Wellness Student Spotlight: Mary Albertolle, M20
How have you balanced your academics and your personal life during time as a student?
First off, I’d like to say that I always strive for balance, but by no means do I always achieve it. I try to make time for myself every day, be it exercising, cooking a meal, keeping up with loved ones, or just singing in my car during the commute home. I find that when I don’t feel like doing these things, that is the time I need them the most, so I make a bigger effort to make that time for myself.
What surprised you about the MD program and living in Boston?
I was surprised by my Tufts School of Medicine classmates – by their amazing pre-medical school experiences, by their insightfulness, by their social awareness, and by their empathy. I was very pleasantly surprised by the supportive environment formed at Tufts. Coming from California, I learned how mystical seasons are, how Bostonians go outside in just about every weather (vs. where I went to college, no one went to class on the 5 days it rained in college), and East Coasters are really great people.
What do you do for fun and do you anticipate that will change as you transition to residency?
I love to travel and hope I will continue to travel during residency be it for global health and/or during vacation. Exercise is also something I do for fun, especially when with friends outside. I also enjoy cooking, reading, the occasional movie, rooting for Bay Area sports teams, and taking up my hammock to a cool spot to set up between two trees. I am hoping to continue all of these during residency!
What is your favorite healthy snack?
This is a tough one. I’d say it’s a tie between an apple with peanut butter, a handful of nuts, and sliced veggies with hummus.
How do you de-stress and how do you plan to carry that through to residency?
My main de-stressors are exercising, talking to friends and family, and exercising while talking to friends and family. I also take the time to practice mindfulness during my everyday life, be it taking a few slow deep breaths as the EMR loads, enjoying my cup of coffee without doing anything, or meditating as I fall asleep. I definitely plan on carrying these through to residency.
What do you wish you knew at the start of med school?
It’s important to work hard and build a strong foundation of medical knowledge, but also remember that it’s important to build a strong community within medical school and have fun! I think we all wish we could tell our first-year selves to take ourselves a little less seriously.
What pearls of wisdom would you like to impart to M21, M22 and M23 students?
One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to live life like my classmate and friend Sameer did. Life is short and it can be easy to forget that when you’re feeling tired and stressed. Try to put things in perspective and if you really want to go to that concert, eat that cone of ice cream, watch The Bachelor with your friends, or whatever else you’re holding yourself back from, do it!