It was midnight, September 2023, and the next day I was going to fail medical school.

In a few hours, my research presentation was due and I was woefully underprepared. A combination of factors including supervisors going on leave, missing data, and a woeful lack of expertise in the field meant my project didn’t do what it set out to do, and was littered with unverified results and conclusions. I felt nauseous, tachycardic, and short of breath. I began seeing myself out of my own body. I was in the midst of a panic attack.

Staring at my Powerpoint slides, it struck me that I could just end it all. A quick note to my loved ones, and a jump off the balcony – that’s all it would take. The presentation terrified me to my core.

It was one of my worst experiences of medical school. Yet probably the most transformative.

Because long story short, I passed. A solid pass as well, with the examiner recommending that I publish my data, with a few suggestions for change. I couldn’t believe it. And afterwards, it felt like anything that came my way could be overcome.

I realised then that all my greatest boosts in confidence in my life stemmed from immense struggle; being tested with the real possibility of failure. But these tests, I believe, help us to find and transform us into better beings.

From Kemi Sogunle, author and life coach:
“The tests we face in life’s journey are not to reveal our weaknesses but to help us discover our inner strengths. We can only know how strong we are when we strive and thrive beyond the challenges we face.”