Student blogs

Should I move to Sweden? Will it be worth moving? Will I regret it? Will I make strong friendships or will I be overwhelmed with seasonal depression in a notoriously antisocial country?

And despite these kind of scary thoughts that nearly every foreign student will have: I urge you, apply to KI.

My time as a blogger is coming to an end. As a final blog I want to reflect on the reasons I would say I took a right decision in moving to Sweden and studying my bachelor’s in biomedicine at KI. I will finish this year with more than just a degree in biomedicine; but with lots of different experiences, friendships, memories of a great student life, and other opportunities that have guided me to my future.

So, here’s what KI and Sweden gave me:

Lots of lab work:

I learned that I don’t like the lab that much.

I came to KI thinking I’ll be a cancer researcher. I was so excited to work for a “real” lab, a lab working on cancer, genetics, etc., everything was fascinating. I did reach out to a few professors for research opportunities, but as the course went by I realized I didn’t really enjoy wet lab that much. And after having opportunities to talk to researchers, I didn’t feel like I could relate to an interest in, for example, one specific protein and studying it for 20 years of my life.

So would I not go into academia? Then what’s left? Industry?

Internship opportunities:

I learned that I like research, but a different kind.

I nevertheless pushed myself to get into research in my first summer, and I’m so glad I did! I really enjoyed my research project, which was a statistical analysis on the effectiveness of a colorectal cancer screening programme in Sweden.

I realized then that I do still love research, but maybe medical research was more interesting to me than biomedical research. The internship experience, and my supervisor, later becoming somewhat of a mentor, helped me realize that studying medicine would lead to so many opportunities, and that it’s not too late to start studying it.

I don’t quite know precisely what I will do with a medical degree. But I know I’ll be able to chose from becoming a doctor, maybe getting a specialization, perhaps deciding to pursue medical research, doing a PhD, working in hospital management,…etc., etc.

What I do know is that I want to help people, I still want to work with cancer, but instead of being in a lab, I want to be at the heart of the medical world. I want to understand the healthcare system, and have more patient contact.

Friendships:

I learned that I can feel like home in Stockholm.

I think by far the biggest gift during my time at KI was all the great people I have met, from different countries, programs and even universities. I truly feel like Sweden is my home now, and I have created friendships that feel like family…it makes it hard to imagine ever leaving Sweden and KI!

Kind of lucky that I chose to pursue a degree that keeps me in Sweden for at least another 6 years haha!

Studying Swedish:

I learned that sounds can become a language you understand and speak.

I will never forget when I just moved, how I understood not a single word people around me were saying. It was just sounds.

I had started Swedish classes as soon as I moved here. I then continued swedish at SFI (Swedish for immigrants), and slowly I could distinguish words and even say a sentence or two.

But as I started contemplating the idea of studying medicine, I figured it would be best to stay in Sweden and continue medicine here. Thus I have made it a mission to learn Swedish as soon as possible, and be fluent by the end of this year in order to qualify for medical school.

I am now able to hold conversations in Swedish, and it certainly helps to integrate well in Swedish circles. It’s also so cool to understand what people are saying and not have to ask them to speak English instead.

Memories on unique student events:

I learned that Stockholm has a student life.

I definitely tried to test what all Stockholm has to offer in terms of student life, and I think I’ve had a great time. Being a member of PrU has played a central roll in giving me the opportunity to join in on plenty of unique student events. It’s also just a great community to be part of, and I’m so, so happy that I joined.

A purpose:

I learned about myself, and I now know what I want to do in the future.

At KI I got so much exposure to lab work, participated in a variety of different student organizations, went to networking events, began questioning: if I didn’t enjoy lab work, was industry my thing? I knew however I still enjoyed research. I also knew that I loved working with people and getting to know them.

Finally, I figured out the option that was neither industry nor academia. It’s medicine. And I am so excited to pursue it!

My final message to everyone who’s been reading is:

If you want to make the most of your experience: please try everything, and don’t let go of any opportunity you are presented with. The more experiences you collect, and the more people you will take the time to meet and understand, the richer your takeaway from KI, or any place, will be. You will also gain a better understanding of yourself and your interests.

I hope that this blog gives students hope, motivation, and inspiration to apply to KI without fear. I also hope that I have managed to prove that studying at KI does not mean being behind the books 24/7, you can have plenty of fun during your studies with wonderful people. 🙂