I’ve had always been a driven and intelligent student, excelling in my classes and always at the top of my class.
My parents, both immigrants, had always put a lot of pressure on me to succeed and become a doctor.
I always thought I wanted to become a doctor too, probably as an extension of this. But as I got older, I started to question whether it was the right path.
Then, I was accepted into medical school.
I suddenly wasn’t sure if I wanted to go through with it.
My parents couldn’t believe their ears. They were literally in shock when I first broke the news of my hesitation to them.
They became heart-broken, for lack of a better term.
This was a difficult period in our lives. A mourning, almost.
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From my end, I knew that becoming a doctor was no longer secure and that there were many other careers in the medical field that paid well and offered job security.
Besides, none of my friends were drawn to the field, so it felt kind of.. lonely.
I was the only person who was pursuing the field, and the years ahead of me felt daunting.
I started to research other careers in the medical field and found that there were actually other options available.
Some of the potential careers included dietitian, consultant, administrator, office manager, nurse, physical therapist, and even a health officer at camp. Who knew!
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I felt torn.
I knew that I was smart and driven enough to succeed in any of these choices, but I also wanted a job that was secure enough and paid well (to be able to raise a family).
I felt a tug between following my dreams of becoming a doctor (maybe it was my parents’ dream, really) and choosing a career that would offer me more stability.
I also had to deal with my parents’ dismay. Keeping a distance seemed to be the only way that I could cope with things, while I was sorting issues out, so I did.
As I thought more about my future, I realized I needed to make a decision, and soon. I didn’t want to waste any more time pursuing something that might not be right for me.
So I talked to my parents about my concerns, and tackled things head on. It wasn’t easy, but they were surprisingly supportive.
They told me that they just wanted me to be happy (they did use the word “successful”, too), no matter what career path I chose.
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In the end, I decided to take time off from school to explore the options. Gap year, some may say.
I started working as a consultant at a company where I could help children and families in need, while also gaining valuable experience in the medical field. I also tried out becoming a camp health officer during the summers, which allowed me to work with children, first hand, in a fun and light environment. It was cool, but not really my thing.
The gap year was priceless.
Through the time off, and my experiences, I realized I didn’t need to become a doctor to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I found fulfillment in helping others through different kinds of work.
I know that many of your readers did choose to pursue becoming a doctor and I thank them for choosing that difficult path.
As for me, I’m happy to have chosen something else, even if I don’t yet know what I’ll ultimately do.
I remain excited to explore my possibilities, while knowing others out there did pursue the medical field and can help heal me when I need.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to become a doctor, and I’m thankful I didn’t.
I know that many of your readers did choose to pursue becoming a doctor and I thank them for choosing that difficult path. As for me, I'm happy to have chosen something else, even if I don't yet know what I'll ultimately do.
