"I'm failing medical school but pretending I'm not." (Dealing with imposter syndrome) 

Thank you for saying the right thing at the right time ."There are only two kinds of people, your friends and people who just do not care."

I think every student who is capable experiences an academic flop era at some point in their academic journey and it is hard to embrace failure when you are so used to success. What matters is not giving up on yourself.

I am currently doing my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering in Germany, and I find myself in this kind of situation, so I figure I should put in my 2 cents. (And use this comment as therapy I guess) [Too long, wont read: You will have to go through the shame of "looking dumb" at some point, so why not do it in the beginning when you look the least dumb possible?] I arrived to Germany from Mexico in the middle of the pandemic, so a lot of classes where still online. I did not really know how to sign up to classes, how to find where they were held, nor how to work with the basic university online platform, so I just kind of avoided doing it. I could have for sure asked for help but I felt so dumb not knowing "the basics" so I ignored it. (So dumb from my part) On my first semester, even before doing my first exams (we have just one final exam per course per semester) I joined a student initiative which I thought would be very fun to do "on the side" while I studied (keep in mind that I did not really "study", I just kind of showed up to the lectures which IS NOT ENOUGH). I failed all of my exams on my first semester, and then just kinda passed two on the second, and then failed all of them again on the third. I kept telling myself that I was being productive while working on this initiative, so I gave an excuse to myself to stay there for that much time, even though I knew well that I was not making progress. Being from Mexico and studying in Germany we need to apply for a residence permit to stay here. So in the end of my third semester, when I wanted to renew it, I got passive-agressively told that I needed to do better to stay here. I found my first friends in the student initiative, so it was really hard for me to leave since I did not have much of anything outside. I forced myself to go eat at the cafeteria so I could find some friends. I was so ashamed when I told the people in the initiative that I needed to leave because things were not okay for me. I am currently in my 6th semester, and things are still not perfect but are kind of getting better. It's my third year here, and I am still doing classes of my first semester, but now I am actually doing it. I feel so ashamed of showing up to classes with the new kids that are arriving from high-school when I am three years older. But I guess I got myself into this situation. Showing up is the only thing I have for myself left. Please show up for yourselves. You will have to go through the shame of "looking dumb" at some point, so why not do it when you look the least dumb possible? Thank you for the video Tian. I wish everyone the best of luck. I believe in you.

To have friends that can pull you up with them is a realy important tip

Just finishing up high school in less than a month, I have failed math twice and you've literally described me during that time. I would come and pretend to do work and pretend i understand and never got close with my teachers. I failed about 3 classes in total but, i have retaken the necessary ones and currently have about an 80 avg. Great video, wished i have seen it sooner.

Thank u for posting your heart out.This was exactly the problem I was facing in initial start of my first year

Excellent insight and advice. Thank you for putting yourself out here to share it all with us.

You’re talking about imposter syndrome. Well done for moving past this!

Thank you for putting up the courage to share this. I was in the same position last yr in my 1st yr of med. Failed my neuro, which actually is my fav subj that time. I feel like a clown, an impostor. It feels like i dont belong to medicine. But u know what, my friends helped me the next sem, they are so patient with me ❤ and its an understatement to say that i wouldnt be here in my 2nd yr if im not with them. I still feel like im getting that judgement from other ppl, but its all just a "feeling".. no one really told me anything bad, its all in my head. Medicine really must be done with people, and if you just look around, theyre just there.. and they are willing to help ❤

Thank u for making this important video

Wtf you've said many things about my failure 😢

hit home, youre in the medical school right outside my house, what a coincidence

you have transformed my mindset into anesthesia school. Thank you.

I'm studying Veterinary medicine. I have my anatomy and LPM exam left over. I've been barred from giving my LPM finals due to low attendance (partially my fault but incorrect record keeping too) I'm barely passing Physiology due to high requirement and might or might not fail Anatomy. I study in a private college and genuinely do not want to repeat. Veterinary medicine was my first choice and I really want to go on to 2nd year but its looks bad rn. I still might pass, but I don't want to make my parents sad because they are quite happy rn. If I repeat, I'll have to pay Rs8,00,000 ($10,000+) I do not want to burden them. I looked down upon people who cannot read, came to Veterinary to make a quick buck and don't have any compassion at all for the animals. Yet here I am, I person truly worthy of being a Vet but still failing... I'll update this

People do judge you. But won’t say it out loud.

Greetings from Southern California. I graduated from nursing school in 2022 and I relate to your story so much. I'm quite introverted, and I was the 'lone wolf' who tried to do everything on my own. I very much suffered from imposter syndrome and was afraid of being viewed as dumb or incompetent by my peers. I kept closing myself off from my classmates in a cohort of type A personalities, until I was almost failing. My clinical groupmates from my second semester were truly the kindest people. When they learned my grades were dropping they reached out and invited me to their group studies. They taught me how to learn efficiently. I was just being stubborn, I was just in my head. Learning how to be vulnerable is a very powerful thing. Healthcare is always emphasized as a team effort, I'd argue the same could be said for medical or nursing school.

You're cute!

The truth about med school is you should not expect anything from anyone because everyone is going through a lot and may not have time to think about their friends.....l have been through a lot in this journey and realized it only me so l need to take of me coz no one else would take care of me

great video! my school does discussion groups instead of lecture for our entire medical school curriculum. i definitely experienced some intimidation when i heard some of my peers talk. but honestly you just have to start to get somewhere even if you fear you’ll sound stupid. thanks for sharing your story!

Thank brother .🙏🙏

Thank you

You’re Asian, you’ll do fine.

The reason you go over the wrong answers and talk through them is so you can learn WHY it is wrong, WHAT would change if a word or two changed in the question stem, as well as critical thinking. Its NOT a waste of time, and if anyone thinks that, it is a lack of maturity on their part. Sorry you learned this too late, hope it did not financially impact you in too negative of a way.

do u have insta?