Medical student Pumzile Molimi shares some much needed advice for doctors in training - about the importance of showing up even when it's tough.

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Final year is meant to be the final push — the last stretch before the big world of internship begins. And yet, nothing quite prepares you for the unique cocktail of exhaustion, stress, and responsibility that clinical rotations bring. As final-year students, we’re expected to be sharper, faster, and more reliable — all while still learning.

Some days, you wake up before sunrise and only eat properly after sunset. You’re chasing blood results, taking histories, scrubbing in, and trying to absorb pearls of wisdom between patients. But your body feels heavy. Your stomach’s empty. And your brain? Foggy at best.

It’s easy to feel guilty in those moments — like you’re not doing enough, not remembering enough, not “being” enough. But here's the truth we don’t say enough: you're still human. And being human is not a flaw; it's a reality.

No one talks much about the blurry days when you can barely keep your eyes open during a ward round, or the afternoons where your imposter syndrome whispers that you don’t belong here. But those moments are more common than you think. And they don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you're growing — in the messiest, most uncomfortable way possible.

Learning under pressure is part of medicine, but we need to make space to be kind to ourselves in the process. You don’t have to know everything by heart. What matters is asking questions, reflecting on your mistakes, and trying again tomorrow. Patients remember empathy more than they remember textbook-perfect answers.

Still, there’s no denying how physically and mentally taxing final-year rotations can be. So here’s a reminder: pack snacks. Hydrate. Use your breaks, even if it’s just ten minutes outside. And if you need to cry in the bathroom after a tough case, that’s okay too. It doesn’t make you weak — it means you care.

There’s also value in community. Lean on your fellow students. Laugh about the chaos, vent about the confusion, and celebrate the small wins together — like inserting a drip on the first try or finally understanding a complex condition. These moments will carry you through.

And when you feel overwhelmed, remember this: every doctor before you has had their tired, hungry, “I can’t do this” days too. The key is to keep showing up — not perfectly, but wholeheartedly. Because medicine isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about showing up for people even when you’re running low yourself.

So if you’re in your final year, knee-deep in clinicals and running on caffeine and courage — take heart. You are learning, even on the days it doesn’t feel like it. You are becoming, even when you’re exhausted. And you are not alone.

In the end, clinical rotations aren’t just about learning medicine. They’re about learning to care, to endure, and to still find meaning — even when you’re tired, hungry, and undeniably human.

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