The big Harry Potter fan that I am, I am surprised to find that medical colleges bear more than a passing resemblance to Hogwarts, the ancient school of witchcraft and wizardry. In December 2001, the World Health Organization announced a global outbreak of Harry Potter fever. Seven strains have been reported so far - all originating in Britain. It gripped the entire world; a few not having the time to read up on the subject, took the flash card approach and saw the movie instead. As the scenes unfolded before my eyes, I was amazed at how J K Rowling's tale of the boy wizard was in fact an allegory for the journey of a modern medical student.
The similarities are uncanny. The journey starts with applying to magical, er, medical college. Now cracking the PMT often feels as difficult as finding platform nine and three quarters at King's Cross station. Some people say that it is too difficult a task, but it can be done by believing in yourself, working hard, and learning from others. Oh, and it also "helps if you get a running start."For some, good results will arrive furiously. While some parents will be "proud to have a witch in the family," Others may believe that the magic system is a "load of old tosh" and want their children to choose another Muggle profession.
Time to pick up supplies :
Letter in hand, it is now time to pick up supplies but where to shop? Diagnosis Alley, of course. Once there, it is necessary to procure the proper equipments, a wand & robes of course. It goes without saying that some schools will not let students bring their own stethoscopes or flying brooms until second year. The Littman Cardio III, it seems, is comparable to the Nimbus 2000.
Classes soon begin, and students learn a diversity of subjects ranging from the effects of Potions (Pharmacology) to the Defence Against Dark (Microbiology). Learning to fly a broom and handling a scalpel require patience and dexterity. After a while, apprentices take their skills to the field. Some of them treat it as a high flying game like Quidditch , competing across the pitch of the clinic. They chase after the elusive golden snitch: the winning diagnosis.
Student quickly realise that they have entered a new realm. Long white cloaks or black robes ensheathe the acolyte. They learn a new vocabulary, struggling to pronounce the magic words correctly (a-TAX-ee-yah, teh-lan-gee-ec-tay-see-AH). Experiences desensitise the learner to what was previously so ghastly and ghoulish. Looking over us is the Ministry of magic, the self - regulating body for wizards.
"It is not our abilities that show what we truly are... it is our choices" :
At some point, Harry and his friends must focus on a particular brand of magic; we too must make such difficult career decisions, and the choice to be made is to work hard. In some mysterious way, personality and experience also contribute to our selection of a specialty. The best we can do is listening to the voice of our internal Sorting Hat before blurting out to the world which path we have chosen. Despite these differences in career and character, medical students bond through shared experiences. As JK Rowling so wisely remarks, " There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a 12 foot mountain troll is one of them."
Perhaps I am stretching this a bit foo far. Perhaps I am trying to conjure something out of thin air. Still, Harry Potter has taught me the danger of carelessly waving our wands. He has also demonstrated the positive impact that caring can have on the lives of others : just as Harry freed the captive and lonely snake from its glass cage, I too will use empathy and understanding to heal.
And that, indeed, is something magical!
The similarities are uncanny. The journey starts with applying to magical, er, medical college. Now cracking the PMT often feels as difficult as finding platform nine and three quarters at King's Cross station. Some people say that it is too difficult a task, but it can be done by believing in yourself, working hard, and learning from others. Oh, and it also "helps if you get a running start."For some, good results will arrive furiously. While some parents will be "proud to have a witch in the family," Others may believe that the magic system is a "load of old tosh" and want their children to choose another Muggle profession.
Time to pick up supplies :
Letter in hand, it is now time to pick up supplies but where to shop? Diagnosis Alley, of course. Once there, it is necessary to procure the proper equipments, a wand & robes of course. It goes without saying that some schools will not let students bring their own stethoscopes or flying brooms until second year. The Littman Cardio III, it seems, is comparable to the Nimbus 2000.
Classes soon begin, and students learn a diversity of subjects ranging from the effects of Potions (Pharmacology) to the Defence Against Dark (Microbiology). Learning to fly a broom and handling a scalpel require patience and dexterity. After a while, apprentices take their skills to the field. Some of them treat it as a high flying game like Quidditch , competing across the pitch of the clinic. They chase after the elusive golden snitch: the winning diagnosis.
Student quickly realise that they have entered a new realm. Long white cloaks or black robes ensheathe the acolyte. They learn a new vocabulary, struggling to pronounce the magic words correctly (a-TAX-ee-yah, teh-lan-gee-ec-tay-see-AH). Experiences desensitise the learner to what was previously so ghastly and ghoulish. Looking over us is the Ministry of magic, the self - regulating body for wizards.
"It is not our abilities that show what we truly are... it is our choices" :
At some point, Harry and his friends must focus on a particular brand of magic; we too must make such difficult career decisions, and the choice to be made is to work hard. In some mysterious way, personality and experience also contribute to our selection of a specialty. The best we can do is listening to the voice of our internal Sorting Hat before blurting out to the world which path we have chosen. Despite these differences in career and character, medical students bond through shared experiences. As JK Rowling so wisely remarks, " There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a 12 foot mountain troll is one of them."
Perhaps I am stretching this a bit foo far. Perhaps I am trying to conjure something out of thin air. Still, Harry Potter has taught me the danger of carelessly waving our wands. He has also demonstrated the positive impact that caring can have on the lives of others : just as Harry freed the captive and lonely snake from its glass cage, I too will use empathy and understanding to heal.
And that, indeed, is something magical!
Ritu Ramdeo
Batch 2004
