By Vincenz Constantine Tankiang Ferrer Φ2021 and Karl Gerard Reyes Crisostomo Φ2019B
On September 4, one hundred and eleven medical students from the UP College of Medicine’s newest batch found themselves blasted into the booming ‘80s in Disorientation: New Wave! The highly anticipated LU3 orientation was presented by the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority as a new wave of aspiring physicians slid into the groove of a purely online setup.
As always, Disorientation was the place, or more accurately, the zoom room to be as Phi brods and sisses enthusiastically welcomed the College of Medicine’s freshest faces to the exciting yet also challenging life of a medical student. This fantabulous event was kickstarted by Raul Vicente Orosa Recto, Jr. Φ2021 and Nina Therese Bangayan Chan Φ2021 as amped up participants strapped into their seats for a seriously rad time of first-class module orientations and games. Channeling the cool vibes of the ‘80s, Phi upperclassmen highlighted fan favorite LU3 modules, while also discussing the many changes to learning in the post-pandemic setting. These novel learning methods included concepts such as asynchronous lectures, discussion-board SGDs for OS201, recorded OSCEs for OS202, stuffed toy return demos in HD201, virtual labs from OS203, the post-LU3 LEAP bridging program, and so much more!
For the more challenging modules, LU3 participants were presented with relevant course overviews and sure-fire study strategies concocted by brods and sisses with abundant firsthand experience on the peculiarities of online medical school, the Fortunatos and PHIrestorm from the UPCM Class of 2025. All throughout the event, brods and sisses enthusiastically shared personal anecdotes and unforgettable memories as they adjusted to online medical school. In keeping with the times, Disorientation spectacularly covered the ins and outs of everything LU3, imparting the totally tubular spirit essential to slipping and sliding through the first year of medicine.
Staying true to Disorientation’s lighthearted yet enjoyable atmosphere, refreshing games served to boost morale even further, while also offering participants glimpses into concepts and medical terms that they were to expect in upcoming modules. Smiles and laughter were shared all around as the creative games were sensational hits, calling back to the funky fresh jams and nostalgic classics that dominated the ‘80s. Team Breakfast Club proved to be the funkiest of all the teams, winning additional raffle entries for the Disorientation Grand Prize.
To further electrify the crowd, mind-boggling prizes composed of both medical school and online learning must-haves awaited the luckiest of the Disorientation participants. This outrageous list included two applications of either GoodNotes or Notability, two copies of IM Platinum, two sets of Phi Ultimate Neuro kits, one pair of Haylou GT1 True Wireless Bluetooth Earphones, four boxes of Amazon Echo Dots, and two sets of 3M™ Littmann Classic Lightweight II™ Stethoscopes.
Uncertainty is inevitable when entering the first year of medical school, especially one that can only be accessed through a screen. For this reason, Disorientation continues to be the event that assuages those fears and doubts, while also imparting valuable knowledge that would set the tone for the truly exciting times ahead. In what can only be described as a manifestation of Phi Excellence, the Phi Kappa Mu and the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority remain dedicated towards guiding the College’s newest wave of aspiring physicians to greater heights.
