A Letter to the Med Student Who Feels Like Giving Up 💌

Dear future doctor,

If you’re reading this, you might be sitting in front of your laptop – burnt out, overwhelmed, and asking yourself:

“Am I really cut out for this?”
“Why does it feel like nothing I study is sticking?”
“Maybe I’m just not smart enough…”

Let me stop you right there.

This letter is for the med student who feels like giving up. And I want you to hear me, from someone who’s been there:

You are not failing.
You are not alone.
And you are not the only one feeling this way.

The truth about studying for USMLE

Studying for USMLE is one of the most intense, isolating, and emotionally exhausting periods in medical school.

You might be doing everything “right.” Watching videos, grinding UWorld, making Anki cards, and still feel like you’re not making progress.

You might be falling behind your study schedule, scoring lower than you hoped, and wondering if this dream is slipping away.

And when you see other students posting their NBME scores or breezing through concepts you’re still struggling with… it only makes it worse.

But here’s the truth I wish someone had told me when I was in your shoes:

Struggling doesn’t mean you’re not going to make it. It means you’re in the middle of growing.

I almost gave up, too

When I was preparing for Step 1, I hit a breaking point.

I had a full study schedule mapped out. I had my resources lined up.
But my UWorld percentages were low. I was constantly falling behind.
And I vividly remember one day, sitting at my desk, surrounded by notes, when I broke down crying.

It wasn’t just about the exam. It was this sinking feeling that maybe I wasn’t cut out to be a doctor after all.

That maybe the people who doubted me were right.
That maybe I just didn’t have “it.”

But I didn’t give up.

And now, as a doctor and a USMLE tutor who has worked with hundreds of students, I can tell you: Almost every single one of them had a moment like that, too.

It’s okay to feel tired

You’ve been working so hard, for so long.

And the worst part? There’s no instant reward. There’s no applause for doing and reviewing 120 questions for the 10th time. No one’s watching you do Anki at 10PM.

But I see you.

And I want you to know: it’s okay to feel exhausted.

What you’re doing takes grit. It takes courage.

If you feel like quitting right now, it doesn’t mean you’re weak.
It means you’re human.

Take a breath.
Maybe take a short break.

And then… come back. Not because you’re not allowed to rest.
But because deep down, you still believe in this dream.

This is not the end

Maybe you didn’t do well on your last NBME.
Maybe your progress feels slow.
Maybe your friends are already scheduling their exams while you’re thinking of postponing.

But your timeline is still valid.
Your path is still yours.

Not everyone is supposed to be on the same schedule, and success isn’t always loud and linear. Often, it’s quiet and messy and full of setbacks.

And still… it counts.

What to do when you feel like giving up

If you’re in that dark place right now, here’s what I want you to try:

✍️ 1. Write a letter to your future self

What do you want “Dr. You” to know? What are you fighting for?
Put it all down. This becomes your why when things get hard.

🔁 2. Shift your focus from outcome to process

Don’t obsess over your last UWorld score. Instead, ask:

• What did I learn today?
• Did I stick to my routine?
• Am I improving compared to last week?

Progress hides in the little details.

🧠 3. Use active learning strategies

When you’re overwhelmed, it’s tempting to go passive. Just watch another video, reread a page, highlight. But those aren’t the tools that move you forward.

If you want to study smarter (not longer), use:

• Spaced repetition (like Anki)
• Active recall (quizzing yourself, teaching the material)
• Practice questions (and reviewing them properly)

These techniques (and more) are all broken down in my Step 1 Strategies eBook. They’re the reason I finally started making progress, and the reason my students now do, too.

🤍 4. Talk to someone

Whether it’s a mentor, a friend, or a fellow med student. Don’t isolate yourself.

You’d be shocked how many of them are feeling the exact same way, but think they’re the only ones struggling.

You are not behind. You are becoming.

This might be the hardest chapter of your journey, but it’s just that: a chapter. Not the whole story.

There is a version of you who passes this exam.
Who walks across that stage.
Who wears the white coat with confidence.
Who saves lives and makes a difference.

Don’t let this difficult moment convince you that version of you doesn’t exist.

She does.
He does.
You do.

So if you’re sitting there wondering if you should give up, let this letter be your sign:

You were made for this.

And even if today is hard, you’ll rise again tomorrow.

You got this.