Virtual Interactive Session with Dr. Susanna Thomas
“We aim above the mark to hit the mark!”
A quote inspired from Mr. R. W. Emerson holds true here at Aryaan’s, which has produced many exceptional students over the years.
On the 20th of June 2020, we the students of Mushtifund Aryaan Higher Secondary School were privileged to have amongst us an Ex-student of Aryaan’s, who with her extreme hard work and dedication has set a huge milestone in the GCET exam that has not yet been crossed. Yes! It is none other than Dr. Susanna Thomas. A living proof to the fact that only with humbleness can you gain knowledge, which ultimately leads you to success.
Dr. Thomas started her journey with Aryaan by enrolling herself in the 10th foundation course. She later continued with 11th and 12th coaching at Aryaan’s in physics, chemistry, math and biology. In the words of Dr. Thomas, “Aryaan’s played an integral role in all the exams that she had taken.”
In 2011, Dr. Thomas became the top contender for a medical seat in Goa after she became the all-time top scorer at the Goa Common Entrance Test. Scoring 217 out of 225 in physics, chemistry, biology, she beat the previous top PCB score of 210 at GCET. Her high ambitions and sheer diligence towards her medical career got herself admitted in CMC Vellore, one of the top medical institutes in India. She has worked in a mission hospital for two years in Uttar Pradesh as a part of the course. She is currently doing her MS in obstetrics and gynaecology in CMC Vellore.
Dr. Thomas has a noble aim in life. “I want to be a missionary doctor and serve in rural areas,” she said in one of her interviews in the Times of India in 2011.
The session started with a heartwarming welcome to Dr. Thomas by Mr. Vyankatesh Prabhudesai, the director of Aryaan, wherein he threw light on the excellence and the immense hard work that she put in to reach where she stands today, during the yester years of her journey at Aryaan. He also mentioned how Dr. Thomas ventured a difficult and tiring road journey from her home in Vasco to her school and then also attending coaching in Margao. Adding to this Dr. Thomas hinted that her key to success was time management and that her taxing trips did not really affect her because she believed in the fact that, “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”
Later she started mapping her journey from the days at CMC Vellore where she shared how she enjoyed being a part of the institute, and the glow on her face while mentioning about the fond memories that she created during her hostel days back then gave an insight about how hostel life plays an important role in students life.
She also gave us a fair idea about the institute giving her a lot of exposure in the field, wherein they paid more heed towards practical’s rather that theory, which is mostly ignored in local medical institute.
She also alluded that the institute did not give them any half days unlike local institutes which practiced half day learning specially during the third year. At CMC if there was no teaching then the students were taken for bed side practical’s rather than leaving them free for the remaining time. Moreover, they were allowed to dissect cadavers in small groups so that everyone had a fair chance to observe and experiment. She also touched on the fact that CMC Vellore is equipped with one of the most modern medical instruments for research and surgery.
Taking the students deeper in her journey she explained how the institute gave her the liberty to make independent choices during the course and even at the mission hospital she was sometimes the main doctor, where she had absolute independence to make choices for the patient, which gave her vulnerability in her career and if needed she always knew that she was backed by the CMC faculty that was ever pumped up to help her out if needed.
Hardly had she finished covering her journey CMC in when she was flooded with the questions of our enthusiastic students and teachers. Joining Mr. Prabhudesai were the biology faculty of Aryaan, Dr. Ketan and Mrs. Venetia who have an expertise in the field if teaching students and training them for medical entrance exams.
Dr. Thomas answered all our questions enthusiastically, may it be the about the perks of normal delivery or the manipulations faced during a cesarian, also giving us an insight about fibroids and ectopic pregnancy. She also gave the students an idea about the new developments in the field of medicine and the researches that have been made over the years and some which still prolong due the versatile human anatomy.
An interaction with Dr. Thomas is indeed lifted the spirits of students here at MAHSS. Her experiences will definitely add to as the building blocks of a medical aspirant’s career. The limiting factor of time constrain did not stop the students from grasping as much knowledge from her. We hope to see her soon back with us on a live interaction.
Our batch is now definitely setting their targets high and with the motivation of our teachers and such fabulous guest speakers. I would like to thank Mr. Prabhudesai on behalf of all the students for inviting such breath-taking speakers to motivate us by sharing their piece of learning from life.
Written by: Tamanna Naik Parsekar
A student of class 11,
Mushitifund Aryaan Higher Secondary School.