Queen of all Idiots: Am I the kind of person who should be a doctor?
So here’s my dramatic story… 😛 (I actually cried at lunch because I couldn’t’t handle the pressure anymore)
Am in the 11th grade and I am totally confused as to what I want to do. Since I was a little kid in elementary school, I wanted to be an architect, but recently, it stopped interesting me. My folks are old school South Asians, so for them, the world seems to be limited to only doctors, engineers and (sometimes) lawyers.
My grades fluctuate from 87-93%. I am taking all the science courses (I can do well in them when I try, but I really couldn’t ’t care less) and the maths (I actually love it, it’s my best subject, but I can’t think of anything that I can do other than accountant “boooooring” or actuary [too hectic and not my thing]), but what I really love to do is paint and draw. I hate English and language courses, even though I am fluent in 3 languages and I can understand 2 other. I am planning on going into the life-sciences at U of T for my undergrad.
My parents are now pushing me to go to med school and become a doctor. Honestly, I am the laziest person you can come by. I don’t have any of my volunteer hours and I cringe at the sight homework and chores. I really just enjoy reading and learning when I feel like, rather than have someone test my knowledge every time and attaching a grade to everything.
I went on a bunch of med forums and guidance websites and spoke to my teachers, and they tell me that to get into med school, aside from the obvious high grades, GPA and MCAT scores, I have to have a lot of volunteer experience and join organizations, research groups and clubs on campus.
I realize, I have to enjoy all this, and I do find medicine fascinating but somehow when I contemplate the years of studying, working, volunteering plus the cost and the toll it will have on my family, my head starts spinning. I start thinking, why not become a mathematician and just teach or even go crazy and become an artist and paint murals in the city? Then I return to the question of money and prestige.
I have been pretty poor all my life (trust me) and so, based on the gambling decisions my parents took, I don’t want to be like them and waste my time in energy on something that won’t pay off. (I’m impatient and I want results fast.)
I don’t have a “fire in my belly” for medicine.
I guess what I am asking is: is medicine really for me?
Answers from real doctors would be nice. 🙂
Answers and Views:
Answer by MrCynic77
I’m not a doctor, but I am in medical school (i’m on my way). From the sounds of it, you do not sound like you should become a doctor. It is is a long, grueling process, and you really need to be motivated to see it through. From your question, it sounds like you would be much happier being a math teacher or doing graphic design (or something related to one of those fields). During college, you should have time to take a variety of classes and find what you are interested in. Don’t lock yourself into a career path that already makes you unhappy.
It does not sound like you would enjoy Medicine. You have to WANT it. It is hard work. Actually, it sounds like you are going to have to adjust to even go to college. The system is not set up around you. If you think a PhD in Mathmatics is easy, you are very mistaken. To teach in a University system , you almost have to have a doctorate, and they are never easy to earn, no matter what the field. So you are going to have to forgo your laid-back lifestyle long enough to get through college with decent grades. For a teaching career in Math, better ace all your Math courses. You will be going well beyond Calculus. There are a zillion talented artists out there- if that is your chosen career, better be VERY good. Better hope you get the fire in the belly for something. Otherwise, you just drift.
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