I've heard flagrantly ridiculous stories about Medical Students doing and saying silly things. Sure, everyone does silly things, but these ones are all a result of a student's inflated self-perception and their lack of humility. Or perhaps plain arrogance. This is the second in a series of three. (You can find the first one here.)

A girl in the year ahead of me, Sonya, related the following incident;

Sonya was out on the town in Brisbane, having a big Saturday night along with her good friend and classmate. They wandered to the bar for a drink and got talking to a good looking young chap. Tall, clean cut, big smile and nice eyes. Sonya is most clear about these features.

He was a Medical Student. A charming one, initially, and he regaled them with stories of just how hard medical school really is, and the dedication required to become a doctor. He was in first year, and the second semester had just begun. Nonetheless, the lad was charming.

It's just that he didn't ask anything about the women he was 'chatting up'. Well, not for a while. He was, however, very emphatic about discussing the joys and rigors of Medical School.

The conversation continued for a good ten minutes, and the chap eventually asked what the girls did for a living. They informed him, good naturedly, that they were several years ahead, in the same programme.

He recoiled in disbelief. "No you're not." he said, "That's bullsh1t!".

The girls gently assured him that they were, indeed, at the same university, in the same course. He didn't take it well at all. His body-language changed, the look in his eye went from 'dreamy and flirtatious' to panicked and floundering. He'd said some quite arrogant things, and was now feeling a pinch of humility. He had to prove himself. He said;

"If you're in medical school then, then, then... tell me about the bilirubin pathway."

The girls looked at each other with surprise. They smiled politely, and began to leave. Sonya swears she heard the young man expounding his knowledge of stercobilin, conjugation and the like as they hurried past.