A media, book or a news article that has great influence on you
I watched the Japanese Taiga drama "Sanada Maru," which tells the story of Sanada Yukimura, hailed as "Japan's greatest soldier." His life experiences gave me a deeper understanding of him, and his life choices at crucial moments have been very enlightening for me.
It taught me how to face setbacks and how to continue exploring the meaning of life even in its darkest times.
It offers lessons in leadership, strategy, character, and ethics.
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Courage under pressure
He repeatedly faced far larger forces and accepted high personal risk rather than retreating.
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Tactical ingenuity
His use of fortifications (Sanada Maru), mobility, and surprise tactics shows value of creativity and adapting tactics to resources.
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Loyalty with principle
Fierce loyalty to allies and to a chosen cause, balanced with strategic judgment.
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Resilience and perseverance
Continued resistance after major losses, maintaining morale and purpose among followers.
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Leading by example
Shared danger with troops, earning trust and obedience through personal bravery.
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Humility and learning
Despite noble birth, he built alliances, learned from rivals, and used available counsel.
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Calculated sacrifice
Willingness to accept personal or short‑term loss for what he saw as a higher strategic or moral goal.
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Symbolic leadership
His courage became a rallying symbol—showing how reputation and narrative amplify influence.
How do you think this piece of media influenced your thoughts or behaviours in general?
You're working on a group project with three classmates. One member hasn't contributed anything for two weeks but becomes defensive when the group brings it up, citing personal stress. How would you handle this situation?
- Have a private, compassionate conversation first
- Listen without judgment, then gently refocus on solutions
- Offer concrete, low-barrier options
- Set a gentle but clear boundary
- Document and (if needed) involve the instructor early
You're a medical student on rotation. You notice a senior resident consistently skipping hand hygiene between patients. Several patients on the ward have developed similar infections. What would you do and why?
Immediate Actions
Prioritize patient safety first Document objectively
Addressing the Resident (When Safe/Appropriate)
Consider a respectful, non-confrontational approach first
Escalation Pathways (If behavior continues or situation is urgent)
Escalate through proper channels
Why This Matters Ethically & Clinically
Hand hygiene is the single most effective infection prevention measure (WHO "My 5 Moments"). Skipping it directly endangers patients. Power gradient ≠ abdication of responsibility: Medical students have an ethical duty to protect patients (per AMA/medical student oaths). Silence enables harm. Infection clusters demand investigation: Similar infections in multiple patients on one ward raise suspicion of iatrogenic transmission—this requires urgent public health attention regardless of the source. Speaking up is a professional skill: Learning to navigate hierarchy while advocating for patients is core to medical professionalism. Resources like the AHRQ "Speak Up" program or TeamSTEPPS provide frameworks for this.