Hey there

Yeah, Karen did tell me that someone was going to contact me about med school. I'll be happy to help you out (admittedly by rambling)!

Quite frankly I'm in med school because my parents pushed me into it, but that said it's the most awesome thing that they've done that I've ever agreed too, and I am eternally grateful for their insight. Although it must be said that it was more of a asian parents thing than really insight lol.

I want to be a doctor because I want to be able to do something. Medical school makes you realise that the world is a pretty screwed up place, you see a lot of suffering and pain. It gives you wider vision, a vocation - and if you are up for it, it gives you self-actualisation, a purpose in life. I love the work that we do, that we can make a difference in peoples' lives. I love that I can watch the news and think - "one day I'll be able to do something about it". I want to be a part of social change. Nelson Mandela said sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. I want to be part of that. I don't want to sit behind a desk and talk about philosophy and legislation, I want to be out there doing the dirty work. I want to meet people, talk to people, hear their problems, and actually be able to help with some of them. I want to know the life behind the disease. Can I restore that life? Or at least DO something? Can I give them another crack at it, can I give them a second chance? Also as a Christian we are charged to do that - both in a physical and spiritual sense. God helps those who helps themselves, and we are His tools to use to this end. The purpose in life of both Christianity and medicine are strikingly similar. We have a duty of care to save, of service.

I will also admit that it's not always like that. Sometimes you see things you can't deal with, and people that you can't relate to, that you simply don't know what to do to help. We are not all-powerful, only God can heal some things that you see. And it is painful to not be able to do anything. The theory years of medicine do not prepare you for real-world medicine. It is a practical experience, and sometimes it is a painful one. You learn to deal with death, abuse, suffering. It is worse when you couldn't do anything about it. I'll give you an example - I am in my psychiatric rotation, and recently I saw a 29 yo woman that had been sexually abused by her father for 26 years since she was 3. She couldn't make eye contact with anyone, she just stared at the floor. She answered questions in a soft monotone. She had no friends and was afraid of men. Her life was paralysed. She had recurring nightmares of being raped. She couldn't stay at home alone because her father was still out there somewhere in the community and she was terrified he would come back. She cuts herself and constantly wants to die. She's tried more than a couple of times. If you wanted to introduce God to her, how would she grasp the concept of a Heavenly Father? I couldn't relate to her, I couldn't help her, her emotional healing had to be her own. What could I say? Would anything I said or could do make it better? I couldn't do anything. Medicine is not for the emotionally vulnerable.

But when you CAN do something, it is beautiful.

Now as for medical school itself - it is hard. And a lot of study. But make sure you have balance in your life. Don't expect it to be easy lol :D

Anyway if you have any other questions, I'll be happy to help :)

Yours
Michelle