Coming from medicine into an Honours programme has exposed me to a completely different way of learning. I entered the programme expecting to develop neuroscience skills that would help me better understand the medical field. However, I found myself learning to think in a more practical, research-focused, and laboratory-based way. Although this was different from what I initially expected, it has been a valuable experience.
Compared with my first three years of medicine, Honours has provided much more free time and requires me to create my own timetable and manage my own schedule. At first, I underestimated the workload. Since some of the topics had already been covered in medicine, I assumed that I could complete an entire block within a week or even less. However, I soon realised that I had underestimated the depth and amount of work required. As the examinations approached, I found myself facing an almost overwhelming amount of content.
The assessment methods are also very different. The programme requires a deeper understanding of the content and the ability to apply knowledge to real-life research scenarios. Research writing can also become overwhelming when it is left too close to the submission date. I have never been particularly comfortable with academic writing, and I have learned that it is important to seek guidance from my supervisor and brainstorm ideas with my peers. Their support has helped me approach research writing with greater confidence.
Despite the challenges, I am excited to begin this new semester, which involves less structured content but requires more independent and self-directed learning. I am eager to begin my research and gain hands-on experience in the laboratory. I look forward to generating findings that may contribute, even in a small way, to the knowledge that already exists. These next five months are an important part of my Honours journey, as they may help determine whether I would like to pursue a master’s degree in the future.
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