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 renowned medical school like the program you are interviewing with, setbacks can be amplified because your grades can determine the success of your future career. Knowing that some setbacks will come your way during medical school, your interviewers need to hear that you can positively deal with them.
"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 often for medical students. If I experience a major setback here, I will take a few moments to internally debrief, 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."
Discuss with the interviewers how you typically cope with setbacks by talking about a time you had to do just that. Rather than focus on the roadblock you faced, take the time to discuss the hard work you put into overcoming the setback and the lessons you learned from the situation that you will bring to medical school.
"Setbacks are challenging and often evoke frustration or sadness. While these feelings are natural, they should not be dwelled upon. I personally use setbacks as opportunities for introspection, education, and personal growth. Physicians will encounter adversity and complications throughout their career; they must learn from these times for the sake of their patients."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
When I suffer from a setback, I do become emotionally frustrated. However, when I feel these emotions arise, I take a little 5-10 minute break to take a walk outside or breathe. Usually, after a breathing exercise, I am calm and can focus on the next set of actions I need to do. I think by giving myself this break to it allows me not to let my emotions override the work I need to get done.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's wonderful that you can recognize this in yourself and have a method for keeping your emotions in check when professionalism is required.
