A little over a decade ago, I had a dream. It was to become a doctor. I was good at science and was up for a challenge. Back then, I didn’t know whether I could make it or not. Growing up, I didn’t have much confidence talking to people. That dream seemed unreachable to realise. My mentor believed in me when I didn’t know what possibilities existed. I set out a goal to work on my dream. My family supported me to run with it. I had a fire in my belly and took a series of actions to make it happen. Competition to get into medicine was fierce and I was ready to put in the work and time needed.
Getting into Medical school
I applied to four Universities through UCAS and hoped to get in. Two Universities invited me for interview. The first interview didn’t go well because I didn’t prepare enough. What seemed to be a failure from the the first interview became an invaluable preparation for my second interview. I learnt from my mistakes and spent more time to practice for the second interview. Three out of the four Universities rejected my application. The rejections were disappointing. I waited the last University to respond and hoped for the best. I was one offer away from my dream. A few weeks later, I received a phone call. Someone from Manchester Medical School admission informed me I was offered a seat. I almost lost faith until that phone call. I still remember the conversation like yesterday.
The reality of being a doctor
As a young college student, I didn’t really know what I signed myself up for. Getting in Medical School was only the start. I re-invented myself at University and stepped outside my comfort zone. I enrolled in public speaking course, volunteered and talked to more people. It takes patience, perseverance and hard work to become a doctor. The long hours, night shifts, and lack of sleep were disturbing. The first year working as a doctor was a steep learning curve. There were days when I asked myself whether I had made the right choice. I’m glad I didn’t quit even when the going got tough. I learnt to prioritise my wellbeing and continued my journey.
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Walt Disney
Without perseverance, hard work and support from family and friends my dream would not have come to fruition. Sometimes, we might think there are giant obstacles on the roads to our dreams and feel like quitting. Most people quit on their dreams without even starting. If you are reading this article, perhaps you have a dream and have put it on hold or you have talked yourself out of it. I’d like to ask you an important question and I want you to be honest with yourself. What is your dream and what are you doing about it?
