Hello,
I’m impressed by the good vibes in this site, and since I don’t know anyone doing what I’m doing at this point of my life, then I decided to join you all.
First of all, I’ve already worked in the medical field for 10 years. Since I’m fluent in 3 languages, I was pulled from my desk and became a hospital interpreter, which meant I had a pager and would go all over the hospital as needed. It was great experience in patient care and seeing the different specialties.
I’m done with my prereqs and since my work comes with me, I decided to move abroad and volunteer in a medical humanitarian project in Latin America …which has been an eye opener for me with regard to non-profits and international patient care (the medical specialists are from Europe).
I decided to study in Europe. Partly because of the life experience and also because I can graduate without any debt.
Oh, but it’s not so easy. I had already been accepted a couple years ago, but I couldn’t jump the bureaucratic and financial hurdles of studying in Europe (no tuition, but no student loans either).
Life went on, and the thing is, there’s this fire inside of me telling me there’s nothing else and nowhere else I’d rather be!
So I’ve finally saved enough for my living expenses, and here I am, currently reviewing the basic sciences to take the admission exam in a few months and filing the paperwork again at the embassy. That’s pretty much it!
Some tell me it’s too long a road, but I think they’re missing the point. It’s not about the end -it’s the path itself that I like.
I’ve read some of your posts and it definitely motivates me to keep going.
Welcome!
And I completely agree with you. It isn’t about the end, it’s about what we do while traveling to our destination. I think most of us here can attest to this fact.
I’d love to hear how everything ends up!
- Indie Said:
It isn't about the end, it's about what we do while traveling to our destination.
Definitely. Seeing so many residents pass through the hospital you could tell who loved what they do, and who just wanted that "MD" but couldn't wait to get out of there. It shows.
I would ask them "if you had advice for someone starting med school, what would it be?" The latter would say "choose something else" and the former would say "never stop being amazed at the elegance of how the human body works!" (those are the actual answer I'd get)
In the end, it comes down to being honest with yourself about the reasons why we chose this path, because if you enjoy what you do, it's not work at all.
I’m new here, chronically fighting FUD, worrying over 3 kids and a husband who works long hours while I try to pursue this medical dream. I didn’t sleep much this week because I was busy staying up all night reading premed forums or agonizing over every aspect of the ED cycle for 2013. BUT, I think it was great timing when I glanced at an otherwise blank monitor screen in the computer lab that had this quote in about 18 pt font:
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.â€
― Mark Twain
I wanted to add this: Pursue.
- Broad_Horizon Said:
Some tell me it's too long a road, but I think they're missing the point. It's not about the end -it's the path itself that I like.
Good for you for taking that initial step. You put it best and that statement has been echoed throughout these forums; this is one of the reasons that keep us coming back to those long lonely nights at the study desk (I would say cold and dark but that would be a bit too extreme, lol!)
Push yourself as much as you can and then when you think you cant go any more...push a little farther. Its not easy by any means but then again nothing in this life that's worth something is never easy nor quick!
Cheers!
- madnessisay Said:
I wanted to add this: Pursue.
- Julio Cesar Said:
Push yourself as much as you can and then when you think you cant go any more...push a little farther.
@madnessisay and @julio_cesar
I agree that we should pursue our goals no matter what.
Surely most of us here have extremely important things that pull our heart strings and test our resolve, but you know what? Things DO work themselves out and life DOES make room for this.
A few years ago I met a single, non-trad mom of a 9 year old severely autistic boy. Her husband left her when she was accepted. She pursued her goals anyway and finished med school on her own *and* with a special-needs hyperactive child.
It inspired me and forced me to look back and count how many things I thought needed my immediate attention, now do just fine without me, and what I thought was more important than my dreams, actually wasn't, how many things I thought were too tough, but did just fine.
The world doesn't end if we shift our priorities to books and tests. Everything else slowly starts to adjust around it.
