Hi, I really want to study Medicine at university, and become a doctor. It's been my ambition from an early age (only, I didn't really know you had to study Medicine to become a doctor back then
).
However, I recently conducted some work experience at a hospital (only done one day so far, but still have one more day left to go!), I was shadowing a doctor, and the staff appeared to share this internal joke of 'putting me off medicine.'
I know it's only a joke, but some people said that they wouldn't recommend medicine. They said choose dentistry (no way am I accepting that - teeth are boring!
), and seemed to not really recommend medicine as a degree due to the stresses, the fact that you're treated as s**t (their words, not mine), and the relatively low pay.
Obviously, I would be lying if salary doesn't influence me, but I really am wondering whether going through medical school to become a doctor really IS worth it. Not coming from a very 'privileged' background, with both parents on minimum wage, it inspires you to make something of yourself, and earn money, eventually - for your families sake: it's necessary.
However, some of the people I talked to said would not trade it for anything! I also spent a week in a GP, and the GP said the same thing! Although it's a lot of hard work, it is worth it.
I hope a Medicine degree really is worth it after you've completed it, because it's, ultimately, what I wish to become. However, their comments have reminded me that everything is not perfect in this world - I had a rather 'fairytale' view, I suppose. A lot of a doctor's experience depends on the patients, and, thankfully, I've met some lovely patients.
On the wards, there were some times where I really enjoyed it - and didn't want time to speed up! (I remember looking at the clock, and being thankful it was only 12). And, seeing a medical procedure, and the gratefulness of some of the patients, made me think this is the place for me.
However, I must admit, the doctor I was shadowing put a little doubt in me - his random interview questions, and general medical questions threw me off guard! Some of the questions were things I had learnt in AS level, but, for some reason, even though I had the answers circling in my head, I never said anything! I just froze!
I had the answers ready! I knew what he was asking about, and what I was supposed to say!
Also, seeing the junior doctors do their work kind of made me wonder: How would I know what to do? How would I know what the cause is, and how to treat the patient? Watching them run about, treating patients, coming back to the senior doctor, the senior doctor instructing them with more things to do etc recycled - and it was that aspect of the experience that kind of troubled me, and caused me to doubt myself. Would I be able to do it?
I suppose the most difficult thing about this is that I'm 'only' 17. I haven't really seen enough into a doctor's lifestyle. I haven't really learnt enough to be capable of treating someone. And, as I'm not doing a Medicine degree yet, it seems so far away, as if I will never be able to develop the skills I need to become a very successful doctor. I guess I'm thinking about becoming a doctor as if I'm qualified as soon as I finish college - I forget that there's still university left, however, my worry stems from the fact that I don't have any experience of the degree, therefore I don't have any experience of what being a doctor is truly like.
What are previous graduates of medicine, whatever you're doing now, thinking about their decision? Would you have chosen another course? I understand that the stresses of the job are great, and, although the salary is decent, it's not really what you would expect - is the job, though, worth the stress? Surely, the happiness when you cure someone of a disease, or help them, and see a smile on their face should keep you content. Ultimately, are the stressful years at medical school worth it for the stressful years as doctors?
I'm only 17 years old, so perhaps my views on the outside world are a little distorted by what I think the job of a doctor is! Other than Medicine, I'm also interested in Chemistry, and Natural Sciences - however, my determination really remains on studying medicine at a 'top' university!
Please help! Any comments, experiences, suggestions etc are greatly appreciated!