If I Was a Student Again, I'd Do This

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on their first year of medical school and the challenges they faced, then shares eight transformative strategies that improved their academic performance and overall university experience. These strategies include effective time management through calendar use, efficient studying techniques, collaborative study with friends, joining clubs for diverse experiences, learning universal skills like public speaking, experimenting with side hustles, capturing memories through photos, and surrounding oneself with energizing people. The speaker emphasizes the importance of intentional time use and leveraging university life for personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

• 📅 Calendar Mastery: The speaker emphasizes the importance of using a calendar to manage time effectively, which was a game-changer for their university experience.
• 🎓 Efficient Study Techniques: Learning how to study efficiently through evidence-based methods can significantly improve learning outcomes and exam performance.
• 👥 Studying with Friends: Group study sessions can enhance the learning process, making it more effective and enjoyable by combining the Pomodoro technique with social support.
• 🔧 Universal Toolbox Skills: Acquiring skills like public speaking, negotiation, and video editing can provide lifelong benefits across various career paths.
• 💡 Side Hustles: Experimenting with side hustles during university can lead to financial independence and the development of valuable business skills.
• 📸 Capturing Memories: Taking photos is a simple yet effective way to preserve memories and look back fondly on the university experience.
• 🌟 Surrounding with Energizers: Prioritizing time with people who uplift and energize can improve overall life enjoyment and productivity.
• 🏫 Joining Clubs and Societies: Participating in various clubs and societies can offer diverse experiences and potential career advantages, akin to the sampling approach of successful athletes.
• 🛠 Skillshare for Skill Development: Skillshare is highlighted as a valuable resource for learning a wide array of skills, including studying techniques and productivity.
• 🤝 Building Lasting Relationships: University is an opportune time to make lifelong friends and create meaningful memories.
• 🚀 Time Management Beyond Studies: The speaker regrets not spending more time on personal development and exploration outside of academic commitments.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial experience like during their first year of medical school?

The speaker describes their first year as a mess, with an overwhelming workload, falling behind in lectures, receiving poor grades, and a lack of sleep due to late-night socializing.

What strategies did the speaker implement to improve their university experience?

The speaker started using a calendar to manage their time effectively, learned efficient studying techniques, studied with friends, joined more clubs and societies, learned skills in the 'universal toolbox,' experimented with side hustles, took more photos, and surrounded themselves with energizing people.

How did the speaker transform their calendar usage to improve productivity?

The speaker began scheduling every aspect of their day in the calendar, including waking up, doing homework, attending lectures, club activities, and socializing, turning a blank slate into a 'rainbow looking calendar.'

What is the 'Pomodoro technique' mentioned by the speaker, and how did it help their study sessions?

The Pomodoro technique involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break. The speaker used this method with friends during exam term, which made studying more effective and enjoyable due to the social aspect and structured breaks.

Why did the speaker wish to have joined more clubs and societies during university?

The speaker believes that joining clubs and societies provides a variety of experiences that can enrich life and potentially offer career advantages, drawing a parallel to the approach of successful athletes who sample different sports before specializing.

What is the 'universal toolbox' and why is it important to learn skills from it?

The 'universal toolbox' refers to a set of skills such as public speaking, negotiation, video editing, coding, and presentation skills that are beneficial across various careers and life situations, providing a synergistic effect.

How did the speaker's involvement in side hustles during university contribute to their later success?

The speaker's side hustles, which started with private tutoring and evolved into running courses and doing UI/UX design, laid the foundation for their YouTube channel and provided financial benefits, autonomy, and choice in their career.

What role did photography play in the speaker's university experience and later life?

Photography allowed the speaker to capture memories of their university life, enabling them to look back and relive those moments years later, which also helped in maintaining connections with friends.

Why is it beneficial to surround oneself with 'energizers' according to the speaker?

Surrounding oneself with energizers lifts energy levels, making life more enjoyable and providing more energy for studies and other important activities, in contrast to spending time with people who drain energy.

What is the significance of the speaker's advice on being intentional with the time outside of studying hours?

Being intentional with time allocation outside of studying hours allows students to engage in activities that can lead to personal growth, skill development, and the creation of meaningful memories, rather than defaulting to unproductive behaviors.

How did the speaker's experience with managing time and building a business on the side while in medical school influence their YouTube channel?

The speaker's experience in managing time effectively and building businesses during medical school provided them with the skills and insights that they now share on their YouTube channel, which focuses on productivity and personal development.