10 years ago today I celebrated my 25th birthday.
I was finishing a gap year doing a medical journalism fellowship in NYC, and the thought of going back to medical school filled me with dread. The first two years of medical school were stressful, I never felt good enough, and I questioned my career choice constantly. Add to that mix a string of toxic relationships that nearly broke me – I didn’t want to go back to all of that.
I thought about quitting medicine.
Not because I didn’t want to be a doctor, but because I couldn’t see myself making it through the training process.
Well, a lot can change in a decade.
I owe it all to my family, friends, and most of all to my husband, who believed in me and pulled me out of the darkness. And of course God, who never gave up on me after I went far far astray for several years.
I’m finally, now, happy at where I am personally and professionally. I always thought I’d get here upon getting into medical school or getting into residency or getting that attending job. Milestone after milestone reached and I still felt unfulfilled, frustrated, disappointed. I found out through trial and error that I need to be my own boss so I can practice medicine the way I want to. I need variety in my life, where I can see patients, consult, teach, do research, mentor students, create content, publish articles, and have the freedom to expand where I want to go, without feeling pressured to fit into a certain “doctor” mold or give up time with my family.
Imagine the life you want to live. Your dream career.
Now go after it.
I can’t wait to see what you do!
And as always, thank you so much for being here on this journey with me. I’m a work in progress and I appreciate this community more than you know!
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