Mirja Lehmann is a first-year student of Medicine. The degree she is pursuing is the state examination.
What made you choose this degree programme?
I wanted to study medicine as early as at the age of 14; after completing my A-levels, I spent a gap year doing volunteer work in order to ascertain whether I would be suited for the medical profession. Once the year was over, I was not only dead set on studying medicine, but I was also sure about my future profession.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
When it comes to anatomy, my expectations were surpassed. Being able to analyse and study the human body up to and including the tiniest cells is a fabulous experience. Naturally, you will have to do a lot of cramming that is often conducted into well into the night. Basic subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics, where medical facts were of secondary importance, proved particularly difficult. Initially, there's a lot of theory. Practical training programmes and especially the anatomy class were a nice change.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
The scientific facts. People who are gifted in this regard will find them easy to handle. I am particularly looking forward to being able to apply the knowledge I acquired to help people. Collaboration with my fellow students works out very well, we can truly rely on each other.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
The switch from having a job to university life and moving out from home. At first, I found the curriculum quite overwhelming, and being homesick didn't exactly help. But it simply takes time to find your own rhythm and to establish a routine and an order. Today, I enjoy living on my own very much, and the curriculum is much easier to handle if you set up your own revision schedule.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
I want to work as an anaesthetist. This is the area of work that I found most appealing during my gap year as a volunteer with the emergency medical services, and I would also like to work as a physician in preclinical emergency medicine.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
You must be aware that medicine should not be taken lightly. It is a discipline that requires hard work. You must be able to deal with setbacks. But if you really want it, you will make it – and this does not mean you have to spend all the time studying. Together with the friends you’ll make here, you can have a lot of fun during and after the lectures. But: never lose sight of your exam schedule!
