Serena J.
Photo provided by Serena J.
If you’re reading this, everything happens for a reason.
After every setback I’ve faced, I caught myself thinking, maybe this is the one that stops me, the one that proves I’ve reached my limit. In those moments, the weight of disappointment felt overwhelming, and it was hard to picture what came next. My mind whispered that all the effort and sacrifice had been for nothing, but deep down, I knew the story wasn’t over yet.
But here’s what I’ve learned, life doesn’t stop when you stumble. The world doesn’t end when you fall short. Even when it feels like everything has collapsed, time keeps moving. What felt like an ending was never truly the end. It was a turning point. It was a lesson I couldn’t yet see. It was another reason to rise, to grow, to keep walking forward, even when I felt like crawling.
With that being said, I still catch myself slipping back into the same cycle of doubt, convincing myself I’m incapable or that I don’t belong here. But I’ve come to understand that this is part of being human and it’s completely normal. We all fall back into old ways of thinking at times. What matters is not that we never doubt, but that we recognize those moments for what they are and then make the choice to steer ourselves back toward truth, resilience, and self compassion.
With each obstacle, I’ve discovered something new about myself. Strength is not found in the moments when everything is easy, but in the moments when everything feels impossible and you still take another step. Failure doesn’t define you, your response to it does. And even when I stumble into self doubt again, I remind myself that I have the power to shift, to redirect, to refuse to let that mindset take root.
Slowly, I began to see that everything really does happen for a reason. The failures, the doubts, the times I thought I was finished, they weren’t dead ends, but detours leading me somewhere I was meant to go. Each struggle carved out space for growth, humility, and a deeper sense of purpose. Each moment that nearly broke me also built me.
If you’re reading this, I want you to remember that setbacks are not signals to give up, they’re reminders that you’re still in the fight. You may feel exhausted right now, but those feelings do not determine your future. What matters is that you keep showing up and keep pushing, that what’s meant for you will not pass you by.
Serena J., 1st Year Medical Student
Q: What advice do you have for incoming medical students regarding mental wellness?
A: My advice would be to remember that medical school is a marathon, not a sprint, and your mental wellness is the foundation that will carry you through. It’s so tempting in the beginning to measure your worth by how many hours you study or how much you can push yourself, but the truth is, sustainability matters more than intensity. Build healthy routines early like sleeping, eating well, moving your body, and making space for the people and activities that remind you who you are outside of medicine. Give yourself permission to be human. You will make mistakes, feel overwhelmed, and have days when you question if you belong here. That’s normal. What matters is being kind to yourself in those moments and remembering that growth often happens in the struggle. Protecting your mental health is not a distraction from becoming a doctor, it’s what makes you the kind of doctor your future patients will need.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self regarding coping and mental wellness?
A: I’d tell my younger self: “If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not learning.” Back then, I saw discomfort as a weakness.. What I’ve come to realize is that the uncomfortable moments are actually where the most growth happens. Struggling with new material, feeling stretched in clinical settings, or even wrestling with self doubt, all of those experiences shape you into someone stronger and more capable. The difference is how you respond. Instead of running from discomfort, I’d remind myself to lean into it even when it's easier said than done, while also protecting my mental wellbeing along the way. That means taking breaks, asking for support, and being kind to yourself in the process. Growth doesn’t mean pushing until you break; it means finding that balance between challenge and care. So the advice is simple, don’t fear the discomfort. Embrace it as proof you’re learning and growing, and pair it with compassion for yourself and that combination will carry you further than perfection ever could.
Several studies have revealed that medical students, physicians, and healthcare professionals experience mental health symptoms at rates significantly higher than the general population. Stethos[Cope] is a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis designed to help medical students and professionals cope with the unique stressors of medical training and change the narrative of mental health in medicine.
To read more letters and interviews from students, and to learn more about mental health in the medical community, visit the Stethos[Cope] home page.