Seems like I am that person that one every really believes will follow through with things … which I don’t really get because me not following through has brought me a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering, 3 years of working in that field, a masters in engineering and now finally to pursue an MD/PHD.
And yes I am that person who wanted to save the world, who came from a third world country and have been given such an amazing opportunity to thrive here in the USA that I HAVE TO do something with all that was given to me. Who wanted to go to Africa and help. And yes I went to Africa and quickly reliazed I needed a lot more than willingness to help to really do something. And after the summer i spent in Africa I swore to myself that I would study medicine because having one day of feeling like I truly am contributing to healing this world would be worth any hardship.
And so many people see this and discard me off as another one of my “causes” that will quickly pass as it came. But just because I refuse to settle with anything and want to keep challenging myself does not make my life any less worth it or makes me any less committed to my journey.
And now a days so many people tell me that medicine is not the answer that primary care is bureaucracy at its best. But I see those doctors who are in Liberia right now risking their lives and I know that I would be there in a heart beat. I want the opportunity to make a difference and I know I have the skills to get there.
I guess I started this post as needing encouragement because its hard to keep yourself on track when everybody around you will not take you seriously. Regardless I will keep going because finally when I think of the blood, sweat and tears I am putting into this I am happy because I know it is not time wasted and everything I am doing is making me stronger 
Finding this forum has been such a huge help thank you to this community!
Welcome to OPM! I’m glad that the site has been a help to you – it has been to me as well. I’m also glad you’ve posted here. Interacting with the OPM community, I have found since I joined several years ago, is much more beneficial than just reading the posts. You feel like you’re a part of something, and less alienated and isolated as you go through this process. That’s a pretty big deal, at least to me.
I can relate to having other people not take you seriously. It’s really important to find people who DO take you seriously, and support you in your goals, if at all possible. Whether that be a professor, a friend, a significant other, family member, etc. This journey is a lonely one, and having someone encouraging you – even if they don’t completely understand what you’re going through (and they won’t) – makes a big difference.
It sounds like you have an interesting background and lots of experiences that will contribute to a good medical school application. You also mentioned pursuing MD/PhD. I initially applied that way, although I ended up going the MD route and will start medical school fall of 2015. If you have any questions about the MD/PhD road and application process, though, let me know. It’s incredibly competitive, much more so than MD, and requires extensive independent research, preferably significant publications, and so on, not to mention stellar grades and a very high MCAT score (an ADCOM told me that the average score for MD/PhD applicants has been around 35). This is not to discourage you at all, just to put that information out there.
Again, welcome to the forum. Keep us posted on your story and your progress!
- Lorien
Wecome to OPM, Majo. Your educational and travel background sounds fascinating. I echo all that Lorien has said, but I would like to add my own opinion.
About the naysayers who dismiss premeds’ desires to do humanitarian work: there is some truth to their skepticism. The idealism of youth tends to wane with reality, experience, and aging. Once they become physicians, many people find they cannot afford the money nor time to do the humanitarian projects they professed to do when they were premed. They are caught up in paying off student debt, raising a family, starting a career, running a medical practice. I’ve seen this countless times in my work with premeds who are now doctors. I have started and run free health projects in the inner city and in Mexico, etc. One of the most difficult tasks with which I’ve had to deal is to find clincians willing to volunteer their time and skills. This is especially true in the U.S. because many doctors are worried about liability and being sued. It is actually easier to get doctors to go abroad. The main exception to this problem are the retired doctors, who have both the time and money to do humanitarian work. But the liability issue is still a deterrent to their involvement in the U.S.
In the end, if you believe you are on the right track, and you are willing to stick to that track, who knows where it will take you?
Worth the 5 minute read…
http://jamesclear.com/haters