The Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii offers an intensive, 3-2/3 calendar year (11 trimester) program, awarding its graduates a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine.  Each year is comprised of three 15-week trimesters, designed to progressively develop the student’s understanding of Oriental medicine and to expand his/her abilities and competency as a healer.  A new class is admitted each September.  Class sizes are small to promote and support extensive interaction with instructors and classmates, optimizing the learning experience.  Students may also be admitted at the beginning of any trimester if they demonstrate adequate knowledge and skill to merge with the continuing class through transfer credit, challenge examination, or favorable assessment by the Academic Dean.

Our course of study engages students in an active program of didactic coursework, applied techniques, and clinical experience.  The College offers an educational program that provides classroom instruction and an evolving role in the teaching clinics. As students develop knowledge and skills in the classroom setting, they learn how this information is applied through observation of senior students and licensed practitioners.  As interns, students become principal care givers participating in all aspects of diagnosis, acupuncture treatment, and herbal formulation and preparation. 

Our students come from highly varied personal backgrounds, and many have left other careers behind in deference to the healer’s call.

The Master of Science in Oriental Medicine degree program of the Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for the approval of programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medical practitioners.

Advice to Graduate By
Cathrine Wingate, TCMCH Graduate

No one can deny acupuncture students work hard.  Our noses are set to the grindstone from the fist day when we walk into school, sit down behind a mountain of new textbooks, and are handed our schedules for the coming trimester.  For nearly four long years, we are beset by a plethora of classes, covering a wide variety of subject matter.  We are asked to expand our minds to accept concepts that we may never have before encountered.  We sit for hours, taking voluminous notes.  We take countless quizzes, midterms and those dreaded finals.  We study for hours, wondering just how we could possibly fit one more piece of information into our besotted brains.  We are asked to produce projects and papers – and lest we forget, those overwhelming study guides! 

Some of us have families to take care of.  Some of us come from a great distance, and have to deal with being separated from those we love.  Some of us have to work to pay bills.  Some of us watch in horror as the Sallie Mae loans mount up each term, wondering how we will ever be able to pay them back.  Some of us live alone.  Some of us live in a house full of other students.  Over all, we do the best we can.  Some students make it to the finish line, and some do not.

Recently, I sent out a four-part questionnaire to the student body, asking them in general terms, just how they get through school.  With five short weeks until my own graduation, I wanted to hear from other students, to see how similar our experiences have been, and whether or not there were common suggestions that could be assembled to make life as a student, a little bit easier.

I was so pleased by the number of responses, as well as the content of those answers.  I got replies from 1st years to graduates.  I am sure we can all not only learn something here from each other, but perhaps there is something worthy of passing on to future generations of acupuncture students. 

The following are the questions I posed to my fellow students, along with an amalgamation of the most common answers:

“What stresses/stressed you out the most about school?”  The overwhelming answer to this particular question was the volume of coursework.  There were those individuals that were worried over finances, those that were saddened by being away from home, and some mentioned having difficulties over administrative issues.  Most folks however, felt inundated by the sheer volume of material they were expected to take in.  Secondary to that was the amount of quizzes, tests and examinations.  Some students felt that they would be served better by having less quizzes and more hands on experience, leaving them time to better prepare for mid terms and finals.  Still others, spent time worrying about their future, wondering if they’d every know enough to be considered a good acupuncturist.

Graduates echoed these answers.  Fresh in their minds was how overwhelming the first year was, and how impossible it seemed to be expected to deal with the amount of information being handed out.  Some felt that inconsistencies in teaching styles and not knowing what was expected of them put additional pressures on them.  Others were intimidated by learning new concepts.  Test taking, especially the thought of having to pass the nationals was a constant stress that was hard to deal with, as well.

“How do/did you manage that stress?”  There was two answers that vied for first place: exercise and play.  The majority of students find that taking time to work out is an integral part of getting by.  Martial arts for some people is the answer, or having a meditation practice.  Getting out in nature, and taking advantage of what this beautiful island has to offer was a part of nearly everyone’s answer, as was getting enough sleep.  Having a hobby, and a life outside of school was equally significant. One great comment came from a student who said they finally just accepted that they would never know it all.  Learning to let go is the greatest way to manage any type of stress, including the stress that comes from being a student!

The graduates learned from trial and error what worked, and what didn’t.  Some of them stuffed their fears and emotions, and became physically ill.  Others shared what they were feeling with other students, and together, they found ways to support one another.  Doing assignments as they came in, and keeping on top of the work, was the best way some found to keep unnecessary stress out of their lives.

“Has/Did your physical health suffer while in school, and how?”  There were a handful of students, both current and graduated who stated flat out they had not had any significant health issues during school.  The biggest impact on health for students polled came from general stress, and from being over-tired.  Some students have found that in learning more about health and their own bodies, they are better able to care for themselves.  Other students that have had significant health issues, reported that they came from pre-existing conditions.  It is hard to say whether or not being in school exacerbated them or not.  Most students told me that getting regular acupuncture treatments, and learning how to best manage their course load has been the best medicine. 

As stated, some of the graduates did not experience health problems, beyond trying to deal with the everyday stress school brought.  Others experienced anxiety, digestive disorders, and exhaustion. Finding a balance between work, home, school and family was the best solution for them.  Also of importance was learning to not take it all so seriously, including themselves.

“What is/was the single most important thing you do/did to care for yourself while in school?”  The answers to this question brought everything full circle.  Every single person talked about how self-care takes center stage in their lives now.  Eating well, getting enough rest, having a hobby, and having a spiritual practice, are all things that help a haggard student get thru one more week. 

When the graduates were asked to look back, some said they wished they’d done more to take care of themselves.  Some found that taking what they were learning and applying it to their own lives had been extremely helpful.  Having to recognize what was important and not taking things too seriously were beneficial, while eating well, resting, and getting regular acupuncture and bodywork were critical to getting them get through school.

It is my fervent hope that in writing this article, we can all see that we share many of the same issues.  School is a stressful place, and we cannot control much in this environment.  But, that said, in understanding that we all suffer from some of the same basic things, perhaps we can gain insight and compassion enough to not only help each other, but ourselves as well.

There are lessons for us all to learn within these four simple questions and the generously gifted answers.  Hopefully, as we all march forward, towards our own individual goals, we leave our mark on this place.  In being the student, we become the teacher, and leading by example, we make the way for others in our wake, and leave this school better for our being here.