Extended adolescents?

A doctor once told us that as medical students, we were considered 'extended adolescents'. I didn't really get his reason why but at times I think we are way more immature than adolescents... at least based on how most of us behave in class or treat others. You'd think being post-grad students would make us all responsible and mature but we keep falling short of that expectation. You'd think bullying stops at highschool but somehow most of us brought our highschool "i'm better than you" personalities all the way through medical school.

It actually irritates me at some point when most of the class will gang up on one of my classmates just because he's 'different'. It isn't fair. People say they are against bullying but don't really practice their philosophies. I'm not saying I'm not guilty. There were times when the lines of good and bad get blurry. Yes, I am no better than them at times but I am trying to change. To be more patient. Being 'different' shouldn't be one's ticket to being the butt of all jokes or criticisms. The sad part is I think my classmate has reached his threshold with all this and might stop going to classes, and some still keep 'kicking' him even if he's down. I try telling others to lay off the mean jokes but somehow they always have this "rationalized defense" that they think is right.

I pray that things change in class for the better. What kind of doctors would we be if we can't show compassion? And, to my classmate: I'm sorry if I ever snapped at you or offended you in any way.