Hello everyone! I’m 34 (35 next month), have a wife and two boys 13 and 7.
When I was 19, I told my mom I wanted to be a doctor. Most moms would be thrilled right? Well not her. She’s part of a religion that discourages people to spend many years in college. The belief is that things of this “world” serves as a deterrent for the followers of God. She told me if I dared to take pre med courses, she would not support me financially. So I became an IT guy.
I got married at 20. No, she wasn’t pregnant, but our religion said we were dating for too long and so we got married.
At the age of 26, my wife and I left the religious group, and I decided to go back to school. I had to start from the bottom. My GPA when I first had gone to school at 19 ended up being a 2. something. I didn’t care about college then since I was forced to do something I didn’t want. I had to first bring my GPA up, take basic courses in math to get me to college level Algebra. I graduated honors in 2007 from a community college with a 3.75.
Then I was accepted to the University of Miami (great!) however the scholarship I was given was not enough to cover the costs for school. To cut a long story short, I ended up at another university in their nursing program. Great school, great program. I don’t regret this at all!
I tried to force the desire of becoming a doctor out of me. I told myself I can make very good money as a CRNA and not have to put as much time and effort as I would if I were pursuing a medical degree. It would be fairly easy for me to go that route, I’m well known among the faculty and the university I attend already has the CRNA track. All I would have to do is two years in the ICU, take the GRE and apply. I could make 6 figures before I hit 40 and not have to pay that much back in loans. However none of this is appealing to me. Sometimes I wish I could be content with something like that, I even end up frustrated because I know the road I’m choosing will be long and tough, but I know nothing else will make me truly happy, if that makes any sense.
I don’t want to be a doctor primarily for the money. I want to be the one who decides what’s right for my patient. Yes, I know things are changing and perhaps some docs might argue their autonomy is being stripped from them. That’s for another topic though. This is the main reason why after I graduate with my BSN I’m going to pursue medicine. I still have all my core pre med courses to take, so I guess that’s an advantage, depending on how you look at it.
I should graduate with a 3.71 GPA from nursing. I currently work at a major hospital and love what I do. Hopefully I’ll be in the ED once I become a nurse in a few months (ED doc is what I dream of). What worries me is staying above a 3.5 once I hit the hardcore classes. I’ve had the privilege to work with a PhD in congestive heart failure and the study will be published soon. Can’t hurt right for my resume right?
My wife who’s been with me since day 1 (poor thing)is supporting me 100%. We have a lot on our plate since she is also in school, about to start a nursing program soon and wishes to be an ARNP.
Thanks for letting me rant!