Prologue
All acts and scenes which may have occurred in this series are inspired by true events. Characters and roles are personal and have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Any reproduction of this copyrighted material is strongly prohibited and admissible in a court of law. True Memoirs of a Medic
EPISODE ONE – THE BEGINNING
‘It is not always the size of the frame that matters, but the window itself’ –Anonymous
Hello there! Yeah, this is Fola Davies, live and direct. You can increase the screen brightness on whatever device you are reading this on. In the next thirteen episodes, I would be narrating my ordeal in medical school and I would love it if you followed me raptly, with no distractions. Born into and raised in a family of five and with all the challenges I have had to face, life has been one Culloden after the other. I was not the brightest lad but I sure had something unique inside. My mum used to lament the many times she felt I was dumb and had a low intelligent quotient (IQ). I was not a dumb kid but I had my flaws as every other teenager would. Moderately social, intolerant, practical and argumentative were qualities which could not evade me. At times I preferred being alone, without anyone intruding the privacy of my thoughts. My peers called it narcissism but I was just being myself, typical me.
“Fola! Fola! You just got admitted to study medicine“. Zahra came rushing to my room to deliver this good news to me on that fateful night while I was pondering over what to do if I didn’t make the list but fortunately I got in. She noticed I was not overjoyed and asked, “Fola, why aren’t you enthusiastic about the news?“ “It doesn’t matter came my response“. Believe me I was not sad or happy; my thoughts just decided to embrace diplomacy for that moment. The reason was not far-fetched – it just did not matter any longer, what with a justifiable account of my previous encounters with seeking admission. It did feel like a breakthrough but not a joyful one. Two months pre–medical school, I decided to check out new trends and classical vogues I had lost track of. The struggle for a chance to study medicine was a daunting task that nearly overwhelmed me but it obviously did not.
It was a Monday morning as I strolled into the hall appreciating the massive number of students in the hall. I began to miss the sobriety and serenity that dined with me during my admission pursuit times. I could not help but marvel at the way every admitted student complimented me each time I spat ‘Medicine and Surgery‘ each time I was asked my course of study. They all looked at me like I was an alien that descended with a brain from krypton. They had no idea I was as normal as they were, which made me arrive at a hypothetical conclusion that no one notices your struggle but the result that pays off at the end. The first lecturer came in and started teaching. Apart from the fact that he was incoherent and inaudible, I could not help but notice he was not sound at what he did. He kept repeating the same lines he had already said minutes ago. “Welcome to the University“, said Ben. Ben Appa was the first guy I had a long conversation with at school. We were both debutants but he seemed to be more conversant with the way life went on around there. “Yes, man! Hey, how you doing bro?“ I replied with a friendly face. We spoke for minutes about our travails and how the admission process seemed tough and competitive to us but our discussion was cut short by a friend who came over to tell Ben the date of his medicals were set. We said our farewells and hoped to see each other later. Unknown to me, it would be weeks before I discovered he was also studying medicine from other good friends I met.
Back in my small apartment, I was reminiscing on the day‘s activities; and this routine continued for weeks till the semester finally came to an end. “I am sorry I don’t think I can do this anymore“ were the exact words I told Kimberly Jones as I broke off a relationship which had lasted about a year and seven months. I am guessing you want to know why? Then do not forget to read our next episode that drops in some days’ time. Stay tuned! Scribbled by Lamina Ifeoluwa a medical student at Olabisi Onabanjo University.
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