Providing a helping hand, and gaining friends along the way

People say that a helping hand can go a long way. I believe in that notion, and through a helping hand so many things start to unravel unconsciously.

I have been in contact with an aspiring med student for these past couple of days, and the questions she has bombarded me with reminded me of myself when I was an aspiring med student. The thought of uncertainty pummeled my courage during those times, during which I thought that getting into a med school of choice was a big pain in the ass. Before, I'd punch through Med forums and read comments and suggestions, and from there I'd get to build my confidence and optimism that I may make it into Med school. From that moment on, I started to open a thread, from which the 1st thread that I started was way back in 2008, where I looked for people who were also applying into UERM for SY 2009-2010. That was quite a long time ago. During those times, all of the people who were in that thread which I opened also felt the same thing: uncertain of their chances into making it to UERM. Some of them would eventually become my classmates and batchmates. Some would end up not going into UERM but into different Med schools. Nevertheless, the effect of that was so surreal, I wanted to return the favor by making another thread, this time for those who wanted to make it in for 2010-2011.

My second thread was that of those who were aspiring to make it for this present school year. Aspirants, left and right, would ask their questions and allay their worries and thoughts of uncertainty through that thread. The upper batch men were there to answer the queries of the aspirants, and the power of the helping hand started to make good progress. I, for one, made a new friend along the way during those times. The power of the helping hand led me to that person who would eventually become a friend of mine as of this present time. From those simple small talk questions about UERM, a good friendship grew from it, and it all started from a thread and a blog post.

Last year, I opened another thread for those planning to enter Med in UERM for next school year. At present, there are more than 8,500+ views and almost 200 replies within that thread which I started last October. A lot of aspirants vent out their fears and questions about making it in, and the upper batch men and some of them who may have passed through the interview and other sorts answer questions that are relevant to the situations at hand. Unconsciously, these aspirants start to make good relationships with their co-applicants. For the upper batch men, they also get to start building rapport with applicants, and that is a very good thing. I, for one, have been talking with an applicant and through the power of the helping hand I'm starting to gain her friendship and get to know her more. That is why I keep on opening threads like the ones in a med forum site: a helping hand can help lots and gain new friends along the way.

I hope that the applicants who are busy conversing within that trending thread in that forum site make it in. I hope that the person whom I'm presently conversing with also makes it into UERM.

Again, a helping hand can really go a long, long way in ways you least expect it.