I never thought I would write this. I never thought that after almost 18 years of education, I would miss commuting to school, packing a lunch, and spending hours in the confines of four grey classroom walls. I never gave much thought to how impactful this routine was on my life. It was not until I lost the opportunity to see familiar faces in person every day and couldn’t stay after class to talk with my professor that I finally realized how much I actually enjoyed going to school.
The pandemic has drastically changed the way many of us balance our professional and personal lives. As physical spaces become dynamic, we have all had to create psychological barriers between work and play. It has been incredible to live through a time to witness so much strength, perseverance and ingenuity. I consider myself very lucky to have witnessed so much of it firsthand.
We have all been so creative in our approaches to stay connected. Last June, I started medical school with 99 brilliant classmates. Week after week, I logged into Zoom and we chatted in breakout rooms, held group study sessions, and even had virtual happy hours. It was amazing how connected we could be regardless of how physically distant we were. This was our normal, and it worked surprisingly well in times of crises. Yet, I think I speak for many of us when I write, I missed the comradery that develops over time. It happens when we don’t think about it: the few minutes filled with laughs before lecturers start their presentations, in joint attempts to caffeinate, and in between long nights in the library after a packed day.
Medical students share a unique bond with classmates, we are the only ones who can truly begin to understand what one another is experiencing along this journey. Yes, upperclassmen and mentors may have had similar experiences, but medical school is largely shaped by what we choose to pursue, how we personalize our learning, and the external factors shaping medicine at any given time. Medical cohorts across the country have found unique ways to connect, but, I think I speak for many of us when I say we really can’t wait to get back to class.
Miranda Yousif is a member of the class of 2024 and hails from sunny Phoenix, Arizona. She is a proud Iraqi- American and first-generation college student who graduated from Arizona State University in 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. She is excited to attend her hometown institution, give back to the Phoenix community, and be an active member of the Arizona medical community.