Literary Dose For Medical Students To Excel

Some medical students of the University of Lagos smiled home recently when copies of the book, The personal business Plan: a blue print for running your life, were distributed to them by the TOMEB Foundation in partnership with ExxonMobil.

The book, which topic aligned with the theme of the discourse, ‘A Dignified Successful Future is Possible’, at a one-day empowerment programme for final year students of College of Medicine, University of Lagos, was meant to help consolidate what was discussed at the forum. So, before the books were dished out, there were paper presentation by the Country Managing Director, Accenture, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, who spoke on the ‘Art and Science of Self Knowledge’; Dr. Ibipo Abdurraheem-Salami of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, delivered a paper on the ‘Principles and Practice of Goal Setting and Achieving them’ while the Managing Director/CEO, CRC Credit Bureau and founder of TOMEB Foundation, Mr. Tunde Popoola, had a presentation on ‘Dealing with Procrastination’.

Some of the dignitaries at the programme were the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, College Secretary, Mr. Oladejo Azeez and Deptuty Director, Students Affairs, Dr. Moshood Akinleye.

In his paper, Yusuf advised the students to reinvent themselves by developing communication skills that will enable them interact with people, stressing that students should have affinity for experimentation and penchant for change.
Speaking further, Yusuf asked rhetorically; “Do you know who you are and what motivates you? What do you like and what you would die for?” For him, having an answer to these questions are very important skills in life endeavours. Succeeding, according to Yusuf, goes beyond parading a first class certificate but having the right attitude towards the publics provided the path to navigate in life even in the face of challenges.

He argued that passion can also help to succeed in life but it is however not automatic because it involves continuous learning and improving on ones skill. “Also, study yourself on when you perform best. Is it at the 11th hour or continuous preparation? Then what keeps you going? Do you excel when you are shown incentive. What makes you excel? What motivates you? The entire aforementioned are important because when you spend eight years doing something you become an expert.

Yusuf advised the participants to start being conscious of what they are good at while acknowledging what they still have yet to learn. “Self-awareness helps you identify your strengths, weakness, drives and personalities, habits and values and ultimately identify areas for continuous improvement.”

Going philosophical, he concluded “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. Take this opportunity to decide, based on who you are, where you want to go and how to get there.”

In his presentation, ‘Principles and practice of goals setting and achievements’, Senior Registrar in the Department of Public Heath, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibipo Abdurraheem-Salami, expressed concern about rising unemployment among health workers, noting that the quality of training is not improving with the changing times. She however stated that medical personnel must always have a clear plan of what they want out of life. “Unless you are excellent as doctors, you won’t fly. Know yourself before setting a goal. This is important, as it helps to envisage what you want to be in future.”

Have you wondered why people don’t set goals?, she asked. According to her, it may be due to ignorance, fear of failure or rejection She advised the participants to stop rationalizing, justifying or even blaming. “Ensure that you achieve any goal you set for yourself.” She however stated that the goals and values must be in congruent with one another to avoid stress, anger, negativity, pessimism and frustration. She summed up by saying “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

Treating the topic, ‘Dealing with Procrastination’, convener of the programme and founder of TOMEB Foundation, Mr. Tunde Popoola said procrastination is the number one enemy that differs goals. He implored the participants to avoid wrong delay.

Enumerating causes of procrastination, he said the major one is impulsiveness. Noting that it is not everybody that will be successful except they take the right steps, he suggested setting goals, dreaming it and living by it. “A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward achieving it.”

While procrastination has been identified as number one enemy militating against achieving goals, Popoola advised the participants to always plan in advance by embracing the 6Ps’ formula of Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

While challenging the participants to wake up to self-discovery, Popoola asked, how hungry they are to succeed. “What are you willing to do to achieve your goals? How many personal sacrifices are you prepared to make?

He emphasized that drive is the personality dimension that taps into desire to succeed. “It is the extent to which you need to compete, win, achieve, take charge, claw your way up the career ladder and get ahead.”

On how to achieve set goals, Popoola said focusing on single action will help to start the big task project. “A journey of a thousand years starts with a single step. Select any goal on which you have been procrastinating and take one step immediately. Make a list of all the steps you will need to complete the task. Also, do the most important and difficult task. How do you achieve it?
“Do not follow the normal route of most people; always start your day by doing your most important difficult task first. How? “Make a list of all that you have to do the next day, week, review the list using the ‘ABCDE’ method and the 80/20 per cent rule,” he said.

In her vote of thanks, the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos and chief host, Prof. Folasade Ogunshola thanked the organisers of the programme, as it was very enlightening and educating. She therefore charged the participants to use the tips learnt to guide themselves in their life pursuits.