Uni (and Medicine and Auckland): to work or not to work?

Should you work while studying?

This is a controversial topic. 

My short answer to that question? It depends, but I think yes. 

Now for my long answer. 

It's going to be difficult. Especially with medicine being such an intense, hectic and time consuming degree. I'm not going to try tell you that it's not. But nonetheless,  I think it's important to at least try. And here are my reasons why. 

1. It helps with your time management skills. 

Knowing that you have to work will make you less likely to procrastinate. You'll know what you have to get done and it'll help you to prepare for clinical years when you work long hours. 

2. A lil' money never hurt nobody 

We're poor students. But we want to spend. We need money in order to spend. Nuff said. 

3. You'll develop essential life skills 

Working helps to develop skills and attributes that will help in your interview and in life. Communication, teamwork, and a strong work ethic are skills you likely learn and attributes that they look for in medical students. 

4. You can never have too much work experience

This follows on from my last point because the greater variety of work that you have done, the more skills you have. That makes you a well-rounded person and a standout candidate. 

5. Stress is normal but you've got to learn to deal with it 

Working, studying and socialising are easy by themselves. Together? It can cause a hot mess. You will get stressed. You will feel like pulling your hair out. You will feel tempted to just pull up the covers and stay in bed all day. But you won't. Because you'll learn that stress is normal. We all experience it and if you get into med school, it'll just happen in greater frequency. But therein lies the beauty of it. You'll learn more about yourself as a person. How to notice when you're getting stressed, how to cope with it, and most importantly, how to relieve it. 

So while some say that study is so hectic and you'll have time to make money later when you're successful so you shouldn't focus on working, I think that it's never too early to start. And to be completely honest, it'll probably help you become more successful in the long run. 

So see if you can find something! Obviously don't do a 20 hour/week job unless you're a superhuman who doesn't need to sleep and eat. But try and find a role that works for you. Persistence is key. 

-Diana