HY Concept 765(PLEASE READ, Addressing a BUNCH of questions

[tommyk]

Please read this carefully:

I am steadily getting e-mails about some of you guys passing, and still some failing and feeling awful. This is a time when we need to pray and gain perspective and a broad outlook spiritually on life.

First, there is a book called, "Don't sweat the small stuff, and it is all just small stuff." Coming off of Zen-like material, it echoes the fact that there is SO much suffering in life, no matter what or who you talk to. I recall talking to some who passed Step 1 without any problems and THEY DO NOT APPRECIATE their jobs that much. But I recently talked to a guy yesterday when I was on call who after college parked cars and did ODD jobs...then he went to a med school, and coming to the US, he had a difficult time passing step 1. BUT..after he succeeded, it all felt SO GOOD to him, like climbing a BIG MOUNTAIN.

I think this is TRUE. If you do NOT gain a inner peace and wisdom, you will feel sad no matter what, it is only a matter of time. If you pass step 1 and then fail Step 2, you will feel a deep sting. If you become a doctor and then get sued by on of your patients and you did nothing wrong, then you also will get slammed emotionally. I know this super smart plastic surgeon who is SO good, but because he did not TRIP up on the USMLEs, he does not know failure and NOW, one of his friends told me that he and his wife are arguing a lot. Someone else who PASSED easily may feel they HAVE to be the head of their department, and if they fail, then they will feel that sting, someone else who passed the steps will try to win the NOBEL prize, and they may likely fail... Life is gonna sting everyone, and we all need to pray together and work together to find our spiritual core and the peace. If not, this is only the beginning... a child who is not as bright, a child who becomes very sick, a husband/wife that is unfaithful, etc.

Thus, for those who are having so much trouble, understand that I heard the NBME is not raising the PASS level because even the USA students are now starting for unknown reasons to falter on the Step 1. Really. The test is nearly impossible and does not measure how smart you are. It only measure how well you can do on the Step 1 given your burdens in life. And IMGs HAVE a rougher time, without a doubt!

To conclude, I echo Cadusma and others who are helping us all out. Wait until you are really ready. You will know when you are. Use these concepts and other question bank sources to assess your progress. Even with the famous First Aid, you need to make flashcards and/or have a friend QUIZ you while you are not looking. I even heard of a group who MADE UP A GAME LIKE TRIVIAL PURSUIT (A BOARD GAME), and asked questions with each other.

There are SO many ways to go. A thousand different paths to take. And I CANNOT PROMISE THAT EVERYONE WILL MAKE IT this year...but you must listen to God and your circumstances.

With the competition SO TOUGH in the USA, the NBME has the ability to make the test so impossible. If we lived ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO, I heard that there was NO NBME or board test. Even the MCAT was not born yet. Immigrants were swarming into the USA and doctors were in dire need! And science was not very advanced, and so much of the pharmacology was just primitive, like a mixture of heroin and alcohol for pain. Seriously.. It is just the weird time that we live in.

The step 1 may be "too extreme", of that I agree. But since now we must accept fate, we need to embrace a quiet hope that we will eventually find our way. Consider people who work all their lives to build something throughout history only to have it all wiped away without their control. We are still lucky to live now, in AD 2004.

So, to finish, sit back, continue emailing this board for suggestions, and try to find a way to tailor your understanding and "gaining" knowledge with your own situation and abilities. I absolutely believe those with determination WILL pass, but I cannot say WHEN. But, I do agree that God may have another plan for you, and if you cannot find the time to study (if you have a sick mother at home and/or you MUST work to feed your younger brother), God is calling you to a different path...at least for now. There is a great MYSTERY in life, and accepting it and still feeling hope and a "stillness" is what life is all about.

Praying for you all,

Tommyk

[Anonymous]

tommyk, thanks for this message. it calmed me down my test is in one month. i needed a reason to get quiet and calm. Robert