Jasmine Chee (left) with her clinical mentor, Dr Malanashita Upon graduating from A-levels with a vision of pursuing medicine, IMU University became my chosen path immediately after my final exams in June 2019. I had no idea what was awaiting me as soon as I enrolled into the programme, thinking that all I needed with me on this journey were my curiosity and passion for the subject.
Orientation week, which now feels like a distant memory, marked the start of transformative experiences. I was fortunate to meet selfless, insightful seniors who offered unwavering support throughout medical school. Along the way, I was in a sense, ‘adopted’ by a few extroverted characters who eventually became my pillar of support away from home. As time passed, while friends outside of medicine started their professional journeys, I often wondered when my turn would come.
Oath-taking ceremony for the ME219 cohort.
In the blink of an eye, the day came, and I found myself being reluctant to leave this all behind. As I stand side by side with my batchmates who I now call my colleagues, bittersweet memories flood my mind. Sleepless nights, pre-exam anxieties, and the relentless pursuit of medical knowledge. Medical school, truly, is a test of resilience. But we eventually learned to play as hard as we work, with spontaneous roadtrips, good meals and good companionship becoming our solace.
One unforgettable piece of advice from a senior during orientation was that “no one does medical school alone.” This truth resonated deeply, especially when acquaintances turned into friends during challenging moments, such as preparing for our first in-person OSCE after the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we became a reliable support system for one another, while navigating some of the toughest trials in our medical journey.
Every experience in medical school has been priceless, from adopting bedside manners, learning about a patient’s most vulnerable moments through a listening ear, to having the opportunity to perform procedures and examinations on them.
My favourite moments in my clinical years would have to be when we meet kind and understanding patients who acknowledge our efforts and generously imparted words of encouragement and wisdom onto us. They are always so sure that we would become good doctors, and their faith and trust in the medical profession inspires me to always do better. When I learned that I had passed my final exams in semester 10 with distinction, I reflected on how crucial the support of friends, peers, and patients was to this achievement.
These five years of medical school felt like a serendipitous dream, of which I am reluctantly awakening from. After graduating, I rewarded myself with a long-awaited rest back home while enjoying the companionship of my loved ones, whose faces I can only see twice a year up till this point.
Rest, they say, as this is your last chance of a long rest before the gruelling housemanship begins. Until then, I will savour this brief respite to indulge in hobbies, travel, and even learn a new skill.
Advice to Future Students and Aspiring Doctors
To future students and aspiring doctors, another indispensable lesson I gained from being a medical student is that adaptability is a quiet yet powerful strength. Change is imminent wherever we are. Learn to be adaptable when times call but stand firm in your values. Step up when opportunities arise as these chances present themselves to you because you are ready. Never forget about humility — be polite to anyone and everyone you come across for it costs nothing but takes you a long way.
As I close this chapter, I leave you with a saying that grows more meaningful with time and practice as doctors: “To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.”
Congratulations to the graduating class of ME219—a bright future awaits.
Written by Jasmine Chee Hui Ming, IMU MBBS graduate who is the recipient of the Dr John Joseph Bosco Memorial Gold Medal.
