Greetings ALL, and welcome to AAIMS, Jamaica!!
'Here today, gone tomorrow"!
I chose this simple sentence not to just remind us of the impermanence of things but more to say that your sojourn here will expectedly be a short one, a mere two years in most cases- then most of you are off again to other lands. In this short time much can happen- indeed much is expected to happen. Essentially you are expected to study well, have a good time and graduate into your further studies!
But there are many contributing factors towards this outcome- and to help remember these I have devised two acronyms from the opening sentence- "H.E.R.E." and "G.O.N.E."!
H: you should arrive healthy and happy, remain healthy and happy and depart healthy and happy!
So make sure that you have the proper medical certification/clearance before you leave home, make sure that you do the right things to remain healthy after you get here- like having proper nutrition, rest and exercise. Make sure you avoid those situations which engender poor health e.g. "riotous living", smoking and alcohol and other drug abuse. Maintain a positive outlook.look on the bright side. "Mens sana in corpore sano"
E: you should enjoy yourselves, even while involved in the demanding endeavors of acquiring a good education. And remember that, regardless of what subjects we study, what specializations we pursue."Education has for its object the foundation of character" (Herbert Spencer).
So that the mere cramming of myriad abstruse topics and the mere passing of myriad difficult examinations are not enough to "complete" one's education. The wider world awaits you, get involved and learn about it, while of course remaining conscious of your primary goal..
R: you will need to retain responsibility for your actions while at the same time sharing the responsibility of looking after your colleagues, friends and others with whom you relate. There will be cultural and other differences with which to grapple, get acquainted, understand and accept. Sometimes you will feel "stressed out", unable to cope...It is at such times that bad decisions may be made, intemperate action taken. On such occasions it will be good to remember the words of Chinese Wisdom which state:
"One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life"
E: Emulate those who are doing better, avoid following into the footsteps of those who are doing worse. Confucius enjoins us: "When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self".
Set a good example, be effective and efficient. And encourage your fellow students and others to do likewise!
G: Good governance. AAIMS is set up to provide good governance at all levels- academically, administratively, socially and otherwise. Program design, teaching facilities, staff selection, examination and evaluation methods, counseling and other support are well thought out and supported by relevant policies and committee structure and function. Appropriate reviews of all aspects of operations will ensure that problems are detected early and solutions applied. Of course, students are also a part of the general organization and proper running of the institution.
O: Order. If all goes according to what is outlined above there will be good order and organizational efficiency. Each cog is recognized as integral to the proper functioning of the big wheel. Rules and regulations should be adhered to, not out of "blind faith" or coercion but out of recognition that societal values and norms can only be maintained when everyone is conscious and considerate of others. And operating within the bounds of ethical and professional behavior will play a key part in the maintenance of this order. An optimistic outlook will surely be the consequence of such interaction and conduct.
N: No Nonsense! My alma mater had as part of its motto: "When you play, play hard; when you work don't play at all!".
I found this very instructive and helpful, like avoidance of mixing oil and water. For if a task is to be successfully completed then there is no gain from wasting time in unrelated matters. Focus and concentration are required to run a hundred meters; focus and concentration are required to play a good game of scrabble and to work out some quadratic equation. But one cannot easily work out a quadratic equation while playing scrabble or running a hundred meters! So I enjoin you to dedicate yourselves to the several tasks at hand with single purpose; when each task is successfully completed then you may tackle something else- whether academic or recreational. A quotation form the Wishes of the Brahmans reminds us: "LUCK may sometimes help; WORK always helps".
E: Excellence. This is always the best to aim for; mediocrity or less is eminently more readily achievable but less satisfying in the long run. The study of Medicine is not an easy pursuit, any more than running a marathon race is. There are many who will flounder and even drop out, many will make it to the finish line, few will make it in reasonable time and very few will make it in record time! And these latter are the ones who will be remembered, the ones who will in future strive for even greater achievements!!
In which group do you wish to be?
The choice is essentially yours ...but AAIMS wishes to help you reach the pinnacle.
I exhort you to consider our Mission which is to:
"coordinate resources necessary to deliver excellent medical education leading to generating physicians that will serve the community and to form lifelong learners committed to excellence, faith, leadership and service".
As I welcome you heartily to AAIMS, Black River, St Elizabeth, Jamaica, I ask that you keep this foremost in your minds, not only during the next two or so years that you spend here but even beyond that time as you venture into the wider world, proud graduates of an institution of which you can be proud, dedicated to serve mankind the best way you can..
With very best wishes for a successful period of life and learning and a very bright future.
Sincerely
Owen B.O'L. James O.D. MB. (Edin)
Dean, AAIMS.
