When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?
Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. When you work in the medical field, those setbacks can be amplified. While attending a graduate professional program, even more so because your grades can significantly determine your future career's success. Therefore, interviewers want to know how you handle stress and disappointment and if you can maintain a high level of performance despite setbacks. Discuss how you typically cope with setbacks while not letting the situation consume you and derail your focus.
"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be very disheartening, especially when involving a project that I have put a lot of time and effort into. I understand that setbacks happen to everyone - despite their level of expertise or years of experience. If I experience a major setback, I will take a few moments to debrief internally, get some fresh air if possible, or discuss what I could have done differently with a mentor. Then, I move on. Rather than dwell on my mistakes, I choose to learn from them."
