AIIMS Raipur: Where Compassion Meets Education

Name: Pooja Sambharwal

Birth Place: Delhi

Academic Qualification: BSc Nursing from AIIMS Raipur, India (Admission batch: 2020)

Languages you speak or write: Hindi and English

Welcome to our exploration of campus life. In this interview series, we engage in meaningful conversations with Pooja Sambharwal (MedBound handle: @Pooja@2001) who generously shares their experiences at the AIIMS Raipur, India with Priya Bairagi (MedBound handle :@Priya Bairagi)

Pooja Sambharwal: Actually, my professional journey started after my 12th grade, and in the beginning, it was difficult. However, now I am having fun and enjoying my work. So, it has been good for me to pursue something that is beneficial for people.

Pooja Sambharwal: Actually, I was preparing for the MBBS. I've come to realize that my passion lies in direct patient interaction and providing hands-on care. While observing my friend's path as a doctor and recognizing the demanding schedules they have, I've found that nursing is where I truly belong. That's why I prefer B.Sc. Now, I am in my final year. My final exam is in September.

Pooja Sambharwal: I didn't have much experience in nursing, but I drew inspiration from my elder sister. She shared her experiences with me whenever she assisted patients or encountered significant moments during her nursing duties.

I truly admired the way she expressed that she chose this profession out of care and compassion. The genuine gratitude she received resonated with me. The feeling of making a positive impact on someone's life and being thanked for it struck a chord with me. This is why I am inclined to pursue a career in nursing.

Pooja Sambharwal: I was selected for AIIMS while everyone else was considering private institutions. So, that feeling was different. I had moved into the hostel. My father had accompanied me and then left. After that, I spent a day in the room, contemplating the fact that I had finally arrived.

We had decided to relocate from Delhi to Raipur. Since our family is small and my sister had already left. In Chhattisgarh, there is a region known for Naxalites. My parents are not from this area, so they are not entirely familiar with it. My father came here and evaluated the place. He was overjoyed that I had secured a spot in AIIMS. My friends were equally thrilled and offered their heartfelt congratulations. So, that's about it.

Pooja Sambharwal: Starting from the beginning, our first day was in hostel. We were given single rooms right from the start.

Initially, when we first encountered COVID, everyone's first year involved sharing rooms with a roommate. This was different from our main campus. However, due to COVID, we were allowed to have single rooms. These rooms also came with attached washrooms. As for the meals in the mess, I heard about my sister's experiences and those of other people.

I found the food in the mess to be enjoyable, and my family shared the sentiment. It wasn't bad. Subsequently, we moved to another hostel in the second year. The rooms were more spacious, though the washrooms were not attached. We continued having the same meals in the mess. We don't face many restrictions.

If you wish to dine at a restaurant outside, you are free to do so. You can also choose to get food from there. The decision lies with you, whether you want to get it from there or from the mess. Occasionally, you can even cook for yourself. However, this can't be a regular occurrence. As for the campus, our administration building is still under construction. The construction work is ongoing. The rest of the medical college and our nursing college are quite good.

Some blocks are present in the hospital, while some departments are still in the process of being established. Although most of them are already functional, a few are rarer and currently in development.

Stay tuned for the second part of this interview!

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