- Joined
- May 5, 2012
- Messages
- 15
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Hi everyone,
I'm having doubts about whether I should be a doctor or not. Don't get me wrong, I love what doctors do, I love working with people, I love the sciences they study (except ochem!) and I'm not shying away from hard work. But what I struggle with is the system. I feel like being a doctor demands perfection. Perfect grades, perfect prereqs, perfect experiences, and perfect ranks. If you aren't at the top, there are twenty more people ready to take your place. I'm not going to lie, I've tripped quite a few times in life, academically, mentally (depression), and I don't know if I can be that perfect. Moreover, while I don't shy away from work, I also don't want it to be all I have in life. I've spent the past two summers shadowing doctors, working in hospice facilities, etc etc and I generally meet two kinds of doctors: those who absolutely love their work and those who hate it. The latter started out all bright eyed and excited like everyone else, but the long hours, never seeing their families, and pay that really ended up not being worth the massive loans and horrible hours have left them jaded and bitter. I love medicine but I don't want to turn into that! I know I'll do something in healthcare for sure so if you think I can't or shouldn't be a doctor, please go ahead and tell me, I don't mind. I'm just worried that if I'm filled with so many doubts and fears now, what will happen if actually DO go to med school. Also, I'm not from a rich family or anything so before I commit myself to something so expensive for 4 years, I'd rather take a step back and make sure it really is what I want
I'm having doubts about whether I should be a doctor or not. Don't get me wrong, I love what doctors do, I love working with people, I love the sciences they study (except ochem!) and I'm not shying away from hard work. But what I struggle with is the system. I feel like being a doctor demands perfection. Perfect grades, perfect prereqs, perfect experiences, and perfect ranks. If you aren't at the top, there are twenty more people ready to take your place. I'm not going to lie, I've tripped quite a few times in life, academically, mentally (depression), and I don't know if I can be that perfect. Moreover, while I don't shy away from work, I also don't want it to be all I have in life. I've spent the past two summers shadowing doctors, working in hospice facilities, etc etc and I generally meet two kinds of doctors: those who absolutely love their work and those who hate it. The latter started out all bright eyed and excited like everyone else, but the long hours, never seeing their families, and pay that really ended up not being worth the massive loans and horrible hours have left them jaded and bitter. I love medicine but I don't want to turn into that! I know I'll do something in healthcare for sure so if you think I can't or shouldn't be a doctor, please go ahead and tell me, I don't mind. I'm just worried that if I'm filled with so many doubts and fears now, what will happen if actually DO go to med school. Also, I'm not from a rich family or anything so before I commit myself to something so expensive for 4 years, I'd rather take a step back and make sure it really is what I want