This summer has been quite the hot potato. Across Texas, we experienced a record-breaker in terms of drought and high temperatures. This fact, also coupled with the fact that many of us became indoor and outdoor plant parents, made for a frustrating situation involving frequent watering, frantic internet searches, and—in some sad cases—dead plants.

But not every plant dies in extreme heat or without water. Some wither, some wane, and yet still—some thrive. What makes the difference?

The magic ingredient in the ability of a plant to survive in extreme weather is not grit or even a super complex root system. In many cases, it’s the ability to adapt. Okra, for example, is considered drought-tolerant, and guides advise gardeners not to water their okra plants too frequently. It works best and blooms when left alone in the heat. If you’re not into plants like that, take the tardigrade or “water bear” as many of us know it—an eight-legged micro-animal (according to Wikipedia). They are popular because they are cute, but more importantly, they exhibit an ability to adapt and tolerate extreme conditions for long periods of time.  

Why is this important?

Well, because humans can adapt.

We often might think that ‘some have it while others don’t’, and it would be wrong to ignore the role that privilege plays in many instances, but this discourse on adaptation speaks to the inner capacity to assess a situation as difficult and find a way around it. We do that often as medical students.

We discover that Foundations material is quite the beast to master—so we adapt, reaching out for a free peer tutor. We learn that Anki isn’t our forte, so maybe we’ll adapt and take the ‘multiple passes’ approach to learning information.

Medical school is hard. That very likely won’t change. So, adapt.

Even in your personal life, it works!

Major life changes may be happening, so try therapy. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Celebrate the small wins. It’s hot out there, as you study, struggle, and eventually win, learn to ride the heat wave. Soon, you might find that you aren’t just growing, you’re blooming. 

For all my late bloomers out there, this streaming pick’s for you. Janus Films has recently restored Olivier Assayas’ underrated Late August, Early September, or what could be best described as a coming-of-age for middle-aged adults. It follows a group of friends and lovers through all the uncertainties of growing older. As you might already know, life offers us few resounding conclusions. We may lose contact with friends living in other cities, without any closure as to what might have happened to them. We may fall in or out of love when we least expect it. Sometimes we may even feel like we’ve outgrown our childhood dreams. Although it may feel a little uncomfortable for us to grow older, and adjust our expectations for the future, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. 

Late August, Early September assures us that there is no such thing as a predetermined timeline for doing, well anything. If anything, messiness is the point. Unpredictability is life’s mantra. Somehow Assayas was able to capture this sensibility with a filmic structure composed of scenes that don’t feel so much like scenes but impressions, fragmented and strewn across one early autumn like the many fallen leaves on the grass. Some scenes begin in media res, others conclude without resolution. It all feels rather improvisational. The film, much like living, rushes past before you have any chance to take hold of its own rhythm and set it into memory. It’s overwhelming in all the best ways, and an even greater comfort in knowing that none of us have it all figured out and that it’s okay not to. It’s never too late to find your late bloom and make it perennial. 

Medical school has been one of the most mentally, physically, and socially challenging periods of my life, but it has also been the most rewarding experience. As I think back to when I was embarking on my medical school journey around this time three years ago, I could not have imagined where I am today. It is very easy to fall into the cycle of feeling inadequate and constantly uncertain as you navigate through many unknowns during these four years. One thing that helped me through those times of feeling like an imposter in this vastly advanced field of medicine was to think of how proud ‘past me’ would be of myself now. 

The journey to medical school is undoubtedly difficult and everyone experiences sacrifices to make it to this point. I often think to myself ‘how lucky am I to be living the life that was merely a dream a few years ago?’ This self-reflection has helped ground me during medical school and I would give this advice to any student, especially the new MS1s, when they find themselves doubting their capabilities. I have grown so much during medical school and have learned that one of the most valuable skills you can bring to any team is the ability to adapt to unexpected situations and be confident enough to ask for help. There are so many great mentors and teachers at McGovern from whom you can not only learn medical physiology from, but also invaluable teamwork skills you will carry into the rest of your career. 

This is such an incredible journey so try to stop and congratulate yourself periodically along the way. Rely on the love you have from friends, family, significant others, and pets to keep you grounded and reminded that medicine is only a portion of your life. Those in your support corner are very proud of you for making it this far, so match their energy and take moments to pat yourself on the back! As I apply for internal medicine residency, I am hopeful I can bring compassionate care to my future patients while maintaining that same compassion towards myself along the way. 

Best of luck to the MS1s, MS2s, and MS3s- you’re doing great!

| Nina Quirk, MS4

De-Bloating Smoothie

Cowboy Caviar

Chili Lime Steak Tacos

No-Bake Buckeyes