Shooting for the Stars: A Dialogue with Odunsi, Temidayo Mary, Best Graduating Student 2024

At the induction of the COMUI 2024 set of doctors, Dr Temidayo Odunsi emerged as the valedictorian, winning cash prizes as the best student in Physiology, Pathology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Community Medicine, and Medicine. She was also announced the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences at the 76th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Ibadan, which began on 13th November 2024. In an interview with her, we uncovered a story of grit, determination, pleasant surprises and reliance on God that will inspire all medical students aspiring for academic excellence. She also mentioned that becoming the valedictorian was not in her plans but God made it happen. 

Congratulations on your induction and on finishing as the Best Graduating Student. Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your academic journey?

Temidayo: My name is Dr. Odunsi Temidayo, and I am 23 years old. I am passionate about volunteering, leadership, and excelling in everything I undertake. My journey is one of wonders, testimonies, and pleasant surprises. It is different in that I did not set out to be the best graduating student. I was diligent, consistent, and hardworking in every posting I found myself. There were some low points, but being optimistic, I regained my momentum to push forward.

Wow. You did not set out to be the BGS. What a pleasant surprise it must have been!

Temidayo: Honestly, it was. It was shocking at first. Later, I felt humbled and glad that years of dedication and hard work had paid off. I was happy that my silent prayers were heard.

Can you share a bit more about your journey in medical school? What were some of the highlights and challenges you faced?

Temidayo: Medical school was mostly filled with wonderful moments. Some of my highlights include the times shared with my friends, reading together, watching movies, and eating together. My academic highlights were the times God came through for me. For example, I saw a difficult question in the exam hall that we were not taught, and I came out on top in that continuous assessment because I decided to give it my best and leave no question paper blank. Or being favored to have read a particular topic and see it as an exam question. I was fortunate not to have many challenges, and being an optimistic person, I would gracefully move on from any and tell myself to work better next time. One challenge that stands out for me was when I had a pharmacology MB the next day and I was grossly unprepared. I had spent the whole time reading pathology. I asked my friend to help me, and for the first time, I used mnemonics to read, and I passed to the glory of God. Sometimes in med school, I would get tired or burnt out from the clinical rotations, pressure to succeed, or power outages but I didn’t let these difficulties weigh me down.

There’s so much to learn from your journey – to pull through even in difficult times. What initially drew you to pursue a career in Medicine?

Temidayo: Yes, my mother would advise that if one intends to do something, it is best to do it well and complete it in one attempt, God helping. Growing up, I watched through the windows of my school bus at many less privileged people begging for alms. I wanted to help on a larger scale. So I was on the lookout for a way to help. I observed my mom give even when it was inconvenient and interact with people, young and old, about how they could better provide for themselves and their families. I realized that one way to help people was to become a doctor. With their words, smiles, or financial assistance, doctors could impact society. That’s the earliest memory I can recall. Fast forward to secondary school, where being a science student meant choosing between Medicine or Engineering. I didn’t like Physics or Math, so Engineering was out. My mom further convinced me that being a doctor wouldn’t necessarily make me rich, but I would be comfortable.

During your studies, did your motivations and interests in the field of Medicine change? If so, how?

Temidayo: Not particularly. I carried the momentum from secondary school to perform exceptionally well to the best of my abilities, trusting in God. The strong motivation to not disappoint myself or my parents was always present. I also wanted my story or my life to showcase how good God has been to me. I went through medical school, taking each department with an open mind. Up until now, I haven’t settled on one department because I feel there’s so much to learn from each, and I want to have as much information as possible before choosing one. There were subjects I found interesting to read: Physiology, Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery, and Community Medicine. Ironically, I was the best student in all of them except Surgery.

I see you are a strong believer in God. Did medical school ever test your faith?

Temidayo: No. If at all, it strengthened my faith.

I remember two occasions when I had 50s…in Pediatrics 1 and Anesthesia CA. Coming from secondary school where most of us would score in the 80s and 90s, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. But it just made me hold onto the word that He who has carried me this far knows where he is taking me. He made my success story more inspiring and interesting. Trusting him made a lot of sense. Up until the end, I held on to His words. In fact, when I got the call that I was the BGS, I went to church for Thanksgiving, and with the way I danced, I didn’t know He had prepared more surprises for me—five subject awards. I know that whenever I ask, He answers. I have carried that with me since secondary school.

You stood strong even in the midst of troubles. I am sure every student out there who has doubts will learn from your experience. Are there things you heard about medical school before and during your journey but you found to be untrue?

Temidayo: 1. Medical school is all work and no play. There is always room for social activities or personal interests. You can maintain a healthy work-life balance. With good time management, I found time for hobbies, volunteering, singing, creative writing and even relaxation. 

2. You have to be a genius to succeed. Success in medical school is more about hard work, diligence, persistence, effective study habits, knowing your strengths and weaknesses and a good support system.

3. Reading in your room is all that matters. While reading is important, the application of the knowledge is equally important. Clinical rotations, clerking and ward rounds help you become a better student, and doctor.

4. Teachers are unapproachable. Most of them encourage questions and are invested in our success. Building relationships with mentors is very beneficial. It’s better to be on their good side and be known for good things.

5. You’ll always be stressed and sleep-deprived. While there are stressful periods, particularly during exams and clinical rotations, managing stress is part of the learning process. I still had 6 to 8 hours of sleep every day, including exam periods.

6. Medical school is a solo journey or should be cutthroat. I believe in healthy competition and looking out for other people. Study groups help you make invaluable friendships and networks. The things that count in life are the things you can’t count.

This is a lot! Medical students who are just starting out will be happy to see this! As the top student in your graduating class, what achievements are you most proud of?

Temidayo: Being the top student will always be number 1. Being the best in Physiology, Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine, and Community Medicine. Doing an exchange program with Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences. Planning Sinfonia’s Concert ‘Majestic Crescendos’ a few weeks before MB. Basically, any role I played in the organizations I joined. I’m proud of putting my best foot forward in everything I did and doing it with my friends.

These are really commendable feats. Can you describe a particular clinical rotation or experience that changed your perspective about a certain issue?

Temidayo: It’s hard to pinpoint a particular one. However, here are two experiences I will always keep with me. We had a pharmacology assignment, and I answered it using about four to five pages, just like any normal assignment. I saw a comment when I got my booklet back. It said, “A job well done. Thank you for going the extra mile. Keep it up.” It made me realize how little details matter in the grand scheme of things, and being diligent pays off.

I had another experience during Pediatrics posting. We had a clinic in IDU, and there was a boy who was ill, and his sister was the one taking care of him while in the university. The consultant in charge asked if any of us belonged to a volunteering organization, and I just knew I had to do more. If not now, when? We have to reach out to many people who are struggling financially and have one health issue or another to help them.

These are indeed valuable lessons. Were there mentors who shaped your approach to medical school?

Temidayo: I shied away from having mentors or mentees. I am quite reserved, in my corner, doing my own thing and I wish I put myself out there a bit more. Nevertheless, there were consultants and doctors whose words of advice stayed with me. For example, Dr. Ogah (Medicine) says a little learning is a dangerous thing. Dr. Ademola (Pediatrics), who is very kind and warm. Prof. Adeyemi (Dentistry), made me realize that happiness comes from helping others and having invaluable connections. Dr. Adebayo (Pediatrics) made me realize being thorough, honest, and hardworking pays off. I met many nice doctors who were willing to listen to our questions and guide us. The list is endless: Dr. Olagunju, Dr. Olalusi, Dr. Oladapo, Dr. Roberts, Dr. Egbuchilem, Dr. Gbamgbose, Dr Afolabi etc. My biggest support is my mom. Our long hours of academic discussion over the phone, tips that helped her back in medical school, and encouragement had a huge impact.

Mentorship is truly an important factor in the success of every man! How do you plan to continue learning and developing professionally now that you have graduated?

Temidayo: Straight ahead of me is house job that allows me to have a better and deeper grasp of the different specialties. I plan to apply myself and immerse myself in the experience to pick up as many skills as I can. I would place myself under the tutelage of my senior colleagues and mentors. I will keep abreast of new developments, knowledge, and skills in the medical field. Afterward, I will go for youth service and a residency program where I will delve into my interests proper, taking necessary courses along the line.

That’s a proper plan. Way to go! What are your career aspirations moving forward? Are there specialties of medicine that interest you?

Temidayo: Funnily enough, my two interests are on a tangent: Community Medicine and Surgery. Wherever I go, I want to give back to the society, volunteer, and make an impact. This could be through establishing foundations or hosting seminars and workshops for younger individuals. I want to be comfortable and fulfilled, and when I look back, I want to know that God placed me in the right place at the right time for the right purpose.

Looking back on your journey, what advice would you give to current medical students who aspire to achieve academic excellence?

Temidayo: Start early, be consistent, be diligent, and face your challenges head-on. Don’t procrastinate like I did with pharmacology. Know what works for you. Be a well-rounded individual but don’t overwhelm yourself. Don’t beat yourself up; be optimistic. Cover all your slides to the best of your ability, and going to school is not a waste of time. Have wonderful friends who can support and motivate you to be your best self. Lastly, trust God to take you on a beautiful ride.

Thank you very much for your time!

Temidayo: Thank you for the opportunity to interview with UIMSA Press. I truly enjoyed our conversation and appreciate the time and effort you took to conduct the interview.

Emmanuel Ibitunde