Hi, i'm Sareen If you are wondering what a day in the life of a GEM 2 at RCSI looks like, you have come to the right place.

This year, all our classes are held at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, so a typical day looks a little different from first year. Everyone has their own routine, and this one is personal to me, but I hope it offers some insight into GEM2.

Morning routine: 6am wake up

I aim to wake up at 6am and be in the gym by 6:20am for a morning workout. Fortunately, my student accommodation has a gym. Starting the day by moving helps maintain my well-being throughout the semester. I try not to think about anything related to university during this time, using it as meditation, although this is not always successful. From 7 to 7:45am, I shower, get ready, make a coffee and head out with my bag containing books, a laptop and a meal prep ideally prepared at the weekend.

Commute: 8am bus ride

The bus to Connolly is usually busy in the morning, with most passengers being GEM2 students. It can sometimes feel like a school bus, but it is a good opportunity to catch up with classmates. Some people use the time for Anki (flashcards), but I prefer listening to music or chatting. I usually aim to arrive 30 minutes before class in case of any unexpected delays, which are ironically expected.

Classes and tutorials: usually 9am–5pm

Classes typically start at 9am, with topics remaining within the same core module for the month. For example, we began with cardiology in the first semester, so lectures focused on cardio pathology, with some general microbiology and pathology included. Each day can look different, especially as tutorials are in smaller groups at varying times. Here is an example of lectures on a Monday during the cardiology module:

• 9am: Case of the Week – Heart Failure and A-fib
• 10am–12pm: Lectures – Infective Endocarditis, ECG interpretation
• 12pm–2pm: Lunch/break
• 2pm–3pm: Peripheral Vascular Disease history taking tutorial
• 3pm–4pm: Cardiovascular physical exam tutorial
• 4pm–5pm: IVs and venepuncture tutorial

Break time: usually around 12pm

Depending on upcoming exams or if you are planning to sit the USMLEs, breaks often consist of a quick bite and returning to work. The grind rarely stops, but I try to get outside occasionally, especially if the weather is good, to get some fresh air before returning to study. The RCSI building at Connolly has a kitchen and terrace, making it easy to store meal prep and enjoy sunshine on rare sunny days. Blanchardstown village is also a 10-minute walk from the building, where I sometimes go for coffee or to explore.

My usual 5pm to 10pm

After classes, I use the bus ride home as a social media break. On quieter days, I typically eat dinner with friends, where we try to talk about anything but university, which is challenging for medical students. This is followed by an hour or two of studying and then making social media posts for Photo Society or the GEM Welcome Committee, where I am Head of PR. Sometimes after classes, I may need to go to the main campus at St Stephen’s Green for club events, or I attend a salsa class with a friend. I try to go to bed between 10 and 11pm. My nighttime routine includes skincare and peppermint tea, while I review my schedule for the following day or talk to my family in Canada.

GEM2 can become very busy, but trusting your routine and blocking off time in your calendar for relaxation is one of the most important things you can do to support productive studying.