the arrival of the college bus. It was my first day of medical school and I was still unsure of the choice of professional course that I had made. After much dithering, I had finally zeroed in on medicine, with engineering taking back seat.<br />My heart skipped a beat as I sighted the distinct, yellow-hued medical college bus. My mind started racing… “How would I fare in the course, which isn’t considered a cakewalk? Would I be able to get along with my peers? And the seniors?” With ragging being rampant in every college, the very thought sent shivers down my spine.<br /><br />My mind clouded with multiple thoughts as I boarded the bus. I managed to find myself a seat in an unobtrusive corner. Prayer on my lips, fingers crossed, I wondered whether I’d see the day through unscathed. At that moment, a few seniors in the bus approached me. Looking rather genial, they tried to dispel my fears, palpable on my face. With a skeptical look, I tried speaking politely, but only incoherent gurgles spilled from my mouth! Feeling amused, they decided to leave me to myself.<br /><br />Finally, as the bus entered the portals of the institute, and as I took in the massive hospital building on the sprawling campus area, my initial apprehension vanished. Slowly, I made my way towards the college block, my heart thudding faster with each step I took. Along with my new friends, whom I had met at the entrance, I marched towards the classrooms – all of us resembling soldiers heading to some warzone.<br /><br />Well, that was years ago. After that, the time went fleeting by with frenetic speed. Five and a half years later, I was prepared to bid adieu to my alma-mater. On the last day of my medical course, I felt bombarded by nostalgia – unforgettable times spent with amazing friends, the thrill of swotting and successfully sailing through annual exams, the tongue-titillating canteen food (pun unintended), the innumerable un/planned outings, trips/tours, the staggering working hours during internship, not to discount, the shudders on seeing stench-emanating cadavers for the first time…<br /><br />Fast forward to the present. A few months ago, I felt a sense of déjà-vu with the same trepidation seizing me, as I stepped into the portals of Karnataka’s top hospital, to do my postgraduation in medicine in the surgical field.<br /><br />Now, after having comfortably acclimatised myself to this new ambience, indeed, I consider myself singularly fortunate to be surrounded by several competent and super-dynamic senior doctors, amicable hospital authorities and the ever-graceful Sister Superior, all of whom, besides being my godfathers/ mothers, have made my learning and working supremely enjoyable and interesting. Truly, I’m eternally beholden to all of them.</p>
<p>Heart pounding, misgivings aplenty and trepidation gripping every inch of me, I stood near the bus stop, waiting for the arrival of the college bus. It was my first day of medical school and I was still unsure of the choice of professional course that I had made. After much dithering, I had finally zeroed in on medicine, with engineering taking back seat.<br />My heart skipped a beat as I sighted the distinct, yellow-hued medical college bus. My mind started racing… “How would I fare in the course, which isn’t considered a cakewalk? Would I be able to get along with my peers? And the seniors?” With ragging being rampant in every college, the very thought sent shivers down my spine.<br /><br />My mind clouded with multiple thoughts as I boarded the bus. I managed to find myself a seat in an unobtrusive corner. Prayer on my lips, fingers crossed, I wondered whether I’d see the day through unscathed. At that moment, a few seniors in the bus approached me. Looking rather genial, they tried to dispel my fears, palpable on my face. With a skeptical look, I tried speaking politely, but only incoherent gurgles spilled from my mouth! Feeling amused, they decided to leave me to myself.<br /><br />Finally, as the bus entered the portals of the institute, and as I took in the massive hospital building on the sprawling campus area, my initial apprehension vanished. Slowly, I made my way towards the college block, my heart thudding faster with each step I took. Along with my new friends, whom I had met at the entrance, I marched towards the classrooms – all of us resembling soldiers heading to some warzone.<br /><br />Well, that was years ago. After that, the time went fleeting by with frenetic speed. Five and a half years later, I was prepared to bid adieu to my alma-mater. On the last day of my medical course, I felt bombarded by nostalgia – unforgettable times spent with amazing friends, the thrill of swotting and successfully sailing through annual exams, the tongue-titillating canteen food (pun unintended), the innumerable un/planned outings, trips/tours, the staggering working hours during internship, not to discount, the shudders on seeing stench-emanating cadavers for the first time…<br /><br />Fast forward to the present. A few months ago, I felt a sense of déjà-vu with the same trepidation seizing me, as I stepped into the portals of Karnataka’s top hospital, to do my postgraduation in medicine in the surgical field.<br /><br />Now, after having comfortably acclimatised myself to this new ambience, indeed, I consider myself singularly fortunate to be surrounded by several competent and super-dynamic senior doctors, amicable hospital authorities and the ever-graceful Sister Superior, all of whom, besides being my godfathers/ mothers, have made my learning and working supremely enjoyable and interesting. Truly, I’m eternally beholden to all of them.</p>
