Are you in the final years of high school or preparatory courses? Is a career in medicine on your mind? Hopefully, this story might just help you to make better choices for your future.
Not long ago, there lived a girl in a small town with her family. Being the daughter of an educator and a firefighter, she grew up with her books and loved her studies. She was not particularly close to any of her relatives other than her immediate family. Occasionally, she would find happiness when being with her friends whom she only had the opportunity to meet at school.
From time to time, her father would ask her, “What do you want to become when you grow up?” And she always replied without fail, “A doctor. I want to become a doctor.” Several years later, she finally made it through school. Her dream was just within reach and the opportunity was calling. She embarked on the journey to realise her dreams when out of the blue, things started to take a turn for the worst or the best, even she did not know. She started to question her decision; she began to worry about her future and at one point even doubting if her dream was hers after all. A good friend asked her, “What else do you want to become other than a doctor?” Unable to answer the question, she found herself stumbling as she continued to move on, bearing in mind the fact that she would have nothing if all was stripped away from her.
Source: lifeslittleinspirations.com
What is your opinion? Do you think she made the right decision?
This, in fact, is my story and to be truthful, till this day, it is a question I do not have an answer to. The traveller in the poem could see two roads in front of him. When I was 18, I could only see one road: medical school. However, I realised that growing up teaches a person to view life from a different and broader perspective. I had always looked at life through rose-tinted glasses, which regretfully at that point of time my life, had narrowed my view on life and my future. Now, my biggest fear is to be dreamless.
The traveller tells himself that he will go down the unchosen road in the future but at the back of his mind, he is unsure of it. Quite the irony. Life is like this. Letting go of an opportunity can lead to a whole different life that you can never imagine. Though sometimes one would hear stories about people getting a second chance at life. One of the dreadful outcome after years in medical school is not being able to finish the whole course at all. If I fail this time, what will I do? Can I return to the starting point and do it all over again?
If there is a time machine, I would probably go back into the past and tell that 18 year old girl to explore more options. Contrary to the overrated reputation of medicine or other mainstream and highly coveted fields (i.e. Engineering, law, and accountancy) that 18 year old would have chosen the road less travelled.
Therefore, I believe that these are a few things one should think about before making the ultimate decision.
It should come from the heart.
You are in love with this field. Once you fall in love, no one can stop you. Not even failure will stop you from moving forward in making your dream come true.
Know your stuff.
Medicine is getting more exposure through popular medical dramas such as House, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. These shows usually portray the glamorous side of the medical field and attract a lot of interest. Get the facts right. Do your own research about the important things. For instance, types of medical schools and their courses (i.e. duration, suitability of the structure of the programme for you, cost). You can explore the various branches of medicine.
A helping hand won’t hurt.
It is wise to seek advice from professionals when making a decision. Talk to a career counsellor or maybe a teacher at school. Someone who has the wisdom and experience to give advice. If you’re willing to go the extra mile, try talking to a doctor or medical student and get the facts from them. Who better than those experiencing the life first hand to help you paint a clearer picture of the situation.
Talk to your parents.
Never go with the flow and be dreamless or uninspired. Give not one but many thoughts on what you want to do in the future. Do not pursue medicine just because your parents want you to do it. If you are interested in something else, talk it over with your parents. As I mentioned above, if your dream really comes from the heart, confidence and determination will keep you going even when others do not believe in you.
Giving up.
Be realistic. In pursuing one’s ambition, there will be challenges along the way. Sometimes you stumble and you will find it hard to get up. There is always a chance that you might even give up in the future. So, starting from day one, find your strength and continue to strengthen yourself as you move one step closer towards realizing your dream. Never give up for the ones you love.
Personally, be it road A or road B, what does it matter now? What is important to me now is to realise my other dreams. Every day I fall deeper in love with medicine and I hope that my passion for other aspects of life grows with that love. Today, I am studying and maybe tomorrow, I will learn dancing. Life has many possibilities.
Therefore, Carpe Diem! and keep smiling. The journey is one to be enjoyed.
Farahliza Grace is a 3rd year medical student studying in the Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University, Czech Republic. Learn more about her and other students at the Young Columnists tab under The Team.
Dear Miss Grace,
I thought you wrote a lovely article.Well done.
I think you made a good point about realising that there needs to be other ‘passions’ in our lives.The journey through the medical profession can indeed be very consuming in every aspect imaginable. I believe that we need to also nurture other skills and interests as we never know what tomorrow brings.We should be able to define ourselves as more than practitioners of this noble profession.
All the best.
Stumbling block? Haha. If anybody would want to talk about ‘stumbling block’, that would be me.
While I do have my shortcomings, my stumbling block was not a small matter either.
What did I do?
I redirected my path. And else is history…
This article really talk about me. Im feeling im in the same situation. Contrary im in failing right now,not sure whether my future is medical or not..