The Gap Year (s)
It is often said taking a gap year can be the time for you to venture out, be creative, and enjoy the moments before you enter into your career. Well, that wasn't the case for me. I had no clue what was going to happen next after graduating from college. My hope was to get into medical school right after college but that wasn't my reality. My gap year was 2 years longs, which was filled with fear, the unknown and quite frankly doubt. I spent too much of my time trying to figure out what I'll being doing in the next 5 years, instead of focusing in on the right now. There is some validation of "the freak out" if your gap year wasn't really planned, but personally I wished I didn't stay there during the time I had off from school.
My Timeline
Post-grad depression
Once my diploma was handed to me, I was filled with ambition and excitement, which carried me until reality slapped me in the face. When I realized that I was in the real world now, I was not ready to face it. I was so unorganized and unmotivated. I spent my 1st month home watching all 7 seasons of the "The Office", which was way too much television. Looking back, I think I was trying to cope with the fact that I'm no longer in college and I was no longer amongst young adults chasing to become their ideal self. At the time, I wasn't sure what I was going through, but I new this wasn't me.
My Signs:
Being Unorganized
Too much social media
Unmotivated
Watched too much television
Comparing our lives
What I did to Pull through:
Get organized
Stopped comparing
Got into a routine
Surrounded Ourselves with Positive Vibes
Understand this was only temporary
Jobs
I was not a fan of people constantly asking me what job I was going to have after college. However, it was a fair question, I needed to make money somehow. I started to work as a substitute teacher, at my old high school, which was nice to help me obtain some pocket money for the everyday, but I wanted something that will help me on my resume, so I decided to become a C.N.A.
Working as a CNA was a humbling experience, but I need to be honest about a few things. Working in the health care field is extremely demanding, especially if you are last in the chain of command. The job experience helped me realize not only the politics that can occur in healthcare, but also how to interact with other healthcare professionals. I was able to learn how to conduct myself in a hospital setting, understand taking time off is a process, and how to be a bit balance. Nevertheless, reflecting on my decision, I wished I did something completely different. I've always wanted to be chef or a baker, and I wished I took my time off to explore the few "love" in my life. Even though working in the hospital was great for my CV, I would definitely change my time exploring the things I love to ensure the path I wanted to endeavor.....Oh medicine.
The Pros and The Cons
Pros:
I can agree that taking some time off allowed me to to get a job, learn how to handle money, experience normal human interaction with non-premeds, and really consider if I wanted to become a doctor. I must say the major Pro of taking time off was having my brain to mature. I know it sounds odd but at the age of 25 our brain is fully developed in planning, working memory, and impulse control and it crazy to think we need to decided on careers which can impact our lives while we have baby brains!
Cons:
The fear of not knowing if or when I will start medical school very apparent within my gap year. I had so much doubt and anxiety, to be honest all of these feelings steamed from my outlook on this process. Instead of having a better attitude, I was too consumed getting results to help me get into medical school. In retrospect, I wished I had a better attitude. Getting into medical is a process and if only I enjoyed my time, instead of being so fearful of my future I would of removed doubt and anxiety that lasted for about 2 years.
Going through a gap year isn't the worst thing ever, my mistake was my attitude. If I had a better outlook about this time in my life I would of not endure my doubt and anxiety. Simply said, I wished we had a better attitude. Second, acknowledge the fact that you might go through post grad-depression. It is a thing, be prepared. Lastly, every gap year is different, some people can take a year, others maybe 5, just don't be discouraged.
From your new student doctor friends!