Siham Gazengel
Hi, I’m Siham! I’m a physiotherapy student, and I’ll be bringing you along for a typical day in my life as a Physio 1 student.
Every day is different here at RCSI which is what makes it all the more exciting! One thing I really enjoy is the flexibility to adapt my schedule depending on what the week looks like. Some weeks are quieter, which gives me the chance to plan ahead, attend social events and make time for other activities. Other weeks can be much busier with exams, lectures and practicals, and that’s when I put my head down and focus on my studies.
Balancing everything can definitely get a little hectic at times, but it’s all part of the experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world!
06:30-08:00: Waking up, Getting ready
My day usually starts at around 6:30am. After waking up, I take a few minutes to stretch before having breakfast. If I’m up a little earlier and my lectures start later in the morning, I like to fit in a quick gym session. Otherwise, I put on some music while I get ready for the day. I usually aim to leave my student accommodation at around 8:00am and arrive at RCSI by 8:20am. Once I get there, I meet up with my friend, and we have a quick chat before heading to our morning lectures together.
09:00-12:00: Morning Lectures
We usually have quite a few lectures in the morning, with little to no lectures in the afternoon. Most of the time, however, our afternoons are spent in practical sessions, where we get to apply and solidify what we learned in our morning lectures. I find this really helpful, as it gives us the opportunity to put our knowledge into practice!
My modules this semester are Anatomy 1, Physiology, Neuromusculoskeletal 1 and Clinical Movement Science. My favourite module so far has been Anatomy. I find it so interesting to learn how all the different structures in the human body work together and how even the smallest, most intricate structures play an important role in our everyday lives.
12:00-13:00: Lunch Time
I usually have a meal prepared from the night before. If not, RCSI have good, affordable and fresh food at the college cafeteria, 1784. You can make your own salad, wrap or they offer a specific meal (ie. burgers, fish and chips etc) that change every day.
13:00-16:00: Practicals/Anatomy lab
After lunch, I usually have one or two practical sessions in the movement lab. Every Thursday at this time, we go to the anatomy room, where we get to reinforce and apply what we’ve learned in our lectures.
If we finish early, I’ll usually go for a walk around St Stephen’s Green, grab a coffee, or sit outside RCSI and enjoy some much-needed fresh air. I think it’s really important not to let academic stress, responsibilities and a busy schedule take away from enjoying the little moments throughout the day. For me, going for a walk and getting some fresh air is the perfect way to clear my head, take a break and reset before getting on with the rest of my day!
17:00-18:00: Gym Time + Home Time
After my walk, I’ll either head to the gym or go straight home. The gym is usually quite busy at this time, so you’ll often find yourself working in with someone between sets. I actually really enjoy the atmosphere, especially when I’m in the mood to socialise, as it’s a great chance to catch up with people from different years and programmes. If you prefer a quieter workout where you can get through your sets at your own pace, going at a different time might suit you better!
After the gym, I walk straight home to shower and have dinner. One of my favourite parts of the walk is passing St Patrick’s Cathedral. There’s something so magical about seeing it lit up at night, and it’s such a lovely way to end a busy day.
18:00–21:00: Dinner and studying
I make dinner at home and study for 2/3 hrs catching up on the lectures from the day, preparing for an exam as well as quickly reading over the lectures in preparation for the day before.
22:00: Winding down
I’ll usually watch an episode of a TV show or read a chapter of a book before I go to bed.