I am fifteen and it is midnight when my eight-year-old sister begins crying of excruciating pains in her stomach. We rush her to the hospital; the doctor arrives hours later, tired from having conducted a major surgery, but dedicated to his profession nonetheless. It is a case of acute pancreatitis. Two weeks and thrice a dozen injections later, my anxious and despondent parents are, for the first time since, finally smiling. Throughout this time, I notice that the doctor, no matter how exhausted, withholds his composure, grit, and humility; how he uses his skills to comfort vulnerable people, despite whatever he may be enduring. It makes me think – not all heroes wear capes. Most of them wear white coats and stethoscopes, tired but genuine
I was grateful to be able to shadow a gastroenterologist and a general practitioner. I saw the trust and gratitude that the patients entrusted upon their doctors, and the respect and humility that the doctors reciprocated – it formed the basis of a relationship unlike any other. The significance and dedication of the entire multidisciplinary team for even just one patient’s recovery was incredible to see. I also visited the emergency ward and talked to doctors about some cases – the sheer multitude and complexity of the cases only stimulated my curiosity. Some of them, however, proved to be very emotionally demanding to handle, such as one of an infant whose life was on the fence due to complications after conception. These experiences, though, have granted me a realistic perspective on the arduous but dynamic nature of a medical profession – be it the bloody cases, the endless days on feet, or the irregularities of activities as primitive as eating
But I have thought and thought a thousand times more, about my decision to pursue a career and medicine, and after all the time I have spent researching and discussing with doctors and medical students, and after taking advantage of multiple internships and volunteer experiences, I have come to realize that it will be a journey comprising of courage, perseverance, and needless to say, studying. But I confide in my abilities to appreciate and persevere at every step of the journey, and eventually use my skills to bring smiles onto faces tired from worry and exhausted from