What keeps you motivated?

[JemisonLuck]

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Hi Everyone,

Well first thread on this site...I have been a member here a while but I am lurker in nature. I am also from the United Kingdom, so things are quite different here..

A bit about me, I am 24, engaged and have a small baby. I did the first year of a nursing degree, but left after realising that I was simply wasting my time and I should have just plucked up the courage and applied for medicine all along. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a doctor, but lack of confidence and certain life issues have stopped me from going ahead with this...until now.

I am currently in the process of doing my pre-requisites for medical school and will be applying next year. I know there isn't anything else I would rather be doing, and I find myself a little obsessed with the whole idea...spend a lot of time reading medical journals, documentaries etc.

I will be 31, when I graduate..I was preoccupied with my 'age' for such a long time, feeling like I had 'missed' the boat so to speak. Here in the UK, you can start medical school at 18, and graduate at 23. You would probably think that my decision to just 'go for it' now was an easy one...but I have found it to be a very hard one. I had the oppurtunity to train to be a midwife this september, and for a while it was an attractive idea. I am passionate about women centred care, but I will never achieve the things I would want to achieve being a midwife. I wouldnt be taught the things I would want to know. I almost felt under pressure to go with this option as I know I need to provide for my daughter..I went back and forth with the idea for so long...and in the end I decided to go for medicine. I feel happy, and I know in my heart I have made the right choice...but since making my decision I get the off days..People tell me.." You are crazy...spending all that time studying" " You do make life hard for yourself"...

This is the path for me, I know that for sure. I just want to know how you guys keep the motivation going when you get the off days, and everyone around you tells you that you are mad...Well not quite everyone..my mum and fiance are very supportive of me..apart from friends.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Hi Everyone,

Well first thread on this site...I have been a member here a while but I am lurker in nature. I am also from the United Kingdom, so things are quite different here..

A bit about me, I am 24, engaged and have a small baby. I did the first year of a nursing degree, but left after realising that I was simply wasting my time and I should have just plucked up the courage and applied for medicine all along. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a doctor, but lack of confidence and certain life issues have stopped me from going ahead with this...until now.

I am currently in the process of doing my pre-requisites for medical school and will be applying next year. I know there isn't anything else I would rather be doing, and I find myself a little obsessed with the whole idea...spend a lot of time reading medical journals, documentaries etc.

I will be 31, when I graduate..I was preoccupied with my 'age' for such a long time, feeling like I had 'missed' the boat so to speak. Here in the UK, you can start medical school at 18, and graduate at 23. You would probably think that my decision to just 'go for it' now was an easy one...but I have found it to be a very hard one. I had the oppurtunity to train to be a midwife this september, and for a while it was an attractive idea. I am passionate about women centred care, but I will never achieve the things I would want to achieve being a midwife. I wouldnt be taught the things I would want to know. I almost felt under pressure to go with this option as I know I need to provide for my daughter..I went back and forth with the idea for so long...and in the end I decided to go for medicine. I feel happy, and I know in my heart I have made the right choice...but since making my decision I get the off days..People tell me.." You are crazy...spending all that time studying" " You do make life hard for yourself"...

This is the path for me, I know that for sure. I just want to know how you guys keep the motivation going when you get the off days, and everyone around you tells you that you are mad...Well not quite everyone..my mum and fiance are very supportive of me..apart from friends.

Welcome!

My children kept me motivated in the early days - seeing them and knowing how much time this career takes away from them made me study harder when I was away from them, and the time I had with them meant even more.

Keep in mind that the laws in the UK are such that house officers work approx. 48 hours per week. This is more humane than what North American medical school graduates face, and it does allow you to pursue other interests. The downside, of course, is that post-graduate training is much longer. Also, medicine has a niche for everyone and there are plenty of branches of medicine with sociable hours.

Good luck, and hang in there.

 

[mafunk]

Thanks for this question. It's nice to be reminded of why working hard is important

What Keeps Me Motivated

• Ability to help people who are under served in the future
• Ability to go on medical missions as a future physician
• Prospect of a great job - what other job allows you to help people in need, like those who go to free medical clinics AND still make great money
• Want to make my kids proud and show them they can do whatever they put their mind to... it's never too late... don't let anyone tell you otherwise
• Thought of working directly with people (instead of a lame computer) for my daily work

 

[Quik]

Because it is fun in the meantime. Really, class is fun. Being immersed in the collegial environment, studying with peers, dicussing future plans, solving problems... that in itself is fun, and thats about the worst of it. Then there's volunteering, which can be a downright blast if you choose your experiences wisely. Making the most of every waking hour can certainly be exhausting, but it should also be rewarding as you're doing it. For me, at 27 and looking at the long road still ahead, I just have to make it all enjoyable. Sure, it will get tough at times and you'll have your down days, but that is true with anything, lest it be extremely boring.

I also stopped thinking about how old I'll be when I'm all the way through. Again I realized the knowledge and personal growth I'll accomplish while getting there. By the time I'm 38/39 and done w/ residency, I'll be such a better person (for myself) than I would had I not gone this route.

 

[malpractician]

it's really a combination of things, the cerebral work of a physician, as well as thinking back to when I was in the military and just felt absolutely mindless (and very underchallenged).

 

[Torr]

it's really a combination of things, the cerebral work of a physician, as well as thinking back to when I was in the military and just felt absolutely mindless (and very underchallenged).

👍

Thinking about my old "mindless" jobs where I was under-utilized definitely reminds me why I have to work so hard. I'm just excited to finally be studying what I love.

Also, health-wise, yoga keeps me going 😀