Our beloved Kasr Al-Ainy campus houses students of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities and passions. The one thing we all have in common, beside sharing a major, is our human experience. An experience that is often grueling if I may say so.
We’re all stumbling through our first trial at life on Earth which makes it only natural to often have regrets. It is innate for humans to constantly make mistakes. These mistakes are often the driving force that makes us better people. It puts our faults into perspective and pushes us to improve our souls into ones tolerable for us and those around us.
With that being said, please allow me to divulge to you some things that Kasr Al-Ainy students will change if they could go back in time.
The most common regret we received was not setting the correct boundaries in friendships. Apparently it is common practice -that I was also guilty of- to hurl ourselves into friendships the moment we are introduced to college life. I believe it is only natural, we are very social creatures and we will always look for people that fit us best and understand us among crowds. We will even do anything to get there, going as far as befriending crowds of people and getting close to those who may be harmful to us in the long run.
One of the replies we got described a tendency to isolate themselves from others, in hopes of strengthening their relationship with a single person. They described it as harmful and unnecessary, because you often lose the chance at fruitful friendships. It is always best to prioritise your own health and needs to the wants of a group, which is a trap many of us fall into when we strive to be likeable.
On the other hand, others had a fleeting wish of developing more friendships throughout their college life, or meeting their friends earlier. I say fleeting because one of the students that mentioned this regret described it as a distant desire that is too late to fulfill. If you are reading this, I want you to know that it is never too late; our lives extend beyond university and you have all the time in the world to fulfill your wish.
The second commonest regret was a thirst to invest in their free time in a more fulfilling way. Some described it as such a simple desire for something worthwhile filling their free time. While others described it very specifically in the form of learning a new language, gaining more experience in life or getting to know themselves better.
They spoke nothing but the truth. We often forget the rest of our lives focusing only on the academics when the world is full of wonders and immense knowledge. We are young and healthy, and we have so much potential to step into the limitless world with skills beyond our medical knowledge. If you were contemplating today whether you should wrap up your study time an hour or two earlier to invest in something you want to do, I advise you to go right ahead.
Academic regrets finally take the stage, the ones I can positively attest to and can confidently claim that most of you -my friends and readers- relate to as well. Starting with a full on wish to have switched to a different major due to the constant stress and never ending conflicts in their work life.
To which I say: I understand and I hope you get guided to the best possible path for you, be it medical or not, so that you can live a comfortable life.
Others wish they had studied better, or gave popular studying tips trials before rejecting them. Most importantly, someone expressed remorse over the space they allowed for stress in their lives. While another lamented not prioritizing their mental health.
I wholeheartedly relate and truly believe that before we mark the world with the knowledge we devoted our lives to, we have to first make sure we can survive long enough to see it.
Some regrets we received were very personal and truly displayed self-reflection in its greatest forms. There was a resonating regret of wanting to start on the road of independence early- whether it be financial independence or other forms. A student wished to have been more patient and obedient to their family.
Another described their wish to rewind time so they can treat someone in a better way. Finally, someone hoped to have forgiven themselves sooner. Whichever it may be, I think you should go right ahead and do it now if you can, so that you can cut this regret and stop it from following you throughout life.
Astonishingly, one particular reply from 3 different people, left me contemplating the depth some of our interviewees reached into their inner conflicts and regrets. It was an answer that reflected the great insight and wisdom that I eventually assumed will be the final station for all of our trains of regret. That is the belief that things could not have been better, because what ends up happening is the best that could have happened.
There was a frank utterance that if they were to get asked the same question a while back they would have had a specific regret that they would want to go back and change. Only to realise later that everything that happened and everything that will happen, all their regrets ultimately lead them to who they are right now and will in due time lead them to the person they will be in the future. While they do have regrets, if given the chance, they will not go back in time and change anything.
The replies we got were varied and extensive but they truly reflected certain truths about each of us and dug deep into our perspectives in life.
I hope you, my dear readers, can take this article as a cautionary tale and a leading grace, maybe it will help you if you are going through a tough time. Either by showing you that you are not alone in your lamentations or assuring you that one day you will reach the station where you will rest and accept your past and regrets, because only then can you move forward in life freely and with no restraints.
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