Maria Ahsan: Studying at IMU is One of the Most Memorable Times of My Life


Hi everyone! I’m Maria Ahsan from the batch ME219 and I recently graduated with a Bachelor in Medical Sciences (Hons) from IMU.

 

My journey in IMU began in August 2019 when I joined the medical programme at IMU having chosen its Partner Medical School Graduate pathway for my studies. It has since been filled with exciting opportunities, challenges and most importantly, it taught me to maintain persistence and positivity in the face of adversity, to keep dreaming big, to keep doing the things that scare me and picking myself up even when it seems impossible.

 

Having most of my pre-clinical years online was a new normal that I had to adapt to which had both its pros and cons. Online recorded lectures allowed me to have flexibility in my schedule and it gave me an opportunity to learn at my own pace as I could watch it on my own time. With these recordings, I am also able to rewind and replay the parts that I couldn’t understand well.

 

On the other hand, there was the loss of gaining physical experience and it did get lonely over the semesters as the university environment can give a push that studying alone at home doesn’t. Thankfully, always having study calls with my friends and being able to communicate with lecturers who were extremely responsive through Microsoft Teams certainly helped me feel connected. A special thanks to Dr Huma Shahzad and Dr Sunila Rolani who guided me and gave me reassurance when I needed it the most.

 

I believe that we are each a patchwork quilt of those who have loved us, those who have believed in our futures, those who showed us empathy and kindness or told us the truth even when it wasn’t easy to hear. Those people in my life were my parents, my lecturers, and my friends who I’m extremely grateful and thankful for.

 

After Semester 5, I undertook a 6-month research project where I had an extremely helpful module coordinator, Dr Tan Boon Keat and the best supervisors I could ask for, Dr Phyu Synn Oo, Dr Saint Nway Aye and A/Prof Dr Purushotham Krishnappa.



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