What kind of a student are you?
1) The accomplished. By sound faculties of mind, ample opportunities, habits of diligence and sobriety they have reached
high relative distinction. Rely on their own genius.
2) The well studied. Have taken additional time to achieve their goal of graduation and employment. They are opportunist.
3) The "life" experienced. Has estimated impartially his capabilities and acquirements, but had the mental vision to see
evidence of a world beyond.
4) The unschooled. Lacking the benefits of the basic knowledge of our language and the habits of study. They must
comprehend, that knowledge cannot be gained without systematic and sustained attention.
5) The cost-limited. If cost is a concern, get the most value from your investment by paying special attention to chemistry, pharmacy, the mechanisms by which medicines work.
6a) Intent only on practical matters. The cure is all important, the underlying relationships are ignored. They must seek a
reason for all you undertake.
6b) Put off til tomorrow what could be done today. No thought of devoting twelve hours a day to study. Thus fill their mind
with only practical matters, filling pockets of their minds with small change, which, on returning home, they can jingle in
the ears of the people, who sagely judge, that so much could appear on the outside, if the inside were not filled to
overflowing. They should seek some other form of employment.
7) The unqualified. Every memory is not retentive, every judgment is not accurate, every understanding is not analytical.
Enough so that the individual is not successful in grasping the principles of several sciences, which they should learn.
8) Lack punctuality. Come late or leave early, or from trifling causes miss a lecture or a day in class. The acquisition of
knowledge is by undeviating progress.
9) The party person. Youth is the age in which we form our manners, and equally that, in which we enjoy, with the highest
zest, an intercourse with congenial society. Becoming more solicitous for a relationship than for a diploma.
10) The dilettante. Lover of knowledge for the sake of knowledge. A votarie of dissipation.
11) The oppressive. Insisting that their way is right and bullying those who don't agree.
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Liberties taken with the Introductory Lecture by Daniel Drake to the students of Medicine at the University of Louisville November 1st 1847.
ABOUT Joe Wortham