This video has been being picked up a lot more recently, which I appreciate a lot! But if that means more people are finding it because they're going through a similar situation- I hope you know that you'll get past these hurdles! It's easy to feel powerless in these situations, but they don't define who you are as a person. How you respond to these challenges does. Take the time you need to process the circumstance, give yourself some grace and some time off, and then work on the factors that you can control. The light at the end of the tunnel will mean that much more after going through this.
hey! i'm here because I'm on my last day writing my dissertation for my master's after having to take a leave of absence. I felt really disappointed, and ashamed, I'd never 'given up' on something academically, and I felt so ashamed. Here I am two years later, and I'm about to finish. I really really hope I pass. love x
Hey man, I also failed out of M1 in medical school during Covid (in 2020-21). It’s two years out and I’ve been teaching as a bridge job and am applying to law school to become a public defender. It feels like your life is over at the time, but it goes on. You seem to have a great head on your shoulders and you will make it through this second time!
Thank you so much for this video! It's practical and reassuring. I'm going through something not exactly the same but I also took a leave of absence to really figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
There is a reason that this "toxic" culture is present and that is because people's lives depend on you being smart enough to save them. My experience and the experience of my colleagues is the current crop of doctors being pumped out in the US are sub par yes men who cannot think on their own.
I failed and repeated my first year of medical school. Now in my second year of Residency. Nobody cares that you failed, nobody even knows unless you tell them. Never cared about it during residency and forgot about it. You move on.
😊i didn’t know you could go back but you did keep going! It seems to me a lot of medical school is about fortitude! I work with a bunch of doctors and some of them make me wonder.
It takes a special kind of person to share their failures with others in order to help them. The pressure to be perfect is so real in any career but it’s not reality. You will be a great doctor.
I agree thank you I appreciate. I am in nursing professionally looking to go into a doctoral program and I just have so much disappointment and shame and anxiety looking back at some of the science classes i took as an undergrad and i could only smh.
I wouldn't call it "failures". Only people who are so inclined to be trapped in the Rat race see it as a let down. The restrictions in the medical field take lives every day, avoiding the opaque parental pressure and doing your own thing is essential. You only live once, persuading endlessly for a grade will kill you.
Most people are like this, what are you talking about? Lots of old people who feel they've failed at life like sharing their failure to young people to teach them to work harder and motivate them.
Hey Kenny, I repeated my 1st year of medschool as well. I ended up going through and am now in Residency. It was a ROUGH time. I failed towards the end of my 1st year so I wasn't allowed to do remediation test. We were only allowed 1 remediation test. Medschool takes SOOOO much from you. I am glad you are taking care of yourself now.
Congratulations on getting into residency! I appreciate the kind words and it gives me peace knowing others have experienced this as well. I’m glad you were able to move past it and I’m wishing you the best!
Congratulations! It takes a special type of person to have that kind of determination. I know because I myself struggle with failure a lot and I'm not sure I would've been able to be that resilient. Proud of you, stranger!
I am a person that easily breaks when I fail. I found that it came from the high expectations put on me in my childhood. I never feel good enough so when failure strikes it hits me like a truck. I’m successful today, on paper, but it still doesn’t feel like enough. Definitely a work in progress still.
I appreciate you for sharing that part of your journey. It can be hard devoting so much time into something, yet trying to separate it from your self-worth. I’m wishing you nothing but the best :)
It took me 10 yrs to finish medical school. I dropped out to study psychology and dropped in back, unmotivated back in med school till I reached final my year and fell in love with medicine. I’m still not very academic but I like being a doctor. I never regretted any of it. Keep going if you want to be a doctor.
@min_x27 i tried everything, learning with different people, I went to cafes so I didn’t get bored studying in one place, I watched videos on youtube for a fast recall. What helped the most was I had hyper marked my book and underlined important info, so I just read that in the end. Try to understand instead of cram when you learn the first time. Recall gets easier later.
l lost a year in Medschool and I had to repeat a year. My twin proceeded to the next class. As I write to you now,I am writing my final exams and I finish in the next 36 hours! I will be a full fledged Doctor this week and I must say I m glad I didn't give up. I failed in my 2nd year because I was still new to the rigours of Medschool. I must say these past 9 years(+covid year) has been a ride. I've been depressed, joyful, happy and sometimes wanted to give up but I am glad I held on. This is for someone who is TIRED of Medschool,take a break and re-assess , remind yourself of the why and then RUN the race set before you by you. It's worth it at the end! Nice meeting the international community. Love from Nigeria❤
The medical systems burns us out and then turns around to place the sole blame on its students, residents etc to not burn out. Your honesty is so refreshing and I’m praying for you🫶🏿
Failing by one point is brutal :( I passed by a couple points on a couple blocks, and I know that there is no objective difference between you and I. Keep on my brother, thanks for this video. Grades are NOT a reflection of your future quality as a physician :)
I didn't fail medical school, but I was suspended when I was studying for my bachelor's degree. I took a year off, worked a part time job, worked on my mental health and physical health. That year i really figured out what I wanted to do and who I am as a person. I went back to college and got straight A's and graduated! Sometimes, you just need a break to gain perspective and that's ok.
@@day-viavia2033 I started out with walking/hiking while listening to music. it is good for physical and mental health. it really calmed me down when I experienced a lot of negative emotions at once.
I'm a psychiatrist. I've been out of training (residency and fellowship) for one year. I enjoyed this video, because I can totally relate to your struggles. Trust me, once you start making that attending salary, and you're living in that nice house, driving that nice car, taking your family on nice vacations, the hurdles you faced to get to that point will fade away in your mind. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. All of it is ABSOLUTELY worth it in the end.
I matched psychiatry and did away w medicine as a career altogether. It was destroying my mental health after working as a tech/ER APCT for 10 years prior. I haven’t looked back. I spent 27 years in school, got 2 MS degrees and sacrificed my fertility. I’ve had 2 miscarriages and would not have been able to do IVF w the residency salary. My director and I cojld not come to a resolution to allow me the time off, and I had to leave. It was one or the other of my biggest dreams in life. But I don’t regret it. It’s been 3 years now. I have 1 good embryo finally. Am doing it alone at 37 w menopause expected at 38 bc of unexpected damage to my eggs during cancer treatment. They had promised (I was 29) that it would not harm them. I should’ve looked at more meta analyses. But $500k I’m debt from school, still searching for my life’s purpose, and trying to raise enough money to pay off my first round of egg retrieval ($21k) so I can do a second and hopefully transfer my miracle. Medicine cost me my entire life’s happiness. It is all I wanted for so long, but I ended up attempting sui*ide 4 times since the beginning of my last semester. My mom almost passed away. My dog did pass away. I didn’t initially match. And I had my first miscarriage at 34. I struggle every single day w what medical school has left me with. And I worked through 15 years of therapy already bc of an abusive alcoholic POS father. And now mandatory therapy for Ivf. I do still love psych, but med school robbed me of a life. At 24, I wanted to start trying for a baby. Everyone told me “You’re so young; you have 20 years left to have one!” “You’re going to be a doctor!” As if that’s all there is to life. “You don’t want/ need kids.” “Now isn’t the time.” “Focus on school.” I’ve never had a bugger regret then listening to these people. All I do want in life is my own little family w my 1 year old dog. He is all that has saved me after my last boy passed. My only dream was for him to see me graduate and he missed it by a month. I finished and graduated for my mom, whom I drove to my school and had handicapped seating for/ my only family member in attendance/ and worried about her the entire ceremony. She had to carry her defibrillator/pacemaker before she had one implanted. She had recently had a quadruple bypass. I still feel like I totally failed her. But I could not continue on that path just for everyone else. Nobody in my extended family talks to me anymore since I quit medicine. I got 118 likes (not saying “likes” are everything) on my med school graduation post, and 25ish on my pregnancy announcement at 12 weeks, which I would lose days later. Just goes to show you what makes other people happy. You have to follow your own heart, if I’ve learned anything in this life
@@MPLetsTalkI’m $500k in. Actually about $600k now. How does that work? You pass it on to your kids bc nobody cares that you sacrificed your life for others. Patients and family alike treat you like sh*t. It’s a thankless job.
I'm a fresh graduate from a premed course and was actually planning to proceed to medicine. But for the past 3 months of rest and reflections I realized that I'm not actually doing it for myself but was pressured by my family and relatives. Breaking the news to my family about my plan to not proceed to medicine was pretty difficult for me, but I was really surprised how they support my decision saying that they really noticed my struggles during the past year. And now I am really glad that I'm proceeding to something that I have an interest with, realizing that there are more opportunities the world can offer.
That's a scary realization to come to and tell your family. I'm glad that you figured that out for yourself though! Whatever you decided to pursue instead, im wishing you the best 🤝
Im in a similar situation but I haven’t fully committed on changing careers. I dont know how i would build up the courage to tell my parents. I feel ashamed, and I feel like I would be letting them down if I dont get into the graduate program i have been pursuing for the past 2 years. I feel like a failure seeing my cousins getting into their programs and progressing in life. I honestly feel lost and stuck at the same time
I failed a class before. Granted it wasn't medical school or any graduate degree school, it was ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. that's when I contemplated my life choices. Orgchem through me for a loop! 😮 It's been 10ish years since then and that didn't affect me at all!, I rather one fail 5x before becoming the beat doctor. We are human and we are learning, we can't pass everything all at once! Keep up the good work 👏🏾 🎉
this is exactly what's happening with me omg i'm doing so well with my health and bio classes but organic chemistry is ruining my chances of pursuing medicine 😭 congrats on getting through it though !
Fantastic video, bro. I'm not pursuing medicine anymore. I switched paths, but I'm so proud of you for being transparent & vulnerable. I'm glad you took care of yourself by assuming that leave of absence. You're gonna be a dope doctor. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks so much for talking about this Kenny . I’m a 2nd year medical student - I haven’t repeated anything but I constantly feel on the edge especially since I scraped my exam. Med school is such a big commitment- I’m really trying my best to push my way through it and be resilient but coming back I didn’t expect it to take from me the way it has. Thanks for being vulnerable- it has made me realise that others also find this difficult
Rooting for you all the way! Doing well in med school is hard. Doing mediocre in med school is hard. Med school’s just hard 😅 but we’re gonna get through it!
I graduated high school in 2020 during the pandemic, so I was really out of practice when I went to college. I went from having no classes during high school, to having 6 classes + 2 labs a day. I was a biology major with a focus in pre-med, because I really wanted to be a PA. Right from the get-go I was struggling. I didn't know how to properly study & I was really bad at setting boundaries, so I was also working like 50 hours a week at a fast food joint. I failed my college algebra class, but I retook it & passed so they wiped the F off of my transcripts (something they only do for freshmen). My sophomore year, I was really confident, but I had a bunch of hard classes like physics, chemistry, and trig, so after a few months of struggling, I made the decision to drop out. I literally didn't tell any of my friends. I remember studying for an exam one day and I knew I was going to fail, so I dropped out. The same day I dropped out, I applied to a local technical college for medical assisting, and I got in, and started the following week (didn't really give myself a break). It was the best decision I ever made. I graduated and passed my NHA medical assisting exam. A year and a half later (now), I've recently been accepted into nursing school, and I will start in April! I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and had I not dropped out of college, I'd probably not found something I'm passionate in :)
You’re going to be great :) thank you for sharing your story! It’s so important to see that not everyone will be on a perfectly “linear” or “traditional” path- and that’s more than fine. Your experience will only make you better and you’re gonna crush it :)
I failed my 3rd year of dental school due to my depression right after covid and had to repeat everything you said is so valid, especially not caring what anyone thinks and just focusing on yourself it actually ended up benefiting me because I got more exposure in clinic and I really took the time off to prepare myself to do well when i got back, ur right it can be a good experience if u make i just graduated this year too
I failed my 3rd yr dental school also due to insomnia, depression and I lost my grandpa. It was tough and dark.. no one gets how hard that period of my life. The people and friends I met at that time helped me to move on with my life.
Dental school is tough and dental residency is even crazier, but I'm happy you guys have the right attitude for what's ahead. Work hard but please live life too. 😊
Don't sweat it. My buddy got his medical license, practiced for couple years and fell out of love being a doctor. He's now running a small family business. Find your own happiness in life, don't let other dictate what is happiness.
@@HaoTheHeck as someone who is trying to finish up my fifth year in electrical engineering and who failed multiple classes, switched universities, I know the feeling all too well.
Kenny you have really done every medical student a favor by creating this video!! At my school, failure is almost a taboo topic, and it feels so awkward to talk about. I wish more people could share insightful thoughts like these-it’s so important, and potentially even lifesaving, to be reminded that school isn’t everything. Thank you so much for your vulnerability!
There is no shame. 35 years ago, I failed physiology by 0.4 points. During residency, no one asked me why. What did I learn from my experience? I learned to be more compassionate. You are more than your school performance.
I needed to hear this. I'm in grad school and I started to feel stupid, but it's not really because of that. It's only me adjusting to the new demands of working, studying and making a home at same time.
Very much needed video in the premed/medical school space! As your fellow classmate and friend who has gone through the same experience of repeating our first year of medical school together, it's been quite a roller coaster of emotions; and coming to terms with myself was only the tip of the iceberg. Not gonna lie, I was definitely very depressed and unmotivated initially at this time of last year (crazy how time has flown by). I felt that I had not only let myself down, but I had let the very people who have been supporting me all this time (whether that was family/friends/teachers/professors/mentors) down as well. But, what I've come to learn and realize is that my life was definitely far from "over". The people that truly cared about you stuck around. The shame and guilt of being afraid/embarrassed of not even telling my closest friends was difficult to overcome, let alone the biggest hurdle was that phone call that I had made to my parents back home in CA, in which I literally broke down crying over Facetime, thinking how I was such a "failure". While I have kept my status as a repeat student somewhat "confidential" especially at the beginning of the year, I've come to realize that people genuinely could care less about my status LOL, but actually, would in turn, ask me for advice/help because I've been through it already. To that point, it is easier said than done to admit something so personal like this (and such a costly failure too lol): To all the viewers who are reading this, just know that: "You are not alone!". Whether you are pursuing medical school, or quite frankly, any big goals in life, turning failures into opportunities of growth and self-reflection is really what's key to success. I'm not gonna even sugar coat the still LONG journey ahead of me as I finish up my repeat year, but it's inspiring to have friends/classmates like you to keep pushing forward and work towards that "light at the end of the tunnel" together! :) **P.S: also feel like this topic could be a whole podcast episode haha where we could share our own experiences and actually having the deep conversations that no one on the internet is talking about
Truee my sister failed A levels and she repeated 2 years, now she’s in med school and she’s got a distinction in 1st year, I agree with your point that turning failures into opportunities of growth is the key to success truly
A lot of medical students need to hear this. It’s okay to have set backs, we end up learning from them. Seeing my friends choosing to overwork themselves for school by neglecting their mental health has been the worst thing. One friend had seizures as a complication to one of the manifestations of depression and the other had to be monitored so he doesn’t take his life. Medical school is a lot of work, it can be fun but it can also be traumatic when your not prioritising your well-being. To all the students, med school or not, stay safe❤️
Let’s discuss how awful medical education is in the U.S. It seems like the majority of the professors suck at most schools and you’re basically teaching yourself with outside resources. I graduated in 2022. It can be extremely frustrating and disheartening. Nevertheless keep pushing forward.
when i was going to a university, my first year half of my college algebra class failed, and the professor blamed it on us :/ but every time we went to his office after hours to ask for help, he would tell us he can't help because it's something we should already know.
Felt that!!! School should be a place to learn not listen to professors hours on end talking about stuff they’ve practiced for years and then expect us to do well on the exams. Like half of the professors in college that ive had understand what they teach but they cant teach.
We have some of the best education material wise and most knowledgeable people but the annoying part is that most people with the most education and knowledge and degrees and all that rarely know how to teach. And if they do their classes are all taken lol
My good friend failed her step 2 exam twice. She is now 15 years into her successful career as an Obgyn and known for her heart and empathy and quality of care. I remember those dark years for her, but she came out of it battered but stronger and is now thriving.
Incredible reflections Kenny. I’m always proud of you for sharing your story and insight with everyone. When you’re near the top of the educational hierarchy as with grad school, failures become that much more magnified. I’m grateful that you were able to handle it with as much grace and maturity as anyone could possibly do and for laying out a rare blueprint for many that may be going through what you experienced.
Current 1st year med student here- yeah med school takes it OUT of you, man! It's so hard to have the level of discipline to push to keep studying after finishing exams or a course. I don't think I have ever studied this hard consistently in my life, even for the mcat lmao. People always say the hardest part about medical school is getting in, and if you are reading this and one of those people, it's a LIE! Med school is a constant GRIND
The “hardest part is getting in” attitude gave me an absolutely rude awakening 😂 medical school is tough, but we find a way to keep going and trudging along. You got this future doc!
I'm so grateful you made this video and that the algorithm blessed me with it! As someone who just finished a repeat year at Med School, this is something I really wish someone had made before I restarted. I definitely agree with what you're saying and just wanna echo the importance of being kind to yourself and accepting your new reality. Med school can be a really toxic environment, so it's so important to guard your peace and be kind to yourself even if you don't always meet the expectations you set for yourself initially. Only God can judge and the people who care about you will accept whatever your best is, so don't worry too much about disappointing others or their expectations. It's a blessing to be alive and in a safe environment each day, so do your best and the rest will come! Also, remember you got in to Med School because YOU ARE good enough and YOU ARE capable of succeeding. Best of luck to anyone that is resitting, about to resit or just trying to figure out their next steps after a failure, I'm rooting for you!
I just want to say that I am really proud of you. It is d@mn hard to swallow back that ‘failure’ feeling and go back and repeat. I know it is depressing to see the classmates you started med school with move on ahead of you. But you decided what was important to you, and you put your head down and went after it. This will make you a better human and a better doctor. No one can be functioning at 100 percent all the time and we will all fail at something. Being humble, keeping your focus, and knowing you are in the right place at the right time is what will get you through. I am a veterinarian and I know exactly what you went through. I hope other students that have been in a similar situation see your video and really listen to it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you are and are not capable of. Never let anyone talk you out of your dream. Make sure you are being honest with your itself though, because if whatever you failed at isn’t what you really want to do then that might have had something to do with your failure. Be honest with yourself and then when you decide what are going after- do whatever it takes to get there. Wishing you all the best in your future. Always remember to ask for help when you need it. I would be proud to call you a colleague (if you went to vet school,of course) and your repeating a year of med school would not change that one bit. Ever. Cheers.
As a medical student, I felt every part of this video. I don’t have consistent habit to study everyday and it’s even harder during exam days with ENDLESS EXAMS
Medical school is a tough journey. It is hard to survive on your own, it is very important to join a group that will lift each other up. You have to have a clear vision and hunger for what you want, otherwise it is pretty hard to deal with the grind to make it through. It never really ends until you become an attending, which for me took about 9 years. You have to really know what you want.
Thank you so much for talking about this. I am currently in my final semester of didactic year of PA school. I am feeling so burnt out and emotionally drained. It was refreshing to hear about your personal journey and just coming to the realization that burnout happens. It's okay and our grades don't define the compassionate providers we will be. I am rooting for your success :)
Wow this is a big courage for talking about failure as a Asian . It can be very difficult when you family and your community have so much expectation for you.
It’s hard to tell your parents about academic shortcomings when many immigrant families raised you with the mindset of “just worry about school and we’ll try our best to handle everything else”. I’m lucky to have supportive parents but it was a hard conversation
I understand that you've made the difficult decision to endure continuous setbacks in medical school, and I want to express my sympathy for the emotions you may be experiencing. It takes a lot of courage to make a big decision like this, and I want to acknowledge your strength and resilience.
i’m not a med student, im a nursing student (aspiring anesthesiologist) graduating in two months. but i will say, i love this video. and i think this applies across the board, whether you’re a med student or in healthcare in general. thank you for the awareness and courage to speak your truth. too many people like to paint things as picture perfect, but it’s not.
The same thing happened to me in my first year. I then picked myself up and actually have been getting amazing grades since then. But eventually i decided to stop with medical school because i realized that being a doctor for the rest of my life wasn't the most appealing to me. So i deicded to suit which was the hardest decision i've ever made since i've come so far and pushed through hardship. But i had to listen to myself and really realize what i wated from life.
i have a friend who failed out of medical school. He then went back to law school and graduated. after 25 years he went back to medical school and graduated. He is now the oldest resident at his hospital. He is happy as medicine was what he really wanted to do.
I love how genuine he is about accepting his failures and turning them into comebacks. I’ve been stuck in this situation but realized what I did wrong, which helped drastically improve my scores the next time around. Thank you for sharing your story Kenneth.
I’m not in medical school nor will I ever be (I currently have a BA in English and an MA in Higher Education) but I found this video to be helpful even for me. I’m currently living in my hometown again after 2 years of graduate school and teaching abroad and all the people in my masters class have seemingly found really good jobs at universities already. Some people had jobs lined up even before graduation. I haven’t been so lucky. I’ve applied to some jobs at universities in my state and I’ve been rejected for everything. So I decided to get my substitute teaching permit to become a substitute teacher in the meantime just so I don’t stay unemployed and leave a gap in my resume. Now I’m currently dealing with my shame and depression of not being as successful already as my peers from graduate school, but this video made me feel like everything is going to be ok. It reminded me that everything happens at its own pace, and if I don’t have my dream job yet at almost 24 years old, then it’s ok. It’s just going to take longer for me compared to others. In the meantime I’ll try to be more positive. Thank you Kenny!!
Keep going young man, I have personally known 3 young people who have had to repeat either first year or second year, they truly did suffer having to repeat however they eventually put their experience of failure behind them and now they are highly respected qualified Doctors. Also remember you have been afforded a great privilege to study and gain knowledge, something many people in this world will never experience.
I had to redo my second year of medical school. The administration was not very helpful and students were judgmental but I am now 7 years into and thriving in private practice and proving them all wrong. Medical school to me was just a whole set of hurdles designed to test your test taking skills and do not really predict how well you will perform as a real life physician.
Thank you so much for this! I recently went through a very similar experience (failure and burnout in med school) and am on my leave of absence. Grappling with feelings of embarrassment and shame about it and your video made me feel so much more seen. Your vulnerability says a lot about you, you're gonna be a great doctor!
"It may not be the ideal experience, but its your experience, and you have to own that." That hit hard af man. Currently studying for the MCAT after having to take a few year hiatus to afford to reattend classes. I question all the time whether im too old and im not even in my later 20s yet.
I like this video. I’m not a medical student, I study math and the competitive nature is just as evident as it is in the medical field. I recently have been feeling very self conscious of my math skills and just watching this video helped shifted my mindset on what it means to fail. It reminded me that failing and asking for help will only ever give more knowledge than always simply passing. Thank you, Kenny 😊
Thanks so much for posting this. I failed the first neuro exam in PT school, which put me in a failing grade for anatomy that semester. Additionally I was struggling with my mental and physical health. PT school has a similar perfectionist culture and I felt so embarrassed to tell my new cohort that I’d be graduating a year later with them. You ask important questions in this video and I think it’s so true that prioritizing your health and maintaining an internal locus of control should come first.
This video couldn't have came in a better timing. I was in a bad head space the past month due to not passing two cardiology exams. I'm working hard to improve for the new unit and hope that two failed exams by 1% mark doesn't define my success. This video was beautiful and it had me tearing for a little because it brought out so many emotions I've been thinking and hearing it verbalized by you made it real. Wishing you well and best of luck in your school years and beyond!
Love this! Non traditional premed here and the tug of school with the rest of life is a real issue that’s been grinding me down this whole journey. Like you, I’ve chosen to get my own life in order and create better habits and coping mechanisms.. My studying has improved tremendously for it but it’s definitely going to be a lifelong struggle for me. Thanks again for this. It’s a message that’s keeping me grounded ❤
This came up in my recommended but everything you said is very true - I'm a law student, to become qualified I did the legal practice course which was supposed to last one year, but because I failed quite a few exams it lasted two years (my friends had already passed at this point). I was full of anxiety because we get 3 chances to pass each exam otherwise we have to resit the entire year, which consists of about 15 exams in total. I had 2 exams I had to re do and managed to pass them both on my final chance but it came at a cost of my mental and physical health (I was not in a good headspace for the months leading up to the exams). I will graduate in July, but I wish that this video was out whilst I was doing those exams because I think it would have helped. I'm sure you would definitely be helping students who are in the same boat no matter what their degree is I hope you're doing okay~
Congratulations on getting through that experience and for making it to graduation! The tough road it took to get there isn’t always the most glamorous, but I’m sure you’re better for it. I appreciate you sharing your story and I’m wishing you the best!
I resonate with this video so much. I have always been (and still am) a perfectionist, especially when it comes to academics. I've always strived to be the best or at least part of those at the top. Therefore, whenever I fail, it hots me like a stab in the chest because it feels like part of my self-worth is being targeted since I've defined myself around my academics forever. I'm currently in my first semester of nursing school and although it isn't as strenuous as med school, I definitely am feeling like I'm slowly cracking under pressure with all the fast paced learning we're doing. But I'm trying to stick through it and keep my eye on the goal. I thank you for this video and keeping it real, you are amazing and strong and deserve all success!❤
Thanks so much for this transparency. It takes guts to reveal it and it also takes grit to keep going. I was never in your shoes, but boy, what I gave up to meet those standards... I have a lot to learn from your reflections and your take off. Keep sharing and thank you for your videos!
Thanks for sharing. Med school just wasn't for me - I struggled and ended up withdrawing. It was incredibly hard because of how much work I put into getting into med school and doing absolutely everything I could. I had mental health issues that were not taken care of and it just got worse - the support staff couldn't figure out what was "wrong" with me & mandated that I get psychiatric treatment. I was put on several meds that actually made my issue worse. I was correctly diagnosed but it was during the week I decided to withdraw. I applied to pharm school the next year, sat for the PCAT and had no issues because I was getting the correct treatment. It made such a huge difference in my life....the years of struggling and thinking I was "dumb." I got into some top pharm schools but decided it would be too similar to med school and that's not how my brain worked. I finished a PhD and it was so much more enjoyable.
Thank you for making this video. I’m not a med student, just an undergrad in computer science. I really struggled in my courses due to having no motivation, a poor math background, and new health issues. I had to go part-time and drop my cs classes while everyone I knew kept going. I was so angry with myself for failing to fight through my problems. Your advice is applicable to more than just med school. I’m taking this semester to find doctors and set up a schedule for myself.
Man oh man I get you this semester has really hit me hard, I seem to start off strong in the semester then I slowly wither away as it feels like it becomes to much, I've never felt like talking to a therapist or counselor but I feel like I might have to
Hi Kenny! Your video was recommended to me - thank you so much for sharing your story! I also repeated my first year of med school after some very narrow failures and while it was devastating at first, it ultimately saved me and my career. Not only am I doing well in all my classes now as a second-year med student, but I'm also more confident, motivated, and happier than I ever could've imagined. Based on the insights you gave in your video, I have no doubt that you'll get through this too. Best of luck with everything! :)
people glamorize their success in the healthcare field so much that it becomes almost shameful when you produce opposite results. it’s just as you said, the culture is toxic. watching your video was realistic, relatable, and refreshing. in the past year i failed to be on par with my peers. ive failed my certification exam for dhyg twice while all my friends are working. i tried so hard to “be on their level” but overtime its just an experience to embrace & i am learning not to let it define me. im taking my last retake soon, and if i don’t pass i’ve learned to just accept the future that’s meant for me. i dont want to “wait around” for “good” results anymore. i dont want that to stop me from enjoying life. thank you for this video, it was very comforting and reassuring to know that im not alone.
Though it's true that training and education is temporary, I think people discount that it's still 4 years of your life. Life starts now, not when you're done with 24th grade! Wishing you the best in your situation, we'll be the change we want to see 🫡
Wow you basically just translated/said everything I learned this year. It was such a road. Definitely through failing we can Learn a LOT. Thank you so much for this video cause sometimes social media, RUclips etc can be very toxic by only portraying the perfect, the unflawed, the unobtainable. Especially when it comes to study, productivity, careers. So I think you vídeo at least for me is a breath of fresh air
I appreciate your honesty. In nursing school, I failed two rotations and almost failed out of the program (despite being an honor roll student). I was just 19 years old, working part-time, and had no support system or friends. I went on to do great things as an RN, including working in the ED, ICUs, flight nursing, trauma unit, and now as an associate professor of nursing (with my PhD). Crazy. I'll have 40 years under my belt as an RN this summer. Hang in there.
I'm not in medical school, but I am finishing law school. It is so tough and competitive, but talking about struggles with my friends has made things easier. I have also tried to prioritize working out and moving throughout my entire schooling. It has helped my physical health, focus, mental health, and ability to sleep well. I think every student really should have some sort of activity plan
ER doc here; honestly i could not have created content for social media as it would have been distracting and consume study time to say the least. i give you people lots of credit for being able to fit it all in.
Appreciate that doc! For me, it gives me something non-medical to focus on which has been very refreshing. Definitely working to build boundaries so it doesn't get in the way of the main priority!
I just failed my ATI TEAS exam, and I had to retake anatomy and physiology. I have been trying super hard but due to my score, I'm dropping out of college. A lot of my nursing friends are on the "traditional" route of getting into nursing school after applying the 2 years after GE requirements, but this video made me feel a lot better. I know that I'm not alone, and that failing my TEAS exam is completely okay. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
I failed T3 and am CRing T4. Bro this video speaks to me. I wanna hit the ground running on the repeat and really make improvements. You’re right, the burnout is real and the life balance is so real. Thank you for this video and your genuine spirit.
My husband was in med school and then got selected to a CRNA program which was VERY competitive. So many people failed at the very end. The program was very cut throat. Hats off to people that go through all this. I would never attempt anything like that. Good luck to you.
Thank you for your transparency! Failed step2 CK a few months ago and have been down in the dumps about it😢 Trying to pick my life up and move forward!
Thank you for this video. I was in this exact position a few years ago and I’m a resident now. Good on you for sharing. The only other thing I’d add is that shit happens in life. Medical education tries to pretend that life stuff just doesn’t apply to real students/residents/doctors. But they do. Sometimes, you’re just genuinely exhausted or have a lot on your plate, and that could manifest as a failure in academics. Great video. Good luck.
Grateful to see more residents and attendings out there that understand this. I appreciate the kind words and am glad that you’ve made it to the next step! Best of luck on your journey 🤝🏼🤝🏼
“ there is more to life than your career “ exactly life is very short so you should def look at everything else bc you will certainly look up and you ll be older etc. so definitely step outside of the “goal” .
this is my first vidceo I've watched from you and i instantly subscribed after this video. I appreciate your transparency and love that you talked about your experience(s). I look forward to watching more of your content. This gave me a lot of insight as I am an aspiring Doctor in the future! Thank you Kenny!
I failed out of first year engineering (almost twice). I graduated high-school 2021 and was pretty much a straight A student. The diatance lectures combines with burnout made me skip the first exam and pretty much do nothing at all for half a year. I got back the next year and suffered a health scare that caused crippling anxiety and I only passed about half of my exams. Now im in second year regardless, have a few tests behind me but am almost caught up and am getting better grades again. My school system allows me do all tests as many times as I'd like and I've gotten a custom shedule. Now that ive gotten trough most of the rough spots, im starting to fall in love with maths and biology again (im in bioengineering) and thats been such a gift. Its making it tons easier and I'm actually having fun now.
Im currently almost at this point... I already have withdrew from medical school once, and once matriculated again, Im struggling.. Im trusting God. youre not alone..
I went through very similar at UPenn's med school, it's really tough, glad you're talking about it. Ultimately I dropped out and am pursuing a career in the millitary and IT, wish I had done this sooner instead of after completing nearly all my clerkships!
I'm 26 and I'm doing an expanded function dental Assistant program... it's very hard and I was so depressed and overwhelmed with how much homework there is... it got to the point where I wasn't eating on weekends.... I'm still here and I'm going to keep fighting, bur ineeded this video. I'm tired of these fitness influences, media influences or even school influences trying to set the standards for everyone... we are all different and our stories is what makes us beautiful. I appreciate your transparency and to go against to norm. Thank you Kenny
Thank you for having the courage to share this Kenny. A lot of men need to see this, not only those who are aspiring to be a doctor but guys who are pursuing other fields too. We need safe spaces as men to have conversations about failure and mental health.
I really appreciate the honesty and realness in this video. Never have I seen a video like this on RUclips and I have to say it made me change my perspective on my situation. I related heavily with the 1% fail and then 2 other courses I failed. I’m in a nursing program and it is hard. But it being hard doesn’t give me the excuse for my failure. This truly helped me and I really want to change/update my habits and study tactics. Thank you.
It felt very easy, almost like a cop-out, to blame my professors for not rounding me up or for not helping me out because of a single point. Deep down though, I knew it was my fault and I didn’t want to put myself in that situation again. I’m glad you were able to get something from my experience and I’m wishing you the best on your own journey! :)
Dropped my community college classes in 3 weeks because my health nosedived and I didn’t want to risk my transcripts. Now I’m in the deepest depression I’ve ever been in. Fuck.
Thank you for sharing. I graduated high school with an associates degree, but still ended up taking all 4 years to graduate college. I ended up taking gap years before medical school, started out younger than some of my cohort, and then ended up failing a year anyways. The idea of being ahead or behind is all an illusion- we’re all on different journeys. Focus on taking care of your physical and mental health first, then you’ll be able to start classes up and kill it :) I’m rooting for you, you’re going to grow from this 🤝🏼🤝🏼
i didn't go to medical school but went for occupational therapy and failed my first semester. i failed by 2 points :( i only failed one class so i was in academic probation, meaning i had to wait another year to retake the course--- which i passed! graduated on time after that. it's been 4 years since i failed and i am a certified/liscenced OT. watching your video made me remisnce the struggles and tuberlance i was going through when i failed. i agree that taking a step back is so important. i really had to think and reassessed what i can do better in school while also taking care of my mental health. wishing you the best on your medical school journey
Im not a med student, im just a normal dual majored undergrad. But i failed classes. And now im graduating late because of it. My gpa was good enough, I needed a reset, so I took of to South Korea for a semester. Only took 4 light classes. And its been the best few months of my life. It was what I needed. No job, alone away from home, I learned so much. That step back, the disconnect to re-center is CRUCIAL to any college student. We get so caught up in the rush of 'after you graduate', 'internship, job, club, side hustle,' that we lose ourselves. Im glad you are taking time to find yourself, because it is probably the best thing you'll do for yourself academically. I havent missed one assignment this semester. My lowest midterm grade was an 80%. Its like magic.
I'm not sure why this popped up on my feed, but I relate to it. I also failed a test by 2 points! I was upset but I realized that I was taking on too much with a fulltime job and doing medical school. I quit my job so that I could focus on my studies. I was delayed by one term. I was embarrassed at first, but I knew that I had made the right decision and focused on my goal. I graduated and I'm working but I later had another burnout. But I also learned that I have testing anxiety only until I was diagnosed with a professional. I'm a self-learner who loves to be hands-on when it comes to medicine. I created a great reputation at school to the point a lot of the faculty and staff would use me as an example when I saw patients. If you have a goal, still aim for it, sometimes the goal is delay but perseverance pays off. Since COVID-19, mental health has become more accessible to students. I am certain that most schools provide at least 10 free behavioral health sessions. If you are a current student, ask for help and use these sessions. I would have benefited if they had been available when I was in school.
This video is refreshing. Every medical school should play it at orientation. I applaud you for bringing this to everyone. I would feel more comfortable being treated by a physician that was not afraid to accept his mistake.
Thank you for making this video, I am a physical therapy student going through a really hard semester and feel at risk for failing a couple of classes. Many of the reasons I am not being successful are the same reasons you listed for yourself. It has given me a lot to reflect on and to actively work on in the present moment as there is still work I can do to make sure I pass.
Thank you so much for this video. I failed my first semester of PA school. My program was nice enough to allow me to decelerate so I am supposed to start back again in June 2024. I want to go back so badly and prove to them, my family, and especially myself that I could do it and deserve to be a PA. But because of my struggles, I don't even know. I was killing myself studying and no matter how hard I studied I could not pass anatomy to save my life and the whole semester knowing that I was drowning in Anatomy that affected some of my other classes. Knowing that I was trying my hardest and seeing a failing grade caused me to suffer so much mentally.
@Neyskii527 Thank you for the words of encouragement. I want to go back but I don’t know what strategies to do to make sure I am successful. Sure I know I am can pass the first semester again because I still have the notes, know what to study etc. But I am worried about the rest of PA school and I am afraid that the struggles will return along with the depression. If you do not mind what have you done since PA school?
@Neyskii527 I can not thank you enough for sharing your experience and what you have been doing since PA school. Before PA school I was a science teacher and could not wait to get out of the classroom. Now I am back in the classroom feeling like a complete failure. I have been considering an ABSN program since my PA school was in another city and I had no friends or family ( other than my cohort). It also sucks because my family is against me returning to PA school. One huge thing tho, is I need to work on my mental health. That was something I really struggled with a lot in PA school. Just like you at times I was so terrified of failing out that there were times I literally could not answer a question on a test when in reality I knew the material. And now being back home I have good days and bad days.
@neyskii527 I want to say I’ve read this conversation, and it truly makes me feel so much better that I’m not the only one who failed out of PA school. I was dismissed last year due to my grades and lack of support from faculties, and also the fact I was diagnosed with ADHD. Since then, I have also been working as an MA, gaining more patient care experience, and after doing a lot of reflection and even thinking about changing my career goals, my heart still goes to PA. Now, I’m receiving proper treatment therapy and holistically working on my overall self. I’m ready to apply to PA schools again next cycle with a stronger mindset. I’ve heard and watched successful videos about students failing out of school and regaining admission afterward. Of course, I always need a plan B; therefore, I plan to apply to direct entry NP programs for my master's. Good luck to you all :)
I flunked college twice. I tried it for a third time and now at 25, I'm a Chemical Engineer working at a great company. PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY! KEEP FAILING AND TRYING UNTIL YOU MAKE IT!
I failed my first year of nursing school by 0.5%. That was 43 years ago. I took a year off, started nursing again, and had a 39 year career. To this day, my self confidence can still be low. I loved being a registered nurse. I just wish my self confidence would be higher.
Great video. This also happened to me as well. Thankfully with perseverance and support from family and my medical school, I was able to complete my training. I currently work as a physician for Duke. By the grace of God I made it through. The journey was rough but I’m glad that I made it through. God bless.
Thank you for being vulnerable and transparent in your failure of medical school. I had a similar experience except I was in nursing school. I failed my first semester of nursing school. I had to retake it but I had to wait until the following year. Although it was a devastating experience, I deeply reflected on my studying habits and lack of exposure to not working in health care. During that gap year, I applied for various healthcare jobs and thankfully, I ended up being an MA in a derm clinic. I’ve gained useful clinical skills and knowledge that benefited me, and once I retook my first semester, I passed with a B. Now, I’m in the second semester and passing all of my exams! Everything does happen for a reason. If you want it badly, you’ll take the necessary steps and actions to reflect on what went wrong last time and change for the better. But also take the time to do self-care and reward yourself for the little successes on the way. 🫶🏼 Thank you for sharing your experience! I wish you luck on your medical school journey. 👍🏼☺️
Sometimes it's hard to keep that perspective while you're going through it, but setbacks can definitely be setting you up for growth and preparing you for future challenges. Congratulations on your success thus far (:
Kenny, really appreciate the raw honest self reflection in your failure. There’s no doubt that you will grow positively through this experience. I can fully relate to your experience and am now a fully qualified doctor. All the best!
Keeping your mental health healthy is one of the most important things in life. Burn out will hit you hard if you fail to recognize your limitations. You are a human being. Failure does not define who you are, as long as you are willing to try again. It’s okay to fail and it is okay to repeat. Good luck in your medical school.
Thanks so much for sharing. I think this will help a lot of people. I wish a video like this had been around when I took leave of my first year due to post partum depression. I was too ashamed to restart the year and ended up walking away from medicine. Now I get to wonder on a daily basis what my life as physician could have been. 😔
I hope that whatever journey you decided to take instead brings you fulfillment :) What if's can be haunting, but you did what you had to do to take care of yourself. Wishing you nothing but the best now 🫶🏻
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This video has been being picked up a lot more recently, which I appreciate a lot! But if that means more people are finding it because they're going through a similar situation- I hope you know that you'll get past these hurdles! It's easy to feel powerless in these situations, but they don't define who you are as a person. How you respond to these challenges does. Take the time you need to process the circumstance, give yourself some grace and some time off, and then work on the factors that you can control. The light at the end of the tunnel will mean that much more after going through this.
hey! i'm here because I'm on my last day writing my dissertation for my master's after having to take a leave of absence. I felt really disappointed, and ashamed, I'd never 'given up' on something academically, and I felt so ashamed. Here I am two years later, and I'm about to finish. I really really hope I pass. love x
Hey man, I also failed out of M1 in medical school during Covid (in 2020-21). It’s two years out and I’ve been teaching as a bridge job and am applying to law school to become a public defender. It feels like your life is over at the time, but it goes on.
You seem to have a great head on your shoulders and you will make it through this second time!
Thank you so much for this video! It's practical and reassuring. I'm going through something not exactly the same but I also took a leave of absence to really figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
It's hard to make such big decisions so early in life and be locked in. Wishing you the best in what you're going through!@@AlliK_Worldwide
There is a reason that this "toxic" culture is present and that is because people's lives depend on you being smart enough to save them. My experience and the experience of my colleagues is the current crop of doctors being pumped out in the US are sub par yes men who cannot think on their own.
I failed and repeated my first year of medical school. Now in my second year of Residency. Nobody cares that you failed, nobody even knows unless you tell them. Never cared about it during residency and forgot about it. You move on.
Love to hear it. Congratulations on making it through 🤝
no one asked you about it during interviews?
😊i didn’t know you could go back but you did keep going! It seems to me a lot of medical school is about fortitude! I work with a bunch of doctors and some of them make me wonder.
@@dian277if they do, they'd probably ask it as "what obstacle have you faced that you overcame" and that can be used
@@dian277 Some do, but it's not a bad thing, employers can see you put in the work and had the determination to succeed even after a set back.
It takes a special kind of person to share their failures with others in order to help them. The pressure to be perfect is so real in any career but it’s not reality. You will be a great doctor.
I appreciate the kind words a lot 🙇🏻♂️
I agree thank you I appreciate. I am in nursing professionally looking to go into a doctoral program and I just have so much disappointment and shame and anxiety looking back at some of the science classes i took as an undergrad and i could only smh.
I wouldn't call it "failures". Only people who are so inclined to be trapped in the Rat race see it as a let down. The restrictions in the medical field take lives every day, avoiding the opaque parental pressure and doing your own thing is essential. You only live once, persuading endlessly for a grade will kill you.
Most people are like this, what are you talking about? Lots of old people who feel they've failed at life like sharing their failure to young people to teach them to work harder and motivate them.
The most successful people in the world have failed more than they succeeded. Persistence is the key.
Hey Kenny, I repeated my 1st year of medschool as well. I ended up going through and am now in Residency. It was a ROUGH time. I failed towards the end of my 1st year so I wasn't allowed to do remediation test. We were only allowed 1 remediation test. Medschool takes SOOOO much from you. I am glad you are taking care of yourself now.
Congratulations on getting into residency! I appreciate the kind words and it gives me peace knowing others have experienced this as well. I’m glad you were able to move past it and I’m wishing you the best!
Any regrets on going through with medical school instead of choosing another career path?
Congratulations! It takes a special type of person to have that kind of determination. I know because I myself struggle with failure a lot and I'm not sure I would've been able to be that resilient. Proud of you, stranger!
@@ElDragowI’m not gonna I chose a new career path. I am now starting as a nurse in August and will make my was as an anesthesiologist.
I am a person that easily breaks when I fail. I found that it came from the high expectations put on me in my childhood. I never feel good enough so when failure strikes it hits me like a truck. I’m successful today, on paper, but it still doesn’t feel like enough. Definitely a work in progress still.
I appreciate you for sharing that part of your journey. It can be hard devoting so much time into something, yet trying to separate it from your self-worth. I’m wishing you nothing but the best :)
exactly like me lol nothing is good enough and it just makes me stressed
Same here.
It took me 10 yrs to finish medical school. I dropped out to study psychology and dropped in back, unmotivated back in med school till I reached final my year and fell in love with medicine. I’m still not very academic but I like being a doctor. I never regretted any of it. Keep going if you want to be a doctor.
You are awesome!!!!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, I’m glad that everything worked out for you!
@min_x27 i tried everything, learning with different people, I went to cafes so I didn’t get bored studying in one place, I watched videos on youtube for a fast recall. What helped the most was I had hyper marked my book and underlined important info, so I just read that in the end. Try to understand instead of cram when you learn the first time. Recall gets easier later.
The real question is how much in school loans you have 👀
@@467076 probably a million
l lost a year in Medschool and I had to repeat a year. My twin proceeded to the next class. As I write to you now,I am writing my final exams and I finish in the next 36 hours! I will be a full fledged Doctor this week and I must say I m glad I didn't give up. I failed in my 2nd year because I was still new to the rigours of Medschool. I must say these past 9 years(+covid year) has been a ride. I've been depressed, joyful, happy and sometimes wanted to give up but I am glad I held on.
This is for someone who is TIRED of Medschool,take a break and re-assess , remind yourself of the why and then RUN the race set before you by you.
It's worth it at the end!
Nice meeting the international community.
Love from Nigeria❤
I appreciate you for sharing your story- I’m glad to hear that you’ve overcame it and made it through! Best of luck on your next chapter, Doctor. 🤝🏼🤝🏼
How many hours did you study per day when you were successful? I’m just trying to gauge what I can before I go.
The medical systems burns us out and then turns around to place the sole blame on its students, residents etc to not burn out. Your honesty is so refreshing and I’m praying for you🫶🏿
I appreciate the kind words, wishing you the best :)
Failing by one point is brutal :(
I passed by a couple points on a couple blocks, and I know that there is no objective difference between you and I. Keep on my brother, thanks for this video. Grades are NOT a reflection of your future quality as a physician :)
I appreciate that! We’re both gonna make it 🤝🏼🤝🏼
I didn't fail medical school, but I was suspended when I was studying for my bachelor's degree. I took a year off, worked a part time job, worked on my mental health and physical health. That year i really figured out what I wanted to do and who I am as a person. I went back to college and got straight A's and graduated! Sometimes, you just need a break to gain perspective and that's ok.
Thanks for sharing :) I’m glad that it all worked out for you!
@@HaoTheHeck thank you! And hopefully you will find what makes you happy and content as well! Wishing you loads of luck in this journey!
What do you recommend as the first step to working on mental health?
@@day-viavia2033 I started out with walking/hiking while listening to music. it is good for physical and mental health. it really calmed me down when I experienced a lot of negative emotions at once.
I'm a psychiatrist. I've been out of training (residency and fellowship) for one year. I enjoyed this video, because I can totally relate to your struggles. Trust me, once you start making that attending salary, and you're living in that nice house, driving that nice car, taking your family on nice vacations, the hurdles you faced to get to that point will fade away in your mind. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. All of it is ABSOLUTELY worth it in the end.
Looking at psychiatry as my #1 and this was super refreshing to hear. Thanks for the inspiration Dr. KissMyBrownAss 🫡🫡🤝🏼
What about the debt. How does that work.
I matched psychiatry and did away w medicine as a career altogether. It was destroying my mental health after working as a tech/ER APCT for 10 years prior. I haven’t looked back. I spent 27 years in school, got 2 MS degrees and sacrificed my fertility. I’ve had 2 miscarriages and would not have been able to do IVF w the residency salary. My director and I cojld not come to a resolution to allow me the time off, and I had to leave. It was one or the other of my biggest dreams in life. But I don’t regret it. It’s been 3 years now. I have 1 good embryo finally. Am doing it alone at 37 w menopause expected at 38 bc of unexpected damage to my eggs during cancer treatment. They had promised (I was 29) that it would not harm them. I should’ve looked at more meta analyses. But $500k I’m debt from school, still searching for my life’s purpose, and trying to raise enough money to pay off my first round of egg retrieval ($21k) so I can do a second and hopefully transfer my miracle. Medicine cost me my entire life’s happiness. It is all I wanted for so long, but I ended up attempting sui*ide 4 times since the beginning of my last semester. My mom almost passed away. My dog did pass away. I didn’t initially match. And I had my first miscarriage at 34. I struggle every single day w what medical school has left me with. And I worked through 15 years of therapy already bc of an abusive alcoholic POS father. And now mandatory therapy for Ivf. I do still love psych, but med school robbed me of a life. At 24, I wanted to start trying for a baby. Everyone told me “You’re so young; you have 20 years left to have one!” “You’re going to be a doctor!” As if that’s all there is to life. “You don’t want/ need kids.” “Now isn’t the time.” “Focus on school.” I’ve never had a bugger regret then listening to these people. All I do want in life is my own little family w my 1 year old dog. He is all that has saved me after my last boy passed. My only dream was for him to see me graduate and he missed it by a month. I finished and graduated for my mom, whom I drove to my school and had handicapped seating for/ my only family member in attendance/ and worried about her the entire ceremony. She had to carry her defibrillator/pacemaker before she had one implanted. She had recently had a quadruple bypass. I still feel like I totally failed her. But I could not continue on that path just for everyone else. Nobody in my extended family talks to me anymore since I quit medicine. I got 118 likes (not saying “likes” are everything) on my med school graduation post, and 25ish on my pregnancy announcement at 12 weeks, which I would lose days later. Just goes to show you what makes other people happy. You have to follow your own heart, if I’ve learned anything in this life
Yes I gave up all the “nice” cars and “nice” vacations and “nice houses.” But it’s also nice to still be alive.
@@MPLetsTalkI’m $500k in. Actually about $600k now. How does that work? You pass it on to your kids bc nobody cares that you sacrificed your life for others. Patients and family alike treat you like sh*t. It’s a thankless job.
I'm a fresh graduate from a premed course and was actually planning to proceed to medicine. But for the past 3 months of rest and reflections I realized that I'm not actually doing it for myself but was pressured by my family and relatives. Breaking the news to my family about my plan to not proceed to medicine was pretty difficult for me, but I was really surprised how they support my decision saying that they really noticed my struggles during the past year. And now I am really glad that I'm proceeding to something that I have an interest with, realizing that there are more opportunities the world can offer.
That's a scary realization to come to and tell your family. I'm glad that you figured that out for yourself though! Whatever you decided to pursue instead, im wishing you the best 🤝
Im in a similar situation but I haven’t fully committed on changing careers. I dont know how i would build up the courage to tell my parents. I feel ashamed, and I feel like I would be letting them down if I dont get into the graduate program i have been pursuing for the past 2 years. I feel like a failure seeing my cousins getting into their programs and progressing in life. I honestly feel lost and stuck at the same time
I failed a class before. Granted it wasn't medical school or any graduate degree school, it was ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. that's when I contemplated my life choices. Orgchem through me for a loop! 😮
It's been 10ish years since then and that didn't affect me at all!,
I rather one fail 5x before becoming the beat doctor. We are human and we are learning, we can't pass everything all at once!
Keep up the good work 👏🏾 🎉
this is exactly what's happening with me omg i'm doing so well with my health and bio classes but organic chemistry is ruining my chances of pursuing medicine 😭 congrats on getting through it though !
Not gonna lie, organic chemistry for me was ROUGH. Havent used any of those concepts since haha. I appreciate the kind words!
I failed org chem 2 like 3 times haha… i kinda figured i needed a major change
@@ImWorkin oh no 😭 what did you end up doing?
Fantastic video, bro. I'm not pursuing medicine anymore. I switched paths, but I'm so proud of you for being transparent & vulnerable. I'm glad you took care of yourself by assuming that leave of absence. You're gonna be a dope doctor. Keep on keeping on.
I appreciate the love bro 🤝🏼🤝🏼 wishing you the best on your new journey
Thanks so much for talking about this Kenny . I’m a 2nd year medical student - I haven’t repeated anything but I constantly feel on the edge especially since I scraped my exam. Med school is such a big commitment- I’m really trying my best to push my way through it and be resilient but coming back I didn’t expect it to take from me the way it has. Thanks for being vulnerable- it has made me realise that others also find this difficult
Rooting for you all the way! Doing well in med school is hard. Doing mediocre in med school is hard. Med school’s just hard 😅 but we’re gonna get through it!
Omg this is so me,trying hard to pass this year, but im rlly too scared, plz tell us what happened then in ur second year, hope everything was okay :)
I graduated high school in 2020 during the pandemic, so I was really out of practice when I went to college. I went from having no classes during high school, to having 6 classes + 2 labs a day. I was a biology major with a focus in pre-med, because I really wanted to be a PA. Right from the get-go I was struggling. I didn't know how to properly study & I was really bad at setting boundaries, so I was also working like 50 hours a week at a fast food joint. I failed my college algebra class, but I retook it & passed so they wiped the F off of my transcripts (something they only do for freshmen). My sophomore year, I was really confident, but I had a bunch of hard classes like physics, chemistry, and trig, so after a few months of struggling, I made the decision to drop out. I literally didn't tell any of my friends. I remember studying for an exam one day and I knew I was going to fail, so I dropped out. The same day I dropped out, I applied to a local technical college for medical assisting, and I got in, and started the following week (didn't really give myself a break). It was the best decision I ever made. I graduated and passed my NHA medical assisting exam. A year and a half later (now), I've recently been accepted into nursing school, and I will start in April! I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and had I not dropped out of college, I'd probably not found something I'm passionate in :)
You’re going to be great :) thank you for sharing your story! It’s so important to see that not everyone will be on a perfectly “linear” or “traditional” path- and that’s more than fine. Your experience will only make you better and you’re gonna crush it :)
I failed my 3rd year of dental school due to my depression right after covid and had to repeat everything you said is so valid, especially not caring what anyone thinks and just focusing on yourself it actually ended up benefiting me because I got more exposure in clinic and I really took the time off to prepare myself to do well when i got back, ur right it can be a good experience if u make i just graduated this year too
Congrats on graduating! Definitely agree, with these tough situations perspective is everything. Wouldn't change anything about my experience thus far
I failed my 3rd yr dental school also due to insomnia, depression and I lost my grandpa. It was tough and dark.. no one gets how hard that period of my life. The people and friends I met at that time helped me to move on with my life.
Dental school is tough and dental residency is even crazier, but I'm happy you guys have the right attitude for what's ahead. Work hard but please live life too. 😊
Don't sweat it. My buddy got his medical license, practiced for couple years and fell out of love being a doctor. He's now running a small family business. Find your own happiness in life, don't let other dictate what is happiness.
what a coincidence I got this recommeded after I also failed my first year of medicine school. Thank you for this video 🤟
Respect for talking about your failures! Not a lot of people have the humility to do so✊🏻
Appreciate the kind words 🤝🏼🤝🏼
@@HaoTheHeck as someone who is trying to finish up my fifth year in electrical engineering and who failed multiple classes, switched universities, I know the feeling all too well.
Medical school workload is very BRUTAL!!!
Kenny you have really done every medical student a favor by creating this video!! At my school, failure is almost a taboo topic, and it feels so awkward to talk about. I wish more people could share insightful thoughts like these-it’s so important, and potentially even lifesaving, to be reminded that school isn’t everything. Thank you so much for your vulnerability!
There is no shame. 35 years ago, I failed physiology by 0.4 points. During residency, no one asked me why.
What did I learn from my experience?
I learned to be more compassionate.
You are more than your school performance.
I needed to hear this. I'm in grad school and I started to feel stupid, but it's not really because of that. It's only me adjusting to the new demands of working, studying and making a home at same time.
Grad school has a way of making capable people feel stupid, you got this! 😊
@@HaoTheHeck Thanks, Kenny! Excited to see how the next chapter will unfold for you. :)
Very much needed video in the premed/medical school space! As your fellow classmate and friend who has gone through the same experience of repeating our first year of medical school together, it's been quite a roller coaster of emotions; and coming to terms with myself was only the tip of the iceberg. Not gonna lie, I was definitely very depressed and unmotivated initially at this time of last year (crazy how time has flown by). I felt that I had not only let myself down, but I had let the very people who have been supporting me all this time (whether that was family/friends/teachers/professors/mentors) down as well. But, what I've come to learn and realize is that my life was definitely far from "over". The people that truly cared about you stuck around. The shame and guilt of being afraid/embarrassed of not even telling my closest friends was difficult to overcome, let alone the biggest hurdle was that phone call that I had made to my parents back home in CA, in which I literally broke down crying over Facetime, thinking how I was such a "failure". While I have kept my status as a repeat student somewhat "confidential" especially at the beginning of the year, I've come to realize that people genuinely could care less about my status LOL, but actually, would in turn, ask me for advice/help because I've been through it already. To that point, it is easier said than done to admit something so personal like this (and such a costly failure too lol): To all the viewers who are reading this, just know that: "You are not alone!". Whether you are pursuing medical school, or quite frankly, any big goals in life, turning failures into opportunities of growth and self-reflection is really what's key to success. I'm not gonna even sugar coat the still LONG journey ahead of me as I finish up my repeat year, but it's inspiring to have friends/classmates like you to keep pushing forward and work towards that "light at the end of the tunnel" together! :)
**P.S: also feel like this topic could be a whole podcast episode haha where we could share our own experiences and actually having the deep conversations that no one on the internet is talking about
What happens if you fail out of medical school? What happens to the school loans and debt?
Truee my sister failed A levels and she repeated 2 years, now she’s in med school and she’s got a distinction in 1st year, I agree with your point that turning failures into opportunities of growth is the key to success truly
A lot of medical students need to hear this. It’s okay to have set backs, we end up learning from them. Seeing my friends choosing to overwork themselves for school by neglecting their mental health has been the worst thing. One friend had seizures as a complication to one of the manifestations of depression and the other had to be monitored so he doesn’t take his life. Medical school is a lot of work, it can be fun but it can also be traumatic when your not prioritising your well-being.
To all the students, med school or not, stay safe❤️
Let’s discuss how awful medical education is in the U.S. It seems like the majority of the professors suck at most schools and you’re basically teaching yourself with outside resources. I graduated in 2022. It can be extremely frustrating and disheartening. Nevertheless keep pushing forward.
when i was going to a university, my first year half of my college algebra class failed, and the professor blamed it on us :/ but every time we went to his office after hours to ask for help, he would tell us he can't help because it's something we should already know.
Felt that!!! School should be a place to learn not listen to professors hours on end talking about stuff they’ve practiced for years and then expect us to do well on the exams. Like half of the professors in college that ive had understand what they teach but they cant teach.
Some of the best medical education in the world?? I’m intrigued so many people agree with you.
@@areeeka8916this is external locus of control
We have some of the best education material wise and most knowledgeable people but the annoying part is that most people with the most education and knowledge and degrees and all that rarely know how to teach. And if they do their classes are all taken lol
My good friend failed her step 2 exam twice. She is now 15 years into her successful career as an Obgyn and known for her heart and empathy and quality of care. I remember those dark years for her, but she came out of it battered but stronger and is now thriving.
Incredible reflections Kenny. I’m always proud of you for sharing your story and insight with everyone. When you’re near the top of the educational hierarchy as with grad school, failures become that much more magnified. I’m grateful that you were able to handle it with as much grace and maturity as anyone could possibly do and for laying out a rare blueprint for many that may be going through what you experienced.
Current 1st year med student here- yeah med school takes it OUT of you, man! It's so hard to have the level of discipline to push to keep studying after finishing exams or a course. I don't think I have ever studied this hard consistently in my life, even for the mcat lmao. People always say the hardest part about medical school is getting in, and if you are reading this and one of those people, it's a LIE! Med school is a constant GRIND
The “hardest part is getting in” attitude gave me an absolutely rude awakening 😂 medical school is tough, but we find a way to keep going and trudging along. You got this future doc!
I'm so grateful you made this video and that the algorithm blessed me with it! As someone who just finished a repeat year at Med School, this is something I really wish someone had made before I restarted. I definitely agree with what you're saying and just wanna echo the importance of being kind to yourself and accepting your new reality. Med school can be a really toxic environment, so it's so important to guard your peace and be kind to yourself even if you don't always meet the expectations you set for yourself initially. Only God can judge and the people who care about you will accept whatever your best is, so don't worry too much about disappointing others or their expectations. It's a blessing to be alive and in a safe environment each day, so do your best and the rest will come! Also, remember you got in to Med School because YOU ARE good enough and YOU ARE capable of succeeding. Best of luck to anyone that is resitting, about to resit or just trying to figure out their next steps after a failure, I'm rooting for you!
I just want to say that I am really proud of you. It is d@mn hard to swallow back that ‘failure’ feeling and go back and repeat. I know it is depressing to see the classmates you started med school with move on ahead of you. But you decided what was important to you, and you put your head down and went after it. This will make you a better human and a better doctor. No one can be functioning at 100 percent all the time and we will all fail at something. Being humble, keeping your focus, and knowing you are in the right place at the right time is what will get you through. I am a veterinarian and I know exactly what you went through. I hope other students that have been in a similar situation see your video and really listen to it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you are and are not capable of. Never let anyone talk you out of your dream. Make sure you are being honest with your itself though, because if whatever you failed at isn’t what you really want to do then that might have had something to do with your failure. Be honest with yourself and then when you decide what are going after- do whatever it takes to get there. Wishing you all the best in your future. Always remember to ask for help when you need it. I would be proud to call you a colleague (if you went to vet school,of course) and your repeating a year of med school would not change that one bit. Ever. Cheers.
I appreciate the kind and insightful words. It's definitely a difficult journey but ill keep working hard 🙏🏼
@@HaoTheHeck You will be fine. And you will succeed. I don’t even know you and I have faith in you. So have faith in yourself. Hugs!
As a medical student, I felt every part of this video. I don’t have consistent habit to study everyday and it’s even harder during exam days with ENDLESS EXAMS
It’s a hard path, but you’re going to be great :)
Medical school is a tough journey. It is hard to survive on your own, it is very important to join a group that will lift each other up. You have to have a clear vision and hunger for what you want, otherwise it is pretty hard to deal with the grind to make it through. It never really ends until you become an attending, which for me took about 9 years. You have to really know what you want.
Thank you so much for talking about this. I am currently in my final semester of didactic year of PA school. I am feeling so burnt out and emotionally drained. It was refreshing to hear about your personal journey and just coming to the realization that burnout happens. It's okay and our grades don't define the compassionate providers we will be. I am rooting for your success :)
Wow this is a big courage for talking about failure as a Asian . It can be very difficult when you family and your community have so much expectation for you.
It’s hard to tell your parents about academic shortcomings when many immigrant families raised you with the mindset of “just worry about school and we’ll try our best to handle everything else”. I’m lucky to have supportive parents but it was a hard conversation
I understand that you've made the difficult decision to endure continuous setbacks in medical school, and I want to express my sympathy for the emotions you may be experiencing. It takes a lot of courage to make a big decision like this, and I want to acknowledge your strength and resilience.
I appreciate the kind words brother, we’re moving past it and leveling up because of it 🙏🏼
i’m not a med student, im a nursing student (aspiring anesthesiologist) graduating in two months. but i will say, i love this video. and i think this applies across the board, whether you’re a med student or in healthcare in general. thank you for the awareness and courage to speak your truth. too many people like to paint things as picture perfect, but it’s not.
The same thing happened to me in my first year. I then picked myself up and actually have been getting amazing grades since then. But eventually i decided to stop with medical school because i realized that being a doctor for the rest of my life wasn't the most appealing to me. So i deicded to suit which was the hardest decision i've ever made since i've come so far and pushed through hardship. But i had to listen to myself and really realize what i wated from life.
That must have been a hard decision to make, but i'm wishing you the best on your new journey!
what are you doing now?
Hi, I'm also someone who is rethinking medschool and any related healthcare career... where did you go from there?
i have a friend who failed out of medical school. He then went back to law school and graduated. after 25 years he went back to medical school and graduated. He is now the oldest resident at his hospital. He is happy as medicine was what he really wanted to do.
An amazing story and journey
Medical school is a different level of difficulty for everyone. Depends on what your focus is at the time of life you’re in.
🎯🎯🎯
I love how genuine he is about accepting his failures and turning them into comebacks. I’ve been stuck in this situation but realized what I did wrong, which helped drastically improve my scores the next time around. Thank you for sharing your story Kenneth.
I’m not in medical school nor will I ever be (I currently have a BA in English and an MA in Higher Education) but I found this video to be helpful even for me. I’m currently living in my hometown again after 2 years of graduate school and teaching abroad and all the people in my masters class have seemingly found really good jobs at universities already. Some people had jobs lined up even before graduation. I haven’t been so lucky. I’ve applied to some jobs at universities in my state and I’ve been rejected for everything. So I decided to get my substitute teaching permit to become a substitute teacher in the meantime just so I don’t stay unemployed and leave a gap in my resume. Now I’m currently dealing with my shame and depression of not being as successful already as my peers from graduate school, but this video made me feel like everything is going to be ok. It reminded me that everything happens at its own pace, and if I don’t have my dream job yet at almost 24 years old, then it’s ok. It’s just going to take longer for me compared to others. In the meantime I’ll try to be more positive. Thank you Kenny!!
You’re going to be great, best of luck :)
Keep going young man, I have personally known 3 young people who have had to repeat either first year or second year, they truly did suffer having to repeat however they eventually put their experience of failure behind them and now they are highly respected qualified Doctors. Also remember you have been afforded a great privilege to study and gain knowledge, something many people in this world will never experience.
I had to redo my second year of medical school. The administration was not very helpful and students were judgmental but I am now 7 years into and thriving in private practice and proving them all wrong.
Medical school to me was just a whole set of hurdles designed to test your test taking skills and do not really predict how well you will perform as a real life physician.
Thank you so much for this! I recently went through a very similar experience (failure and burnout in med school) and am on my leave of absence. Grappling with feelings of embarrassment and shame about it and your video made me feel so much more seen. Your vulnerability says a lot about you, you're gonna be a great doctor!
"It may not be the ideal experience, but its your experience, and you have to own that." That hit hard af man. Currently studying for the MCAT after having to take a few year hiatus to afford to reattend classes. I question all the time whether im too old and im not even in my later 20s yet.
There are plenty of medical students who matriculate in their 30’s and 40’s. You got this ☝🏼
Nah that failures don’t define you section is what I needed to hear, thank you 🙏🏻
You got this! 🤝
I like this video. I’m not a medical student, I study math and the competitive nature is just as evident as it is in the medical field. I recently have been feeling very self conscious of my math skills and just watching this video helped shifted my mindset on what it means to fail. It reminded me that failing and asking for help will only ever give more knowledge than always simply passing. Thank you, Kenny 😊
Thanks so much for posting this. I failed the first neuro exam in PT school, which put me in a failing grade for anatomy that semester. Additionally I was struggling with my mental and physical health. PT school has a similar perfectionist culture and I felt so embarrassed to tell my new cohort that I’d be graduating a year later with them. You ask important questions in this video and I think it’s so true that prioritizing your health and maintaining an internal locus of control should come first.
Hope you were able to turn it around, wishing you the best on your journey (:
This video couldn't have came in a better timing. I was in a bad head space the past month due to not passing two cardiology exams. I'm working hard to improve for the new unit and hope that two failed exams by 1% mark doesn't define my success. This video was beautiful and it had me tearing for a little because it brought out so many emotions I've been thinking and hearing it verbalized by you made it real. Wishing you well and best of luck in your school years and beyond!
Love this! Non traditional premed here and the tug of school with the rest of life is a real issue that’s been grinding me down this whole journey. Like you, I’ve chosen to get my own life in order and create better habits and coping mechanisms.. My studying has improved tremendously for it but it’s definitely going to be a lifelong struggle for me.
Thanks again for this. It’s a message that’s keeping me grounded ❤
Rooting for you, you got it 🤝🏼
This came up in my recommended but everything you said is very true - I'm a law student, to become qualified I did the legal practice course which was supposed to last one year, but because I failed quite a few exams it lasted two years (my friends had already passed at this point). I was full of anxiety because we get 3 chances to pass each exam otherwise we have to resit the entire year, which consists of about 15 exams in total. I had 2 exams I had to re do and managed to pass them both on my final chance but it came at a cost of my mental and physical health (I was not in a good headspace for the months leading up to the exams). I will graduate in July, but I wish that this video was out whilst I was doing those exams because I think it would have helped. I'm sure you would definitely be helping students who are in the same boat no matter what their degree is
I hope you're doing okay~
Congratulations on getting through that experience and for making it to graduation! The tough road it took to get there isn’t always the most glamorous, but I’m sure you’re better for it. I appreciate you sharing your story and I’m wishing you the best!
@@HaoTheHeck wishing you the best too! You got this!
I resonate with this video so much. I have always been (and still am) a perfectionist, especially when it comes to academics. I've always strived to be the best or at least part of those at the top. Therefore, whenever I fail, it hots me like a stab in the chest because it feels like part of my self-worth is being targeted since I've defined myself around my academics forever.
I'm currently in my first semester of nursing school and although it isn't as strenuous as med school, I definitely am feeling like I'm slowly cracking under pressure with all the fast paced learning we're doing. But I'm trying to stick through it and keep my eye on the goal. I thank you for this video and keeping it real, you are amazing and strong and deserve all success!❤
Thanks so much for this transparency. It takes guts to reveal it and it also takes grit to keep going.
I was never in your shoes, but boy, what I gave up to meet those standards... I have a lot to learn from your reflections and your take off.
Keep sharing and thank you for your videos!
Thanks for sharing. Med school just wasn't for me - I struggled and ended up withdrawing. It was incredibly hard because of how much work I put into getting into med school and doing absolutely everything I could. I had mental health issues that were not taken care of and it just got worse - the support staff couldn't figure out what was "wrong" with me & mandated that I get psychiatric treatment. I was put on several meds that actually made my issue worse. I was correctly diagnosed but it was during the week I decided to withdraw. I applied to pharm school the next year, sat for the PCAT and had no issues because I was getting the correct treatment. It made such a huge difference in my life....the years of struggling and thinking I was "dumb." I got into some top pharm schools but decided it would be too similar to med school and that's not how my brain worked. I finished a PhD and it was so much more enjoyable.
I’m glad you eventually found the path for you :) wishing you the best
Thank you for making this video. I’m not a med student, just an undergrad in computer science. I really struggled in my courses due to having no motivation, a poor math background, and new health issues. I had to go part-time and drop my cs classes while everyone I knew kept going. I was so angry with myself for failing to fight through my problems. Your advice is applicable to more than just med school. I’m taking this semester to find doctors and set up a schedule for myself.
Man oh man I get you this semester has really hit me hard, I seem to start off strong in the semester then I slowly wither away as it feels like it becomes to much, I've never felt like talking to a therapist or counselor but I feel like I might have to
Hi Kenny! Your video was recommended to me - thank you so much for sharing your story! I also repeated my first year of med school after some very narrow failures and while it was devastating at first, it ultimately saved me and my career. Not only am I doing well in all my classes now as a second-year med student, but I'm also more confident, motivated, and happier than I ever could've imagined. Based on the insights you gave in your video, I have no doubt that you'll get through this too. Best of luck with everything! :)
This is beautiful. Kevin Jubbal from med school insiders could never
people glamorize their success in the healthcare field so much that it becomes almost shameful when you produce opposite results. it’s just as you said, the culture is toxic. watching your video was realistic, relatable, and refreshing. in the past year i failed to be on par with my peers. ive failed my certification exam for dhyg twice while all my friends are working. i tried so hard to “be on their level” but overtime its just an experience to embrace & i am learning not to let it define me. im taking my last retake soon, and if i don’t pass i’ve learned to just accept the future that’s meant for me. i dont want to “wait around” for “good” results anymore. i dont want that to stop me from enjoying life. thank you for this video, it was very comforting and reassuring to know that im not alone.
Though it's true that training and education is temporary, I think people discount that it's still 4 years of your life. Life starts now, not when you're done with 24th grade! Wishing you the best in your situation, we'll be the change we want to see 🫡
Wow you basically just translated/said everything I learned this year. It was such a road. Definitely through failing we can Learn a LOT.
Thank you so much for this video cause sometimes social media, RUclips etc can be very toxic by only portraying the perfect, the unflawed, the unobtainable. Especially when it comes to study, productivity, careers.
So I think you vídeo at least for me is a breath of fresh air
I appreciate the kind words and feedback :)
I appreciate your honesty. In nursing school, I failed two rotations and almost failed out of the program (despite being an honor roll student). I was just 19 years old, working part-time, and had no support system or friends. I went on to do great things as an RN, including working in the ED, ICUs, flight nursing, trauma unit, and now as an associate professor of nursing (with my PhD). Crazy. I'll have 40 years under my belt as an RN this summer. Hang in there.
I'm not in medical school, but I am finishing law school. It is so tough and competitive, but talking about struggles with my friends has made things easier. I have also tried to prioritize working out and moving throughout my entire schooling. It has helped my physical health, focus, mental health, and ability to sleep well. I think every student really should have some sort of activity plan
ER doc here; honestly i could not have created content for social media as it would have been distracting and consume study time to say the least. i give you people lots of credit for being able to fit it all in.
Appreciate that doc! For me, it gives me something non-medical to focus on which has been very refreshing. Definitely working to build boundaries so it doesn't get in the way of the main priority!
I just failed my ATI TEAS exam, and I had to retake anatomy and physiology. I have been trying super hard but due to my score, I'm dropping out of college. A lot of my nursing friends are on the "traditional" route of getting into nursing school after applying the 2 years after GE requirements, but this video made me feel a lot better. I know that I'm not alone, and that failing my TEAS exam is completely okay. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Thanks for the honesty! I'm not a med student but a grad student and your advice is so important!
I failed T3 and am CRing T4. Bro this video speaks to me. I wanna hit the ground running on the repeat and really make improvements. You’re right, the burnout is real and the life balance is so real. Thank you for this video and your genuine spirit.
Update: passed T3 20 pts better 🙂 onto T4 round 2
Thank you for reminding us medical students to act on our failures and for giving us hope.
Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it :)
My husband was in med school and then got selected to a CRNA program which was VERY competitive. So many people failed at the very end. The program was very cut throat. Hats off to people that go through all this. I would never attempt anything like that. Good luck to you.
Thank you for your transparency! Failed step2 CK a few months ago and have been down in the dumps about it😢 Trying to pick my life up and move forward!
I’m sorry you’re going through that. It’s one more hoop to go through, but you’re gonna bounce back and kill it!
A very thoughtful and insightful video, Kenny. Thanks being so vulnerable and talking about a topic that very much needs to be addressed.
Thanks for the kind words🙇🏻♂️🙇🏻♂️
Thank you for sharing your story! You have no idea how much it means to me, especially today - rough test at school
Rooting for you! :)
Thank you for this video. I was in this exact position a few years ago and I’m a resident now. Good on you for sharing. The only other thing I’d add is that shit happens in life. Medical education tries to pretend that life stuff just doesn’t apply to real students/residents/doctors. But they do. Sometimes, you’re just genuinely exhausted or have a lot on your plate, and that could manifest as a failure in academics. Great video. Good luck.
Grateful to see more residents and attendings out there that understand this. I appreciate the kind words and am glad that you’ve made it to the next step! Best of luck on your journey 🤝🏼🤝🏼
“ there is more to life than your career “ exactly life is very short so you should def look at everything else bc you will certainly look up and you ll be older etc. so definitely step outside of the “goal” .
Be well rounded and live a fulfilled life! :)
this is my first vidceo I've watched from you and i instantly subscribed after this video. I appreciate your transparency and love that you talked about your experience(s). I look forward to watching more of your content. This gave me a lot of insight as I am an aspiring Doctor in the future! Thank you Kenny!
You're gonna be great :) I appreciate the kind words and support!
I failed out of first year engineering (almost twice). I graduated high-school 2021 and was pretty much a straight A student. The diatance lectures combines with burnout made me skip the first exam and pretty much do nothing at all for half a year. I got back the next year and suffered a health scare that caused crippling anxiety and I only passed about half of my exams. Now im in second year regardless, have a few tests behind me but am almost caught up and am getting better grades again. My school system allows me do all tests as many times as I'd like and I've gotten a custom shedule. Now that ive gotten trough most of the rough spots, im starting to fall in love with maths and biology again (im in bioengineering) and thats been such a gift. Its making it tons easier and I'm actually having fun now.
I’m not in medical school or the medical field. But a lot of industries can relate to this. So much value in this video!
I appreciate the kind words and feedback :)
Im currently almost at this point... I already have withdrew from medical school once, and once matriculated again, Im struggling.. Im trusting God. youre not alone..
Being this transparent is very courageous and this video will be extremely valuable for future medical students for years to come🙏🏽
I appreciate your support, this is a video I wish I could’ve heard a year ago!
I went through very similar at UPenn's med school, it's really tough, glad you're talking about it. Ultimately I dropped out and am pursuing a career in the millitary and IT, wish I had done this sooner instead of after completing nearly all my clerkships!
You're pursuing a noble path still and i'm glad you made that decision for yourself! Wishing you the best 🙇🏻♂️
I'm 26 and I'm doing an expanded function dental Assistant program... it's very hard and I was so depressed and overwhelmed with how much homework there is... it got to the point where I wasn't eating on weekends.... I'm still here and I'm going to keep fighting, bur ineeded this video. I'm tired of these fitness influences, media influences or even school influences trying to set the standards for everyone... we are all different and our stories is what makes us beautiful. I appreciate your transparency and to go against to norm. Thank you Kenny
Social media is just a small glimpse that someone decides to show, nothing more or less! Rooting for you, you got this :)
Thank you for having the courage to share this Kenny. A lot of men need to see this, not only those who are aspiring to be a doctor but guys who are pursuing other fields too.
We need safe spaces as men to have conversations about failure and mental health.
100% agree. I appreciate the kind words 🤝
I really appreciate the honesty and realness in this video. Never have I seen a video like this on RUclips and I have to say it made me change my perspective on my situation. I related heavily with the 1% fail and then 2 other courses I failed. I’m in a nursing program and it is hard. But it being hard doesn’t give me the excuse for my failure. This truly helped me and I really want to change/update my habits and study tactics. Thank you.
It felt very easy, almost like a cop-out, to blame my professors for not rounding me up or for not helping me out because of a single point. Deep down though, I knew it was my fault and I didn’t want to put myself in that situation again. I’m glad you were able to get something from my experience and I’m wishing you the best on your own journey! :)
Dropped my community college classes in 3 weeks because my health nosedived and I didn’t want to risk my transcripts. Now I’m in the deepest depression I’ve ever been in. Fuck.
It will get better homie. Best of luck!
Thank you for sharing. I graduated high school with an associates degree, but still ended up taking all 4 years to graduate college. I ended up taking gap years before medical school, started out younger than some of my cohort, and then ended up failing a year anyways.
The idea of being ahead or behind is all an illusion- we’re all on different journeys. Focus on taking care of your physical and mental health first, then you’ll be able to start classes up and kill it :) I’m rooting for you, you’re going to grow from this 🤝🏼🤝🏼
I have my neuro exam tomorrow and God I feel so madly burnt out but this just motivated me to not give up, thank you.
i didn't go to medical school but went for occupational therapy and failed my first semester. i failed by 2 points :( i only failed one class so i was in academic probation, meaning i had to wait another year to retake the course--- which i passed! graduated on time after that. it's been 4 years since i failed and i am a certified/liscenced OT. watching your video made me remisnce the struggles and tuberlance i was going through when i failed. i agree that taking a step back is so important. i really had to think and reassessed what i can do better in school while also taking care of my mental health. wishing you the best on your medical school journey
Im not a med student, im just a normal dual majored undergrad. But i failed classes. And now im graduating late because of it. My gpa was good enough, I needed a reset, so I took of to South Korea for a semester. Only took 4 light classes. And its been the best few months of my life. It was what I needed. No job, alone away from home, I learned so much.
That step back, the disconnect to re-center is CRUCIAL to any college student. We get so caught up in the rush of 'after you graduate', 'internship, job, club, side hustle,' that we lose ourselves. Im glad you are taking time to find yourself, because it is probably the best thing you'll do for yourself academically.
I havent missed one assignment this semester. My lowest midterm grade was an 80%. Its like magic.
Good on you for turning it around! You got this 🤝🏼
I'm not sure why this popped up on my feed, but I relate to it.
I also failed a test by 2 points! I was upset but I realized that I was taking on too much with a fulltime job and doing medical school. I quit my job so that I could focus on my studies. I was delayed by one term. I was embarrassed at first, but I knew that I had made the right decision and focused on my goal. I graduated and I'm working but I later had another burnout. But I also learned that I have testing anxiety only until I was diagnosed with a professional. I'm a self-learner who loves to be hands-on when it comes to medicine. I created a great reputation at school to the point a lot of the faculty and staff would use me as an example when I saw patients. If you have a goal, still aim for it, sometimes the goal is delay but perseverance pays off.
Since COVID-19, mental health has become more accessible to students. I am certain that most schools provide at least 10 free behavioral health sessions. If you are a current student, ask for help and use these sessions. I would have benefited if they had been available when I was in school.
Thank you for sharing your story! I’m glad you were able to turn it around and become an example for your peers :)
This video is refreshing. Every medical school should play it at orientation. I applaud you for bringing this to everyone. I would feel more comfortable being treated by a physician that was not afraid to accept his mistake.
Thank you for making this video, I am a physical therapy student going through a really hard semester and feel at risk for failing a couple of classes. Many of the reasons I am not being successful are the same reasons you listed for yourself. It has given me a lot to reflect on and to actively work on in the present moment as there is still work I can do to make sure I pass.
Thank you so much for this video. I failed my first semester of PA school. My program was nice enough to allow me to decelerate so I am supposed to start back again in June 2024. I want to go back so badly and prove to them, my family, and especially myself that I could do it and deserve to be a PA. But because of my struggles, I don't even know. I was killing myself studying and no matter how hard I studied I could not pass anatomy to save my life and the whole semester knowing that I was drowning in Anatomy that affected some of my other classes. Knowing that I was trying my hardest and seeing a failing grade caused me to suffer so much mentally.
@Neyskii527 Thank you for the words of encouragement. I want to go back but I don’t know what strategies to do to make sure I am successful. Sure I know I am can pass the first semester again because I still have the notes, know what to study etc. But I am worried about the rest of PA school and I am afraid that the struggles will return along with the depression.
If you do not mind what have you done since PA school?
@Neyskii527 I can not thank you enough for sharing your experience and what you have been doing since PA school. Before PA school I was a science teacher and could not wait to get out of the classroom. Now I am back in the classroom feeling like a complete failure. I have been considering an ABSN program since my PA school was in another city and I had no friends or family ( other than my cohort). It also sucks because my family is against me returning to PA school.
One huge thing tho, is I need to work on my mental health. That was something I really struggled with a lot in PA school. Just like you at times I was so terrified of failing out that there were times I literally could not answer a question on a test when in reality I knew the material. And now being back home I have good days and bad days.
@neyskii527
I want to say I’ve read this conversation, and it truly makes me feel so much better that I’m not the only one who failed out of PA school. I was dismissed last year due to my grades and lack of support from faculties, and also the fact I was diagnosed with ADHD. Since then, I have also been working as an MA, gaining more patient care experience, and after doing a lot of reflection and even thinking about changing my career goals, my heart still goes to PA. Now, I’m receiving proper treatment therapy and holistically working on my overall self. I’m ready to apply to PA schools again next cycle with a stronger mindset. I’ve heard and watched successful videos about students failing out of school and regaining admission afterward. Of course, I always need a plan B; therefore, I plan to apply to direct entry NP programs for my master's. Good luck to you all :)
I flunked college twice. I tried it for a third time and now at 25, I'm a Chemical Engineer working at a great company. PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY! KEEP FAILING AND TRYING UNTIL YOU MAKE IT!
We love a success story 🤝 Congratulations on getting through the adversity, i'm sure you're better for it
I failed my first year of nursing school by 0.5%. That was 43 years ago. I took a year off, started nursing again, and had a 39 year career. To this day, my self confidence can still be low. I loved being a registered nurse. I just wish my self confidence would be higher.
You’ve had an amazing career and overcame adversity. No one can ever take that away from you :)
Thank you for talking about this openly.
Great video. This also happened to me as well. Thankfully with perseverance and support from family and my medical school, I was able to complete my training. I currently work as a physician for Duke. By the grace of God I made it through. The journey was rough but I’m glad that I made it through. God bless.
Love seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! I’m glad everything worked out for you and you were able to overcome those obstacles
Thank you for being vulnerable and transparent in your failure of medical school. I had a similar experience except I was in nursing school. I failed my first semester of nursing school. I had to retake it but I had to wait until the following year. Although it was a devastating experience, I deeply reflected on my studying habits and lack of exposure to not working in health care.
During that gap year, I applied for various healthcare jobs and thankfully, I ended up being an MA in a derm clinic. I’ve gained useful clinical skills and knowledge that benefited me, and once I retook my first semester, I passed with a B. Now, I’m in the second semester and passing all of my exams!
Everything does happen for a reason. If you want it badly, you’ll take the necessary steps and actions to reflect on what went wrong last time and change for the better. But also take the time to do self-care and reward yourself for the little successes on the way. 🫶🏼
Thank you for sharing your experience! I wish you luck on your medical school journey. 👍🏼☺️
Sometimes it's hard to keep that perspective while you're going through it, but setbacks can definitely be setting you up for growth and preparing you for future challenges. Congratulations on your success thus far (:
Kenny, really appreciate the raw honest self reflection in your failure. There’s no doubt that you will grow positively through this experience. I can fully relate to your experience and am now a fully qualified doctor. All the best!
Glad it worked out for you :) thank you for the kind words!
Keeping your mental health healthy is one of the most important things in life. Burn out will hit you hard if you fail to recognize your limitations. You are a human being. Failure does not define who you are, as long as you are willing to try again. It’s okay to fail and it is okay to repeat. Good luck in your medical school.
Appreciate the kind words, best of luck to you as well 🤝🏼
Thanks so much for sharing. I think this will help a lot of people. I wish a video like this had been around when I took leave of my first year due to post partum depression. I was too ashamed to restart the year and ended up walking away from medicine. Now I get to wonder on a daily basis what my life as physician could have been. 😔
I hope that whatever journey you decided to take instead brings you fulfillment :) What if's can be haunting, but you did what you had to do to take care of yourself. Wishing you nothing but the best now 🫶🏻