High School students talk about the MIR and the guards
Madrid, Spain – For students aspiring to become doctors, the journey to pursuing a medical career is one of dedication, vocation, and sacrifice. Cristina Casado, a 2nd year high school student at Secondary Education Institute (IES) Las Musas in Madrid, shared that her desire to help others is what motivates her to pursue Medicine. Other students, such as Valentina Argüello, have been similarly inspired by personal experiences, with Argüello being driven to help others after her grandfather passed away from lung cancer in 2019.
When asked about the Specialized Sanitary Training (FSE) and specifically the MIR exam, the majority of high school students acknowledged obtaining information from social networks such as TikTok. Elena Lozano, a first-year Baccalaureate student, noted that the MIR exam is a very difficult test to choose a specialty, with the ‘reward’ being the opportunity to work in their chosen field. Natalia Pescador, another student, shared that she has heard about the preparation, academies, and the duration of the MIR test and the reception afterward.
The operation of the 24-hour medical guards has been one of the biggest surprises for these students. Many of them had never heard of it before and found the notion of these long shifts to be overwhelming. Claudia Seano recognized the importance of vocation as a driving force to face these challenges. Meanwhile, Cristina Casado found the demanding schedule of the guards to be a bit excessive for beginner doctors and believes it puts their ability to care for patients at risk.
With the EBAU (evaluation for university access) approaching, several students have contemplated what would happen if they could not achieve the necessary grades for Medicine. Celia Sanchez, a 1st year Baccalaureate student, has considered alternative paths such as vocational training or studying other careers like Vet or a Double Degree in Psychology and Criminology. Valentina Argüello has similarly considered Nursing as a backup plan.
It is clear that aspiring doctors face many challenges before and during their medical careers, and it is important for them to be aware of the realities they will encounter as they pursue their dreams. Regardless of the path they choose, their dedication, vocation, and willingness to serve others are evident, and they will undoubtedly make a positive impact in the medical field.