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One Newspaper Later…

Time flies when you are whizzing about every corner of Scotland for four years, but not so much when you’re waiting for a bus in sub-zero temperatures in the middle of the Highlands. Need to learn to drive ASAP…

When putting together an application for graduate medicine, ScotGEM wasn’t on my radar. After reading the T&Cs on the website, I wasn’t sure I was cut out for the rural life. After some thought, I decided to stick with my original choices and leave the idea behind. I was about to send off my UCAS application while on a train, when I opened the newspaper to a page which said, “Take the highland road”. Even took a picture of it. I love a good sign and surely this had to be one. Particularly since I never buy newspapers. Changed my UCAS choices there and then. Fast-forward three years and here I am, living in a tiny town in the middle of the Cairngorms.

Despite a pandemic, this year has still been full of adventure thanks to ScotGEM. Placements have taken me up to the very top of Scotland for dips in the North Sea and arguably the best fish & chips out there. There is nothing like a walk up the Whaligoe Steps to remind you that the gym has been closed for the past year. Experiencing a rural general hospital has uncovered a whole new side of medicine – the scope of knowledge and skills of the healthcare professionals working in these places are remarkable and inspiring. It gives both ‘generalist’ and ‘teamwork’ altogether new meanings.

The generosity of the people living up here is heart-warming. A few months ago, in the depth of a proper Highland winter, I heard a knock on the door. I open it to see my neighbour stood there with a pair of socks. She had seen me waiting for the bus to go to my GP placement practice with my loafers on. I thanked her very much but also reassured her that I’ve got a draw full of socks upstairs…

I remember driving into Aviemore for the first-time at the beginning of Year 3, looking around, seeing mountains in every direction and thinking it could be a long few months ahead – but I can honestly say it has been a special year and one I will not forget… and that is with the pubs closed! New friendships, learning to ski (or at the very least trying), and sunset runs around Loch Vaa have been a few favourite moments. With only two months left of my year in Aviemore, I will miss waking up to the sun rising over the Cromdale Hills from my bedroom window, although I have chosen to spend my final year in Inverness – so I’m looking forward to one last year of Highland adventures!

Alex is a current Year 3 ScotGEM student, check out more of her photos from the Highlands below!