First class infrastructure, third class mind set; or vice versa?

There had been no news bout our transfer issue lately, and as for me, my urge to leave this place died off. I don’t know why, maybe throughout these few weeks, I got even better adapted to this place and the people here. (And I also found other ways of entertainments) Well, presently, I would like to take the challenge to stay in this place and graduate successfully after 5 years. “Wouldn’t it be a greater success compared to other medical students who studied under a comfortable and pampered environment?” I thought to my self. There had also been many articles about us being published in the press of Malaysia, and our condition here in Mangalore had been a ‘big’ issue to the government of Malaysia, the administrations of KMC, and of course parents and students.

Recently, our prime minister told the Malaysian citizens that we can’t afford to have the first class infrastructure, but with people of third class mind set. I totally agree with that. Yes, we have the tallest and newest buildings, broadest high ways, latest technologies and infrastructure, but are the people of Malaysia really do have the standard to be at the highest level? There are corruptions, racism, laziness, crimes, and attitude problems, to name a few. In china, they named the next coming generation as the ‘fragile generation’, why? These new-born are the only child in the family, and with the wealth and stability in the sense of economy of the country having now, definitely these children will be pampered like mad. Their last generation fought so hard to achieve all these that we could see in china today, and the next generation just get all these comforts easily without even need to raise their hand to work- for sure, that generation will be too fragile to face any problems in life, not to say taking over the leadership of the country. Look at US, UK, they are having the top facilities and technologies, but are the people really living in ‘good’ life? Terrorism, war, crimes, divorce, premarital sex, shootings… the moral and religious values of the people in these countries had been dropping, in fact is now in a critical state. These people are suffering deep inside even though they have the best infrastructure outside. Why? The answer is simple; this generation works too little and got all they’re having now too easily- without going through hardships. They do not know the meaning of appreciation, gratitude, and took things for granted too often. Let’s get back to Malaysia, the reason why we are having the achievements we see now is because of the generations who went through the independence. Yes. They fought, they suffered, they persevered, they worked, and when they finally got their success, they appreciate, they treasure, and they work even harder to achieve the better, and they appreciate again, they give thanks. There’s not even a thought of going out when they’re too free to do stupid things, to do something that spoil the goodness, or break the harmonious environment they achieved.

Same thing applies to medical students (and of course all students of all courses too). Whenever we trace back who are the best batch that came out of a medical school, or where are those ‘best doctors’ in the hospitals come from, there’s always a trait- they are those who went through the most hardships, but still able to overcome (or to oversee) them, those who always focus on their purpose, who understand what suffering means, who appreciate all that they’re having. These are the doctors who can really understand the patients, who are willing to work extra hard and sacrifice themselves. Yes, this place of which I’m studying now is hard to live at, in case of apparent infrastructure, but what makes the most difference is the mind. The MIND is the most powerful thing God created on our body, and from a medical point of view, the mind (or brain) controls all the adrenaline, the thought, and the feeling that tell the other parts of the body what to response. A different mind set is what separates a happy and a sad person, a cheerful and an angry one, or the appreciative and the grumbling man.

Let us now face the fact, and be positive. The infrastructure and the campus of KMC, Mangalore is not good, but if we persevered though and graduate well, is it not a greater joy and achievement compared to those who study in a much better environment in IMU, UK, Ireland or any place else( pardon me, I mean no offence to those of my friends who are studying there). This place has got a good reputation of producing one of those best doctors in the world, and we must be proud of ourselves (those who studied in a medical school with no reputation and not even recognized had succeed, why can’t we). The food here is terrible, so let’s get out of this place and out of these foods in the minimum of 5 years time, not staying back for another year due to failure. The local people around are empathy and disgusting to be seen, but this is the best chance for us to learn how to value life, how to love them and accept them- they’re the future patients, and if we can’t be at the same level as them, how can we treat them well? And also, being in this place is like going back to the old days of Malaysia when our parents and grandparents once lived, and isn’t it great to be able to experience “Back To The Future”? Yes, the driving on the road here is scary, but isn't it what all the young drivers in Malaysia craved for?- speeding n excitement. Wouldn’t it be a much happier ending for us to have a first class mind set in a third class environment than vice versa?

However, sometimes I find myself hard to accept me being a doctor (and many of my friends thought that too), sounds funny right?! I’m those “let’s-be-cool”; “enjoy-comes-first”; “happy-go-lucky”; “who-cares”; “slow-and-steady” kind of person. I really can’t see myself being a noble, selfless, and patient doctor. Maybe God will slowly change me inside out by putting me in this place, or, maybe, I might just be a ‘different kind’ of doctor in the future.’J

p/s: inspired by dr. nagra, Pro Vice-Chancellor and the Dean of Melaka Manipal Medical College in Malaysia, who purposely flew to Mangalore and visit us- a bunch of monkey ambassador from Malaysia :P