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How do you stand up dignified from an embarassing situation?
Friendship / 6:33 AM - Wednesday November 18, 2009

how do you stand up dignified from an embarassing situation?

I'm the kind who'd stand up for the right thing even when other people opposes it. Today I just reported a clinical case and my preceptor asked us a difficult biochemistry question. I raised my hand and answered but it was not as specific as written in the book kind of answer. I was so sure that my answer is correct but not precise. But he rejected it. But I never threw a bad temperament or attitude about it instead I used it to push myself to learn more. Again he asked question about immune system and I answered but not as exactly as what the book says cause I don't merely base my knowledge and intellect on books. I felt embarrased because he rejected it as if I'm an idiot but I know if I wallow over such negative emotion, it would hinder my personal growth. Its just that I can not control what my classmates in med school think of me but nothing that would matter anyway..

Update: November 19, 2009.
Thank you for all the honest messages. Whenever I feel down and needed a nudge, its nice to open up with people who have unbiased point of view. And posting real-life situation here is a healthy way of venting out without being misjudged personally. Yes in medicine it needs precision but all those scientific facts just like technology is evolving. There is more into just learning cold facts..processing or understanding a simple fact can be as hard as finding a great job these days. And it differs from one person's interpretation to another. =)

- Asked by winluvnsparkle, A Thinker, Female, 22-25, Medical / Dental

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i think you need to stick to your answer and discuss why your teacher thinks it's incorrect. As a teacher, I've observed that the students who ask questions and challange (in a good way) their teachers are the one who succeed. Always have inquiring mind and don't let some self-righteous professor ruin your self-confidence. Books serve us as foundation but it doesn't mean you have to memorize every single word in it.
I'd suggest you come up to that teacher after classes and ask why he thought it was wrong answer and what are his expectations of his students.

- Response by chichek, A Thinker, Female, 29-35, Other Profession

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You are the kind that folks are proud of. You stood up for what believed was right. If it was not for people like you, learning process would cease.
Every one is entitled to an opinion and if that opinion is based on knowledge, experience or even a gut feeling of a professional then it deserves to be put up to an audience. I dont care if that guy thinks its worthless or not. You may have communicated the idea to quiet a few.
As far as embarassment is concerned, I guess it should be your preceptor who can not think beyond the author's ideas.
You go girl..........

- Response by vacuum, A Career Man, Male, 29-35, Islamabad, Science / Engineering

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NO one goes to med school to make friends. They go there to become doctors!

You're answering questions that means you're obviously paying attention to what's being discussed. And that's something to be very proud of.

You just have to be a little more precise when answering because medicine is kind of an exact science.

I'm not saying you have to cram up textbooks but if you start quoting from your books and make references, I'm sure your professors will also notice this as well as your classmates who will be super jealous too!!!

- Response by ashi0911, A Thinker, Female, 22-25, Artist / Musician / Writer

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The way I figure it, when I am taking a class (and paying for it) I can ask any questions I feel are relevant....and I could care less what anyone thinks. After all....it's MY nickel.

A wise man once told me that the only 'bad' questions are the ones never asked.

- Response by drumboi2, A Guy Critical, Male, 56-65, Technical

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Id be happy to have the nerve to ask questions rather than sit there like an idiot and have no idea whats going on.No matter whether you are right or wrong you show you want to learn more just by raising your hand and asking questions. He may just be doing this to you to see how far he can push you. He may simply be testing you, pushing you to go further than you think you can.

- Response by Female, 18-21

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In med school you do need precision as well as accuracy. Kinda close wont cut it for a diagnosis. On the other hand if they were any better they would have volunteered to answer the question. Thier lack of attempting is worse than you being close but not exact.

- Response by hoopsjunkie, A Rebel, Male, 36-45, Indianapolis, Political / Government

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First, you know the kind of answers this professor expects. You are in his class, he gets to decide what is a complete answer and in most universities the professor wrote the text for their class, so he would know the material and what information he finds important.
It is fine that you find other things important, but to pass his class you have to show him you absorbed the info he expects, and understand what he thinks is important even if you take away other things from the class.
You have your way of learning and deciding what is important to you, but in his class, he decides what is important. You are not going to change his mind about what is important in his class.



- Response by wolverinesegg, A Career Man, Male, 46-55, Science / Engineering

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Your so-called "preceptor" isn't a very good teacher if he doesn't help you out by telling you the correct answer to his questions. And why do those answers have to originate from the textbooks? Why not from online articles or outside readings he should be recommending to the students? Not everything comes from the textbooks! As for your classmates thinking you're an idiot, that's their opinion of you, but they don't have the power to grade you, the "preceptor" or instructor has that power. Bottom line: Tell the instructor that you're there to learn, and if he's rejecting your answers because they're not in the book, perhaps he should tell you on what page(s) of the book you will find the correct info, assuming he knows it.

- Response by swillner7, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 46-55, Washington, DC, Political / Government

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As long as you are learning something.dont think about what others think.be yourself,do what you have to do.Are you in Boston,?

- Response by kingeric, A Hip Hop Guy, Male, 36-45, Technical

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That's why I'm doing my own study of physiology. No matter how precise your answer is, some professors are arrogant, and will dismiss your answer just because you have no degree as yet.

Don't sweat it. Just get the facts, and you'll do well. All you need to do is answer six simple questions: who, what, where, why, when and how.

- Response by thundermist04167, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 36-45, Who Cares?

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When you answer a question that differs from the answers in the books you are studying...you should back it up with a reference from where you received the information. If you are going to write exams you just can't pick answers out of the air and you better base your exam answers on the material you are studying. Rosey

- Response by roseytalks, A Thinker, Female, Who Cares?, Tampa, Who Cares?

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