<p>I am a person who takes comfort in knowing I have a plan. I need to know what I want to do in life, and I need to know what direction I am heading into. I need a destination point.</p>
<p>For the last few years, I was sure I wanted to go into medicine. I am fascinated with the science of the human body, I like physics and chemistry (although I don't know if I'd do well in college courses), and can eat while observing a surgery. Yes, I have had more than a few freak-outs regarding my capability of handling the workload, but that's relatively normal. Right?</p>
<p>But I was once told, "If there is anything else, anything at all, that you can see yourself doing with your life, do not go into medicine." </p>
<p>Not that I take random people's advice THIS seriously, but the phrase has always sort of stuck with me. And then comes the fact that there are a million other things that interest me. All my life, I have had a love of writing. I have always devoured television shows, analyzed them (the writer's choice of words, the director's decisions) until someone shut me up. I've written more alternative endings and fan fiction than I can count. The idea of being a screenwriter is always in the back of my mind. I would also love to be a journalist. I would enjoy being an elementary school teacher. A family is something I look forward to, and I want a job that allows me to devote time to my future children. </p>
<p>Those are just some of the things I'd love to do in my life, and it worries me that I am not sure about a career in medicine. I feel like I would be letting people (aka my parents) down if I changed my mind. Any advice? Please?</p>
<p>And is it weird to have such a broad and seemingly random list of interests?</p>
<p>You sound an awful lot like an older version of my daughter. Same exact interests. So I will tell you what I have told her:</p>
<p>It's OK that you haven't fully decided what you want to be when you "grow up." My suggestion is to get creative and think about ways to combine writing with medicine. Seems like it would be the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>My advice to you regarding colleges, then, is to pick perhaps a smaller school dedicated more to undergrads where it'll be easier to change your major. It's perfectly fine to want to take classes in various subjects before dedicing upon a major or two, and it sounds like you'd be the type who would want that.</p>
<p>First of all, don't feel bad about changing your mind. Not only is it completely normal, it's also expected. The average college student changes his or her major 5 times. I understand wanting to have a set plan (I'm the same way), but honestly, it's not worth it to commit your entire life to something that you're having second thoughts about. You deserve to be happy, which means exploring ALL of your options and choosing the one that's best for you. By doing so, you won't be letting anyone down. </p>
<p>And to be completely honest, it seems to me that you're not particularly passionate about the medical field anyway. It seems that you're simply clutching onto it because you don't want to be without a plan. Granted, I'm not a mind reader, so I could be completely wrong, but that's the impression I get from what you've written. </p>
<p>This paragraph in particular:
[quote]
Those are just some of the things I'd love to do in my life, and it worries me that I am not sure about a career in medicine. I feel like I would be letting people (aka my parents) down if I changed my mind. Any advice? Please?
<p>It's not weird. You can double major at university if you want. Major in biology or Chem and also English or Rhetoric.</p>
<p>The only reason people warned you against pursuing medicine because it is a very long, arduous road. In terms of grad work (including residency years) it requires the most time--beyond that of PhDs, and the competition is fierce. You will probably be in your early 30s by the time you start officially working as a doc and even older if you are a specialized surgeon. The MCAT ain't exactly a walk in the park either. But if you put in the effort and you set your mind to it, you can get into med school and finish it. It will definitely not be easy at all but you should not give up just because of something someone said.</p>
<p>As for your other interests, you can major in science and still teach as long as you get a teacher's cred in grad school. You can get a Masters degree in education for example, regardless of your undergrad major. </p>
<p>Just keep your options open by double majoring if you so desire. (You can even major in something non-science as long as you complete pre-med reqs.) As long as you keep your GPA up, you have various options post-grad.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The only reason people warned you against pursuing medicine because it is a very long, arduous road. In terms of grad work (including residency years) it requires the most time--beyond that of PhDs, and the competition is fierce. You will probably be in your early 30s by the time you start officially working as a doc and even older if you are a specialized surgeon. The MCAT ain't exactly a walk in the park either. But if you put in the effort and you set your mind to it, you can get into med school and finish it. It will definitely not be easy at all but you should not give up just because of something someone said.
[/quote]
I think the quote refers to hobbies, recreation, and family just as much as it refers other career options. The insane workload doesn't end with schooling. My best friend's dad is a surgeon. He works something like 70 hours a week, and she basically never saw him growing up. </p>
<p>It's an admirable field, and often a rewarding one, but you have to be prepared to give a lot up for it. I know many people who enjoy doing careers in the field, but it's not a decision to make lightly.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, is it just me or is anyone offended by the OP's use of the word "retarded"? The mentally challenged and autistic community is very offended by the term when it's used in a non-clinical way such as this. For someone who has shown an interest in medicine, he/she should be aware of that.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, I in no way meant to offend anyone. The word IS thrown around very frequently and is often not associated with the mentally challanged, so I guess it almost seems okay to say it.</p>
<p>But yeah, I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to.</p>
<p>(But what'd the deal with your opening line? You can just let me know it's not acceptable without trying to form an army against me).</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the replies. They help a lot. I guess what bothers me most is not having a clearly defined plan. But at the same time, I don't want to end up sticking with a path if I lose interest in it, (because I do that sometimes, just because it's familiar).</p>
<p>I do not think you should apologize for not having a clearly defined plan. You are young, intelligent, multitalented, and living in a world that tends to pressure people like you into a narrowly focused track for what they consider success. Embrace your varied talents. Write--I think you do it well. Study in a way that leaves a medical profession open to you. You will use your talent to benefit others one way or another. Whatever you do, it will probably evolve in time anyway, so don't look back and don't worry too much about what you might have done.</p>
<p>I completely understand how you feel, salmon. My dad is a physican and my mom is a nurse, so my entire life I feel like I've been forced upon the medical field. I wanted to be a doctor for most of my life (after I got over my "I want to be Michael Jackson" phase :)) but some point at the beginning of high school, I decided I wanted to do what I like best-writing. I love medicine. I love helping people. I'd love to be a doctor. It's just that I like writing more. </p>
<p>Of course, my parents have given me every excuse in the book to become a doctor.
Me- I don't want to spend much time in school.
Them- It's only 4 more years!
Me- Then residency!
Them- Only 3 more years!
Me- I'll be 30 something before I'm done!
Them- You'll be 29!
Me- I want to have free time to enjoy my life.
Them- Do a lifetime specialty! (i.e. dermatology)
Me- I want to write!
Them- Write on the side after you become a doctor.</p>
<p>And this conversation goes on and on. </p>
<p>Basically, I think that it comes down to what your priorities are. Do you like writing better, or medicine? Which are you better (personally, I'm actually better at science than writing, but I enjoy writing more, which I believe is more important) And never worry about disappointing someone. There's a difference between your parents being disappointed because you decided to drop out of school and become a drug dealer, and being disappointed because you didn't take a career path they wanted you to. Basically, they'll get over it if you don't become a doctor, while if you become a doctor and hate it, you'll never forgive yourself and you'll be unhappy missing out on the rest of your life.</p>
<p>"Salmonscrubs graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies...Salmonscrubs' first bestseller, The CC Strain, was published while he was still a medical student. He later worked full time on film and writing. Now one of the most popular writers in the world, his books have been translated into thirty-six languages, and thirteen have been made into films."</p>
<p>Princessbell, that conversation does sound very familiar. </p>
<p>It's really cool that both your parents are in the field. I think I'd benefit a lot from having grown up around doctors, whether that means I'd run in the opposite direction of medical school or embrace it, lol. The situation's a bit different with my parents. They're both very intelligent people with decent jobs, but nothing impressive. (Although they do work very hard. Or at least my dad does). My mom wanted to be a doctor until she got to her last few years in high school and then, according to her, she got lazy and 'lost sight of the goal.' Lately, she's been obsessing about my grades and future more than ever. And not in a friendly way. And she doesn't really do anything to help, just constantly reminds me (through yelling) that grades are all I should care about in life. I think she’s afraid I will do what she did or she feels like I somehow represent her and if she makes me succeed then…I don’t know. </p>
<p>I really wouldn't become a doctor JUST to please my parents. It's just, after so many years of insisting that's what I want to do, I feel a bit foolish changing my mind. Also, I don't come from a financially stable family. So another aspect of medicine that made it so appealing was the financial stability. (I swear I have reasons for wanting to become a doctor that are a lot less shallow haha).</p>
<p>And yes, I think on some level, I do enjoy writing more. I have a propensity to become obsessed with all things fictional, whether it be storylines or characters, ones I created or ones from television shows. I would love to be a doctor, and it does really interest me, but I am worried that I could be happier doing something else. So I agree with you, about doing what makes you happy and what you enjoy. There are just so many things to consider.</p>
<p>You don't have to choose between being a doctor and a non-medical career. There are dozens of rewarding jobs in the medical field that don't require medical school, and offer a more balanced schedule. Take a look at the help wanted ads for a hospital; you don't have to choose at this point in your life. Far worse than having no goal is to have a goal that you haven't carefully considered and refined.</p>