My story continues

So, after taking into account everyone's advice I have been repeating my first year. I have been fairly unhappy with things and I spend most of my time fantasizing about doing something else with my life. I can still see myself as a doctor but can also see myself doing so many other things that I question why I should spend so many more years in school plus residency and be so far in debt (I am already very in debt) when I could be doing something else and making a living, starting my life so to speak. I feel as if my life is on hold now and will be for years to come if I continue in medicine. I am still young (25) and I have parents who support me in every way and a home to go home to (roof over my head, food etc., etc.).

So, yah, I am considering resigning as a medical student and trying something else. Then again, maybe I am just being a whiney lil' bitch and I need to suck it up. But then I thought about an old military saying, "when there is doubt, there is no doubt." You know, a man must be confident enough to abide by the strength of his convictions. Now, what are my convictions?.....

Originally Posted by palmpalm

So, after taking into account everyone's advice I have been repeating my first year. I have been fairly unhappy with things and I spend most of my time fantasizing about doing something else with my life. I can still see myself as a doctor but can also see myself doing so many other things that I question why I should spend so many more years in school plus residency and be so far in debt (I am already very in debt) when I could be doing something else and making a living, starting my life so to speak. I feel as if my life is on hold now and will be for years to come if I continue in medicine. I am still young (25) and I have parents who support me in every way and a home to go home to (roof over my head, food etc., etc.).

So, yah, I am considering resigning as a medical student and trying something else. Then again, maybe I am just being a whiney lil' bitch and I need to suck it up. But then I thought about an old military saying, "when there is doubt, there is no doubt." You know, a man must be confident enough to abide by the strength of his convictions. Now, what are my convictions?.....

First of all, you are in the pre-clinical years and have no experience with the clinical years. It is the clinical years that are indicative of what the medical profession entails. The pre-clinical years tend to mirror undergraduate school which is generally far different from the practice of medicine.

If you find that you hate seeing patients (you may want to spend some time doing some volunteer clinical work - perhaps with your faculty adviser), then you might be in a better position to make a more informed decision.

In short, you really haven't "tried" medicine in the sense that you have only done what you were doing in undergraduate (sitting in a classroom). You wouldn't be the first medical student to totally hate the pre-clinical stuff and find your footing during third year. With your repeat of first year, a strong second year, you stand a good chance of doing well on Step I and having a strong clinical year.

Don't burn your bridges behind you just because you have some frustrations at having to repeat first year and boredom might be a factor. Medicine and medical school are going to change drastically for you once year two has been completed.

Originally Posted by njbmd

First of all, you are in the pre-clinical years and have no experience with the clinical years. It is the clinical years that are indicative of what the medical profession entails. The pre-clinical years tend to mirror undergraduate school which is generally far different from the practice of medicine.


If you find that you hate seeing patients (you may want to spend some time doing some volunteer clinical work - perhaps with your faculty adviser), then you might be in a better position to make a more informed decision.



In short, you really haven't "tried" medicine in the sense that you have only done what you were doing in undergraduate (sitting in a classroom). You wouldn't be the first medical student to totally hate the pre-clinical stuff and find your footing during third year. With your repeat of first year, a strong second year, you stand a good chance of doing well on Step I and having a strong clinical year.

Don't burn your bridges behind you just because you have some frustrations at having to repeat first year and boredom might be a factor. Medicine and medical school are going to change drastically for you once year two has been completed.

Actually, I have a fair bit of clinical experience from before med school having had different jobs in clinical medicine and coming from a family with physicians in it. Also, I love the practice of medicine. I never said I don't. I think I would make a great physician and would enjoy practicing medicine very much. I never said otherwise.

I love seeing patients. I don't want to quit cause I don't want to be a doctor. I am thinking of quitting because I think I could be happy doing other things as well and I am not sure that all the crap is worth it.

I am also away from home and not enjoying that experience.

Perhaps I should clarify. I am not unhappy with the schooling itself. Just being away from home and not enjoying how I am living and what I am doing. The material is fine (albeit boring).

Originally Posted by palmpalm

I am not unhappy with the schooling itself. Just being away from home and not enjoying how I am living and what I am doing. The material is fine (albeit boring).

Sounds like your issues aren't directly related to medical school. Being away from home and how you're living are just central to life (unless your life plan involves living with your parents in your 30's). Sorry, I can't really relate as I couldn't wait to leave home when I went to undergrad...

Originally Posted by WellWornLad

Sounds like your issues aren't directly related to medical school. Being away from home and how you're living are just central to life (unless your life plan involves living with your parents in your 30's). Sorry, I can't really relate as I couldn't wait to leave home when I went to undergrad...

No, no, you misunderstood. I didn't say living by myself I said living far from home. I am used to living by myself. I've have my own apartment since I was 19. By home I mean my city and my country, where I am comfortable and all my connections are.

Originally Posted by palmpalm

No, no, you misunderstood. I didn't say living by myself I said living far from home. I am used to living by myself. I've have my own apartment since I was 19. By home I mean my city and my country, where I am comfortable and all my connections are.

No, that's what I thought you meant - living far from family. Maybe it's not so common in some countries to pick up and move, but in the U.S. it's not at all unusual to move across the country for a job or school. That's usually half the draw of college for most people (the people I know, anyway).

If it bothers you, isn't there a medical school in your country you could attend? Unless you plan on living near your family all your life, however, you'll have to get used to the distance sometime.

Originally Posted by palmpalm

No, no, you misunderstood. I didn't say living by myself I said living far from home. I am used to living by myself. I've have my own apartment since I was 19. By home I mean my city and my country, where I am comfortable and all my connections are.

You're 25, not that young anymore. You can't hang around with your high school friends forever. Suck it up and stay in medical school, unless you have a firm definite plan of action for a different career that might suit you better.

Originally Posted by palmpalm

Actually, I have a fair bit of clinical experience from before med school having had different jobs in clinical medicine and coming from a family with physicians in it. Also, I love the practice of medicine. I never said I don't. I think I would make a great physician and would enjoy practicing medicine very much. I never said otherwise.

I love seeing patients. I don't want to quit cause I don't want to be a doctor. I am thinking of quitting because I think I could be happy doing other things as well and I am not sure that all the crap is worth it.

I am also away from home and not enjoying that experience.

Perhaps I should clarify. I am not unhappy with the schooling itself. Just being away from home and not enjoying how I am living and what I am doing. The material is fine (albeit boring).

Guess what, I come from a family of ten physicians and I was both a medical school professor and respiratory therapist beffore medical school. I had no idea of what the practice of medicine entailed until I was actually doing it (in a limited manner) during third year. If you hate medicine and medical school then by all means quit while you are ahead but make no mistake, you don't know much about medical practice until you are actually doing some of it. Certainly, there are other professions and vocations out there that millions of folks enjoy on a daily basis. You have to do what "floats your boat" best. Make some adult decisions and do what is best for you.

Originally Posted by njbmd

Guess what, I come from a family of ten physicians and I was both a medical school professor and respiratory therapist beffore medical school. I had no idea of what the practice of medicine entailed until I was actually doing it (in a limited manner) during third year. If you hate medicine and medical school then by all means quit while you are ahead but make no mistake, you don't know much about medical practice until you are actually doing some of it. Certainly, there are other professions and vocations out there that millions of folks enjoy on a daily basis. You have to do what "floats your boat" best. Make some adult decisions and do what is best for you.

word.

I'm not sure I follow all your reasoning, but it sounds like you are truly unhappy with the present situation.

If you are confident that you would be happy as a doc, the real question is whether you are willing to put up with a situation that you don't like for a few more years. You are questioning whether this is all worth it; which is a very valid question. There is no way to predict the future, so that question really can't be answered.

I'd suggest sticking out the semester, and see how you feel in a few months. You already paid, so you might as well get your money's worth. Spend some time thinking about other career options. If you find something that seems like a better fit, it may in fact be.

Originally Posted by palmpalm

So, after taking into account everyone's advice I have been repeating my first year. I have been fairly unhappy with things and I spend most of my time fantasizing about doing something else with my life. I can still see myself as a doctor but can also see myself doing so many other things that I question why I should spend so many more years in school plus residency and be so far in debt (I am already very in debt) when I could be doing something else and making a living, starting my life so to speak. I feel as if my life is on hold now and will be for years to come if I continue in medicine. I am still young (25) and I have parents who support me in every way and a home to go home to (roof over my head, food etc., etc.).

So, yah, I am considering resigning as a medical student and trying something else. Then again, maybe I am just being a whiney lil' bitch and I need to suck it up. But then I thought about an old military saying, "when there is doubt, there is no doubt." You know, a man must be confident enough to abide by the strength of his convictions. Now, what are my convictions?.....

Hear, hear!

Medical school does elicit this.