Hi all. I hope you enjoy this video! I made this in response to a comment on this video: Life as an oculoplastic surgeon video: • Life as an Oculoplasti... Follow me on instagram @dr.andreatooley
I love this video! I’m a medical student, and I call myself a “half year.” During my second semester of first year, I had to take a medical leave of absence for depressive bipolar disorder. I was barely passing, never getting out of bed, certainly never studying, and also not telling anyone about it!! If only I’d reached out and gotten the help I needed! Luckily, I had a professor who saw that something was off. Now, I start back January 2nd to finish my first year - medicated, mindful, and ready for all of the challenges that come with this journey!
Thank you for sharing this! SO important. I just finished my third week of medical school.. and I am already struggling, not just with Classes but with the overwhelming stress and anxiety. It is a lot of info incorporated into a short amount of time. During undergrad, I was similar to Dr. Tooley- my lowest grades were an A- and a B+, and I was able to do a variety of extracurriculars/research projects as well. I dealt with anxiety during that time, but it was never THAT bad. Now that I am in med school.. I really have to take care of myself and put my mental health first. Premeds- I'm not trying to say to not go for med school if you have any mental health issues, but just that it can be very much intensified by the difficulty of medical school coursework/responsibilities and to be tread carefully
I'm an MS2 who has VERY MUCH appreciated your positive posts over the years. I love your positive energy, and I try to channel my inner Andrea in my own studies. Watching your videos during study breaks when I'm feeling like med school is never-ending is honestly one of my favorite things to do. It is so helpful to see you enjoying life with your husband and your family and living a healthy lifestyle as a physician. With all of the negativity energy that exists in medical school and medicine in general, I find your energy is so refreshing. Thank you for being my reminder that there is light at the end of this very long tunnel!
Current MS1 here. I am glad that you posted another side of your medical training experience. As a long time follower, I think it's really important to learn more about your growth as a medical profession. However, I most appreciate that you always have a happy face and positive attitude when talking about medicine. I am half done my 1st semester and what I've noticed is that many of my classmates' first instinct is to be negative, which can get discouraging because despite the amount of work, I am still full of excitement to learn and I hope that I can remain positive and spread positivity like you! Keep up it up!
Hey Andrea! I watched your videos all through nursing school and you once said there is nothing you can’t learn, you just have to put in the time. That was so helpful for me going through hard times feeling behind in classes! It’s nice to hear the challenging times in your life and how you pushed through. Thanks for sharing!
I love your positivity. Don't feel you have to play it down. I believe your positive attitude is what has made you so resilient through your medical education and career. Thank you for the great advice!
Also let me say that this woman is VERY SMART. If an A- or B is struggling to you then I would consider you very smart. Those are great grades and very acceptable for medical school ESP in science courses. So you guys have to take what these you tubers say with a grain of salt because 9/10 they are just really smart that’s it. Same thing with Jaime here on RU-vid and Kuar, and Jane and Jady. They are just really smart so everything seems amazing for them 🤷🏽♀️. It’s the facts.
Yeah that’s what I thought! I got a B+ in my bio chem class and I thought it was an amazing grade considering how hard the class was. I guess I have to do better 😭😭😫😫😫
I watched this video being in a place of frustration and confusion and being kind almost lost, not sure if this road is meant for me because I don’t think I have what it takes to be through it. But this video definitely made me feel a little better knowing it’s normal to feel this way throughout this journey. Thank you for this video. You’re such an inspiration. (Clicking out of this video to start studying for genetics and organic chem , wish me luck lol) ❤️
Great video, thanks for sharing. I'm in my first year of medical school, and have been feeling overwhelmed lately, so it's nice to hear I'm not alone and that hard times are normal but not the end of the world. I think as future physicians and physicians it's also really important to remember that medicine is generally a field reserved for very privileged people in society. Marginalized folks, such as low-income folks, people with disabilities, people of colour etc. who face discrimination (e.g., Indigenous peoples), and those who have trouble getting their basic needs met for no fault of their own (e.g., have not been born into a privileged family) have way more hard times than others, which may limit their ability to even getting into medical school at all. This is something I think is a problem with the medical field and limits the lived experiences that are brought to the profession. I'm hoping one day medical school will be more accessible for those who do not meet the standard pre-med life circumstances.
Excellent vlog today. Way back when I was in undergrad my life paralleled yours only I was in Illinois. When I went on with my studies, my partner had chosen to go to U of M for his M.D. Ph.D. and I was crest fallen once again. I never felt completely settled. There were no other girls, ladies in my program, my Chairman did not advocate or think women in general were up to the task...etc. He was diety, and a G-d in the neurosurgical world and another M.D./PhD from Hopkins. I lived in fear of failure, so hard on myself. Lots of tears. Then one day...it seems like a switch went off...cant really explain it. The good news is, I also got back with my BF and married him and like Kyle, he is and always has been my North Star and greatest support. He is a neurologist and neuroscientist so his demeanor was more calm and conciliatory. Having a supportive partner is key if your in a relationship. Self-care as you stated is our ethical duty to check ourself and eating healthy and exercise are imperative given the pace. Also having independent hobbies or a hobby. The good news is, it's all doable. This past Aug is 36 yrs with my husband in my life....and now enough time has passed that last summer we found our self romanticising the price we paid for the joy and happiness we share. It's all about perspective and context and remembering why you started.... Have a lovely week. I'm glad you are enjoying NYC. I love the city...even tho home is Brooklyn Hts. The drive across the Brooklyn Bridge in the morning is a daily reminder, I made it!
Thank you for sharing your vulnerability. This must have been a difficult video to make- thank goodness for the coffee (and Kyle and dog) support. I always wondered how you are such an amazing chief and so kind to residents and medical students- these hard time have strengthed you and made you such an empathetic leader. Thank you so much, Andrea.
You are absolutely incredible! I'm currently a premed and I am constantly told medicine is not worth going into. It feels as though there strangling the life out of me. It's nice to know that there are others out there that feel positive about medicine and are trying to encourage others to go into it. Keep up the amazing work and thanks for reminding me why it's so worth it in the end😊
Thank you for being so honest! This was a really refreshing video to watch. I'm an MS4 and definitely have ebbs and flows in the journey, so it's always reassuring to hear that people you admire go through the same thing.
Perfect timing! Being positive and optimistic person myself, I am just dealing with those “not-so-happy” moments right now. This video gives me strength to fight and see these happy things in every day. Thank you so much! ❤️
There's nothing you can't learn you just have to put in time :)! I say this to myself all the time. I've watching your video since freshman year. I am now a senior. Made a 100 percent in my chemistry final with your study method video. Thank you for all that you do.
This video came at perfect timing. I'm a MSIII on my neurosurgery rotation right now (holla james!) and have been interested in ophthalmology since before medical school. The road hasn't been easy so far, but videos like these remind me of why I'm doing this and where I'm going
Such a good post. Its easy to forget sometimes just how hard this is -when all you see are happy people -and I"m not picking on you Andrea -Ive watched your vlog since starting this journey and you have been very realistic and encouraging -its more so the endless medical shows out there that present this image. I just graduated and am taking the year off to do other things -not only to improve my residency application but more so to just take a breather and recover my balance and health. I think its so important for students to realize as they go through this that it really can take a toll and we do need to take care of ourselves or it can have serious negative consequences.
I so relate to this video! I have found that I seriously struggle with long term memory. I will completely dominate and ace a class but then move on to the next class and need to pull information from the previous class and have to reteach myself all of the information. Knowing that I worked so hard to get good test grades and get a great final grade but then not remembering important and basic information moving forward just makes me so upset and feel not good about myself. If you have any suggestions for how I can overcome this I would be all ears.
Andrea, this just made you a lot more relatable to me and made me look up to you even more. I also struggled in general chem and molecular and cellular bio and chose to live in a basement, which ended up as a bad decision. Like others said, I think having a B+ or A- is not a bad grade. I’ve had grades much lower. Best of luck with everything :)
thank you so much for making this video! i appreciate this so much. i am a med student between MS2 and MS3 because I delayed taking Step1. I ended up being really depressed because I was living in the basement with no window, had my first breakup, and living away from my family for the first time. Now at the end of October, I am still studying for this test. It has been over 7 months now of on-again and off-again studying for this test. i know I have it in me. I know I want it. But this has been the hardest thing I have ever gone through. This is my biggest setback. I appreciate you acknowledging your struggle and encouraging people to keep pushing. Thank you thank you thank you
Tiffany Cu , MS4 here. Step 1 was the hardest test. I feel you. It is smart of you to delay it than taking it and failing it. you have already done a lot of studying and let that encourage you and propel you forward day after day. Don’t beat yourself up, but like Andrea says “make a domination plan.” You will do great at the end.
MS1 here...I needed this SO much. Even though your struggles are nowhere near mine (I’ve had C’s in classes I’ve studied my butt for lol), you still are relatable cause you’re still going through a very similar experience. Right now I’m in the middle of finals week, super overwhelmed, super behind, exhausted and sleep deprived, and super stressed that I won’t perform at my fullest potential and do as well as I want to, continue to get A’s in my classes, and this video just proved that I could get through it. 6 exams this next week is just a short period of my life, and I feel like I just need to radiate as much positivity as you!!! I just need to make sure I take it one step at a time. What a nice study break :)
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m working my way through NP school and I’m exhausted! Full time school and part time (two 12 hour overnights a week) on L&D is rough. I know this is what I want to do but it’s very hard to not give in to the stress and exhaustion sometimes. You’re so right though, this is temporary and having a good support system is so helpful! Thanks again for being open and honest about how difficult healthcare training can be.
Thank you for taking the time to make quality videos, Andrea! Whether they're about the good or the bad, they're always inspiring. I've loved your content even more since you started your fellowship in New York... I think it brought something out in you that emits a new, fresh and very real aura!
Loved this video! I've been watching you since the beginning of undergrad and you've been a steady source of inspiration and positivity for me. I'm a senior now and I'm almost done with my microbiology degree. I've had some pretty low points but so many more high ones. It's a nice reminder that everyone struggles and at the end of the day we're all going through it together. Thank you so much and keep doing what you do :)
I'm a pharmacy student & I really enjoy this because I feel the same way for sure about out curriculum and experiences. Thank you for the motivation and support as I go through one of my most difficult years!
"I'm going to off the map for 4 years.. you need to know your going to miss stuff" I needed to hear this, to know that this is normal and that is how life is when you are pursuing your dream. Thank you soooo much for this honest advice filled video!!!!!!
Girl... A “high pass” isn’t doing well?? An A- and B+ in gen chem is struggling?? This video really disheartened me. I wish those were my biggest struggles.
Jessica Hall If you’re going to medical school and are aiming for an advanced specialty, you obviously want to develop great study techniques and get very close to a 4.0. If you study for hours and don’t get a high A, you’re going to be frustrated and upset. If your standards are lower than that, why go in to such a technical work field?
I feel this, but honestly when you put your all into a class and get a B, it feels worse than going through the motions and getting a C. But keep working at doing your absolute best and you can get to that point! She just happens to have pretty much always been good at it, but for some of us it takes a lot of soul searching, practice, and trial and error (and multiple failures) but that’s the mindset you need: only As are acceptable
I'm glad you were able to share some of the things you went through on your journey it is really appreciated and makes you more human. Yes! Please let us know your bad days (we all have them) we're here for you 😊
Great video! You always seem so perfect and stick to your schedule and routine 100% of the time. It is nice to know that even through harder times you can still come up top and things get better. 😃
Current M1, I definitely feel the struggle of working really hard but not doing as well as aiming to. I'm trying to do my best to stay positive and have been starting to take pleasure in my studies. Will take your advice to make time for self care and relationships
I love love love love love watching your videos Andrea! Haha! I found your channel years ago and still keep up with it because it truly brings my energy levels up to listen to your videos and hear what you have to say! Your attitude towards your career and towards the challenge you face within the medical field of having to always to be learning and growing is something that I kind of started to have in my junior year of high school. I wasn't doing great at the beginning of that year in some classes (especially chemistry) and then all of a sudden decided I was going to do something about it and give it my all to try to change things. I was pretty successful, but between that point and starting college I had some personal stuff take place, which caused my focus to shift away from school and grades. Finally in my second year of college I realized that what truly makes me happy is doing well at school and being successful in terms of getting good grades. That's the point at which I found your channel and it's been helping me ever since to get back into the mindset that I had in highschool. You're such a badass in my opinion, and an inspiration for aspiring med students, current med students, and residents everywhere! Thank you for continuing to share your journey with the world!
I was nervous to click on this video because I watch this channel for inspiration and to boost my mood as I pursue this career. There is no shortage of miserable medical students or physicians to talk to or read about on the internet, so this channel is a great contrast to all the negativity. I think Andrea's consistently positive attitude is rare but that is what makes her so inspirational. Keep it up! :)
I am in my second semester of medical school and really needed to hear you talk about digging in and not backing off! I did not even realize I was doing this and feel so encouraged after this video! Thank you for always sharing! I love your instagram!
Hi Andrea! Thank you so much for your videos! They are so motivating, and as a senior in college, I really appreciate your study tips and motivation techniques. Not sure if you've covered this in a different video, but I'm wondering how you 1) avoid burning out while still maintaining your motivation (I have trouble balancing giving myself to take time and rest and staying on task and completing what I need to) and 2) manage your finances (How did you come up with the idea to purchase a house to rent out?) You are so amazing! Thanks for being a star!
Andrea, I absolutely adore you. I think that your videos are so extremely helpful and informative. I am a retired physician and want to be able to guide my daughter if she decides to become a physician and your videos are just wonderful. Keep up the good work.
Really needed to hear this... I was falling apart... Prepping for usmle step 1... I am in the same basement situation as u were... Making me mesirable. I am flying out home now to prepare with my freinds. I am sure I will conquer this beast as well! ❤️❤️
Thank you so much for sharing! I had a similar experience my second semester sophomore year- cellular and molecular biology almost killed me! I have always loved your channel and have followed you ever since college. I actually am a first year physical therapy student at Mayo Clinic in Rochester now! If you would ever like to interview someone about life as a PT student let me know!
Wow thank you so much! That is so encouraging. I feel you with General Chemistry.....rough times and Bs :O I am in the med school application process so hearing this REAL TALK from you is super helpful. Thank you! (this is the first video of yours I've seen.....liked and subscribed!)
Literally me about feeling like you don’t know anything. I’m in my second semester of PA school and they are feeding so much info that my brain is like I can’t hold this. But the 2nd year students definitely say they are more confident when they started clinical so I’m hoping. Last semester we just did regular anatomy and phys, intro to PA, medical Imaging, cultural issues, history Taking, and Pd Lab I think (where we learned the full head to toe minus the Obgyn, breast, and rectal.. that’s next semester). So we didn’t learn much about specific things. This semester we have pathophysiology, cms which we have done derm, ent, ophthalmology, heme, Pulmonology And cardio. And pharm and micro, genetics, clinical lab medicine, and pd2 and all of these in ways are actually specific disease learning so this is the first semester we are actually relating that. So it’s overwhelming and I’m just hoping things will stick next semester. But I love watching these because even though you’re in med school and I’m in PA, we are all going through rough times and it’s good to see people get through it. I had a rough start to the semester but I’m getting better which I’m proud of.
This is very true, I'm only working on my bachelors, but I am studying all the time. It feels like I am overstudying, I juggle with the material multiple times to really understand before moving on: write out explanations, create connective flow charts (there are so many categories and subcategories of the human body). I utilize all resources, textbook, notes, internet. I take videos in my anatomy lab so i can study them later. Is it overkill? I don't know maybe. But, I'm someone who does not get things right off the bat. It does take me while. Studying has always been a longer process for me. I'm not even going to med school. I'm aiming for pathologist's assistant for a program that gets 70 applications and accepts 12. This summer I missed family trips to the Grand Canyon and my friend's baby-shower. I'm glad Andrea revealed this aspect because now I don't feel like the only one.
speaking of taking car of your self can you please make a video talking about that ,how to mange your time during residency and take car of your self , how much time do you think one need from time to time to himself , because i am really struggling with that i barely find half a day per weak for myself
Andrea, thank you so much for posting this video. I am currently a first semester sophomore in college and am trying to survive organic chemistry. I have had a lot of personal struggles this semester. I had a very nasty break up that I am still dealing with the aftermath of and it has caused my academic performance to slip. I am going to get help - counseling and tutoring. I know I can recover from this. You are a constant inspiration and source of motivation for me. Thank you for sharing this video. It came at the perfect time. I love you and your videos (been watching for years) and aspire to someday be as good of a doctor as you!
Now that you are farther along and have practiced medicine for some time, could you make a new video like this? I am in year 1 of medical school, and knowing when the hardest times may come (especially unexpected ones) allows me to try and prepare for them :)
Happy halloween! We love tests and adversities. it is what we thrive on and without us, studying isn’t studying anymore. 😎 Studying is better than food and water. Though not better than sleep. 🧐🤩
I have a bio research paper i need to write on a genetically modified organism (can't write about corn or soybeans) any recommendations on what to write about lol
I gave up on trying to become a doctor because it’s nearly impossible to shadow in a hospital, I work, and I’ll never be able to remember all the information. I know I’m just not smart enough and there’s absolutely no way to even fathom that information it’s insane and scary.
omg im so worried. im taking genetics, ochem, anatomy/physio 1, and physics next semester as a second sem sophomore and im absolutely terrified. mostly for physics and anatomy and physio
I remember I did this during undergrad one semester and thinking back I could have taken those classes later and balanced them with classes that were not as challenging. If you can, plan out your semesters better to have a balance. I'm in no way saying you couldn't do great but if I could tell this to my younger self I would have saved me so much unnecessary stress. Good luck with your journey and keep working hard:)
@@Ivory1340 thank you :) and yeah that would probably be the smarter thing to do but these are the ONLY classes i will be taking and i really enjoy science. ochem and genetics interest me im just worried about anatomy because of all the memorization and physics because its a subject i generally don't understand. hopefully it all works out haha its really only 14 credits
@@Gam3r5t93 I've always enjoyed science as well but these classes were significantly more time-consuming than freshman year classes for me and I would think this would be a heavy load for anyone but if you believe this is the best for you I understand. Going into the lab and practicing again and again helped me so much for anatomy. It was definitely one of the toughest classes in undergrad but also one of my favorite. You're gonna love it:)
Thank you so much for this, it resonates so much! Can I ask you your myers-briggs personality type? Just wondering because I get really sad without social interaction as well. You're great Andrea! I've listened to you from the beginning and applying to med school next year, thank you!
Good question! To become an ophthalmologist, you have to go to medical school and complete a residency in ophthalmology. So an optometrist would have to go to medical school and then complete ophthalmology residency, even if they were already an optometrist.
Girl. You need to start taking meditation. You’re a naturally anxious person, and I️ think it will help you 100%. Not yoga. Meditation. You seem like someone who has a lot of rushing thoughts and you think quickly often. I️ think it will help you slow down once a day. You need to learn to slow yourself, breathe, and let go of the tension of the day. I️ recommend this with love. Thank you for the videos!
I think your filled with crap. My medical school journey was hard. I think we as a group work very hard and are trained to not show our emotions. We should express that the journey for becoming doctors is hard and honestly kinda of miserable sometimes. So please speak the truth.
She gave all of HER struggles though... Not everyone's journey in medicine is the same. Yeah, she could've spoke about not getting into med school the first time applying or not matching into residency or not doing well on boards, research struggles, how expensive everything is or whatever other struggles you're talking about, but she cant really talk about a hardship if she hasn't been through it. That doesn't make her full of crap.I think she executed her point perfectly in this video even though my struggles in medical school are a little different because I'm a non traditional student with two kiddos but I can totally relate especially with the mental health aspect and remembering academically that this isnt going to last long and the importance of keeping a healthy mind body soul with a good support system. Good luck to you!
Your "rough times" scream white privilege. Really... taking gen chem in which you got an A- and B+, taking 3 "hard" courses simultaneously, breaking up with a boyfriend and complaining about a house that you purchased during medical school at 23 years old? These were your struggles? This seems more like an ad for Nespresso.
She said she bought a small house and rented out the rooms to classmates, which covered the mortgage. Sounds like a smart way to cover housing needs actually.
