Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ghina Yaghi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Ghina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I still remember the moment I broke down after one of the hardest exams of my life. I had poured everything into studying – weeks of late nights, endless notes, and barely a moment to myself. But as I left the exam hall, uncertain of my answers and weighed down by exhaustion, I found a quiet corner, pulled out my phone, and called my dad. I could barely speak through the tears.
He listened patiently as I vented. Then, in the calmest voice, he asked me one simple question: “Did you try your best?”

That was it. Five words cut through all the noise in my head.

You see, growing up, my parents had one rule: do everything to the best of your ability. It was never about grades, awards, or choosing the “right” path. They didn’t care if we failed along the way. What mattered was that we showed up, fully committed. That we gave it everything we had, and if we fell short, we did so knowing we tried our best.

Over time, this simple rule subtly shaped the way I navigate life. I stopped fearing failure and, instead, started to embrace it for what it really was: stepping stones. After all, if I wasn’t failing, then I wasn’t aiming high enough. I began to understand that success isn’t just about achievement – it’s about intention, consistency, and growth. I discovered strengths I hadn’t known I had, simply because I kept showing up and testing my limits.

And that’s what my dad reminded me of that day – not with a lecture, but with a question. A question that still echoes in my mind every time I fall, and every time get back up again.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Ghina Yaghi. Sure, I’m a medical student—but that label barely scratches the surface. Honestly, I’m a walking jumble of everything that makes me, me: a study blogger, a painter, and a photographer who loves to capture memories through my lens.

Medicine is a huge part of my life, but it’s not the whole story. I’m fascinated by the human body and the science behind healing, but I also care deeply about the human experience, such as the struggles, triumphs, and the everyday moments that shape us. That’s why I started sharing motivation, study vlogs, and honest reflections on my Instagram page. I hope that with each post I get to help others navigate the challenges of medical school with a little more confidence and a lot less pressure.

During medical school, I found a community of students dedicated not only to improving themselves but also to uplifting everyone around them by expanding their academic potential. Inspired by their passion, I joined as the Head Externals Officer at the Surgery and Radiology Interest Group, eager to contribute to a field centred on collaboration – even though my primary interest lies in internal medicine.

Beyond medicine, photography is my creative outlet. In a life that keeps rushing, I get to pause it, take a moment, and appreciate the beauty within the mundane. I find it powerful that with an image, I get to tell stories without even holding a pen.

If you were to ask me what I am most proud of, I wouldn’t be able to answer. Not because there’s nothing to say, but because there is so much. I am proud of parents, whose sacrifices gave my brothers and I every opportunity we needed. I am proud of my brothers, who constantly set the bar and inspire me to achieve higher. And I am proud of my friends, whose kindness and compassion remind me daily of the person I want to be.

To me, pride is more than personal achievements. It’s about the people who shape me and the values they pass down.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

There are moments when I question why I chose medicine. Moments fuelled by exhaustion and self-doubt, when the weight of medical school feels unbearable. When the pressure is constant and expectations are unrelenting, it can be hard to remember why I chose medicine. But then, I see a patient smile after recovery or see the relief in their eyes – and I remember. Medicine tests every part of you and pushes you to the edge; but from the edge of a mountain, you see the most beautiful views. That’s what medicine is to me: a mountain. Demanding, unforgiving at times, but so deeply worth the climb. If I could go back, I would not change a single decision regarding the career I chose to pursue.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That’s a tough question. Frankly speaking, I wish I could stop being such a perfectionist. Perfectionism, often romanticised, isn’t what it is portrayed to be. Instead, it’s focusing on frivolous details whilst missing the big picture. It means spending hours on a task when, really, it could be done more efficiently. I have had to unlearn the notion that perfectionism equals high standards. That just isn’t sustainable, and letting go can be healthy.

There really isn’t a compelling backstory I could tell you for how I came to this realisation. It wasn’t some dramatic turning point or grand revelation. It took years of gently unlearning what I had spent so long constructing. Ironically, I had built myself up around perfectionism, believing it made me stronger. But over time, I had to slowly dismantle that mindset to make space for something more sustainable, and more kind.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghinastudies?igsh=OTkzYXZ6eXlrcHlz&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/dannie.gh?igsh=MXV6ZnZkZDJwZ3libA==