A day in the life of a medical student is so different from a regular student’s day. I’m Nigerian, so everything I’ll be saying in this article is from my point of view.
You’re probably a newly admitted medical student who just got into a Nigerian university or Someone waiting to get into medical school in Nigeria or just a random person who isn’t in the medical field and has an interest in this article.
Well, A day in the Life of a Nigerian Medical Student is quite different from what you’ve read on other blogs or watched in some YouTube videos.
Watching these medical Students abroad wake up and have a cup of coffee, put on makeup, leave for class, go to the hospital for ward rounds, and come back and read for about 8 hours is just really misleading to Nigerian soon-to-be medical students.
It can never happen in a Nigerian university. We don’t have enough time for breakfast, talk less of wearing make-up.
In fact, being a medical student in Nigeria will only make you rethink your decision to study medicine.
Regular mornings in the life of a medical student?
So, I usually wake up by 7:00 a.m. (that’s kind of late, but you can’t blame me). The first thing I do on a normal school day is to “pray”.
When I’m done with my devotion, I start my daily faith proclamations. “I am beautiful, I am rich, I am perfect, I am divinely favored, all things are mine” and more.
Classes are usually by 8 a.m., so I barely have any time to spare.
Finally, I get up from bed and immediately rush to the bathroom for my business.
As soon as I’m done, I dress up and go to class. Yes, I don’t ever have breakfast.
Instead, I take a bottle of water and a piece of gum to chew throughout my 4-hour class before break.
This is just to make sure my mouth doesn’t smell because I’m usually quiet In class.
What is my after-class routine like as a Nigerian medical student?
Classes are usually from 8 am – 12 pm or sometimes 2 pm (for preclinical students). But lately, it has been 12 p.m.
Once my classes are over, I get lunch immediately or attend practicals, which sometimes take my whole day from 1-5 p.m.
I recently started journaling and it’s literally the best thing ever. I usually don’t have time to plan my day in the morning so I just do it after classes. This is because nothing happens during the day except for classes.
Okay where was I, yes after my lunch around 12/1 pm, I start journaling. I plan my day, make my to-do list, write what I’m grateful for, write how I’m feeling currently, and then I send snaps. Omg, I take my Snapchat streaks seriously.
After that, I rest.
Ps: Do not ever sleep or close your eyes for a quick nap in the afternoon saying you’ll wake up an hour later to read. It never works. I’m actually speaking from experience.
While resting, I use the app Duolingo. Oui, de rien (that’s French omg) means, yes you’re welcome.
I’m currently learning the French language if you haven’t already guessed. This is not a sponsored post but this app is honestly the best way to learn French or any foreign language you’re interested in. This app keeps me busy while resting just so I don’t sleep off.
Once it’s 3 p.m., I’m active again. I read from 3-5 pm then I take a quick nap. I usually read for a minimum of 2 hours per day. You really shouldn’t do less in a day. Then I take a quick nap.
What is my evening routine like as a Nigerian medical student?
When I wake up the first thing I think of is food. I mean, it’s past 8, that’s dinner time. I get food then check my Instagram or any social media as I eat.
When I’m done eating, I check things off my to-do list or write something down in my journal.
And it’s past 10 pm already. I start reading again. This time, It’s 10 pm-11 pm.
After that, my roommates and I gist about the most hilarious things and I watch YouTube or do whatever I want because I deserve it.
Finally, I sleep by past 1 a.m. or so. Yes, I always sleep late and that’s why I wake up past 7 am.
You’re probably asking yourself when she has time to watch movies, hang out with friends, practice self-care, and all that. The truth is between 12-3 p.m., I watch YouTube or any social media I want to use.
Then is there self-care in a Nigeria medical school? I’m really not a movie person so I don’t watch much of it. Sometimes I don’t sleep at all.
After reading till 5 pm, I rest a little then prepare to see a friend by 7pm.
Curfew is by 10 p.m., so it helps me to be on track. I get food as I’m coming and I start reading immediately after eating. most times.
Final thoughts
If you plan on getting into medical school in Nigeria, you should expect your day to look like this.
Don’t watch so many YouTube videos of medical students outside Nigeria so you don’t daydream or think medical school is that way. This isn’t grownish, it’s reality. Rather watch YouTube videos of Nigerian medical students.
My daily life in Nigeria medical school is a repeated cycle honestly.
Weekends are a little bit different though. The truth is studying medicine at a Nigerian university is draining and can hurt your mental health.
We medical students just wake up every day and push ourselves.
Make sure to share this with any medical student, and let them know there’s someone going through what they’re going through. No one is truly alone.
