This blog is geared towards American Copts currently enrolled in any type of graduate school (ie medical school, dental school, PA school, DO school, etc) that by its nature inflicts severe stress on its students. Have you ever heard the phrase: "medical school is like drinking from a fire hose"?
Well, if not, don't worry - you'll come to know and understand what it means very intimately: it'll be your mantra for the duration of your time as a health professional student.
I started this blog, "Coptic Rx," because I believe that very few people truly understand what it's like to be a medical student. People say they understand....but they don't. People think they can imagine what the stress is like, but they can't. Let's be real here. You can't understand what it's like unless you've gone through it yourself. Period.
And yeah, it can be annoying when people try to sympathize with you, "Ya habibty, I know what it's like," and inside you're asking, "Really Tant?...." but at least they're doing the Christian thing by "weeping with those who weep."
But really, the worst thing is when people try to belittle the amount of stress med school inflicts on you. "Come on, bro, it's really not that bad...." or "Why you upset all the time, bro?" or better yet, "Why you don't hang out with us after church anymore, bro?" Maybe because "I'VE GOT AN ANATOMY EXAM TOMORROW PEOPLE!! DOES NO ONE UNDERSTAND??"
Well, that's the thing. Most people don't understand. Except for those few like yours truly and other lucky med/dental/PA/DO/what have you students out there going through exactly the same thing.
So that's one side of it. The other side is, not only are you a medical student, but you're also Coptic. Aaaahhh yes, there's your strings attached. It's hard enough being a medical student, a period of your life when you're asked to give 100% of yourself, your time, effort, and skills to your studies. But as Copts, we strive to give 100% of ourselves, our time, effort, and talents to Christ and the Church.
So how does that work? How can anyone possibly give more than what they have?
Have you ever felt, as a medical student, that you've been torn between the two - school and church? You haven't gone to Sunday School in weeks, but really, who has time for that with these two pharm exams coming up? You're about to go to sleep, utterly exhausted, at 2 am in the morning after a long night of studying physiology and you realize you haven't touched your Bible for the last three days? You suffer through another humiliating day on rotations being pimped by your attending, and you know you should "turn the other cheek," but all you really want to do is give your attending a piece of your mind?
Well, if you've ever been in those situations, this blog is for you, because, don't worry, there are other Copts out there trying to figure out the same things.
So I hope it helps. Enjoy. Now get back to studying :)
