Sour grapes.
I never had any intention to try for medical school… that is until the later part of last year when I thought, “why not?”. I remember back in secondary school, I always say, “I am never going to do medicine, for I have no interest in becoming a doctor.” So it never mattered to me how difficult it was to get into medical school, especially in this country. Up to till now, I am still not sure why I bothered to go for it. I think it was because I couldn’t get what I wanted. And Medicine is what everybody else wanted and since I had a chance, I could go for it. I mean, my grades made the cut.
Well, I didn’t get it, and I didn’t appeal. I don’t feel sad about not going into medical school, because it was never what I wanted. I am in a position where it doesn’t matter what I do anymore because my choices are limited in that they didn’t include what I wanted. Which is kind of strange if you think about it. I mean, this is the best I can do, it is the best anyone can do actually and still, my choices are limited. Money is so very important.
Anyway, I don’t intend to complain or wallow in self-pity or whatever. I have already accepted it and I am pretty happy where I am now. I just want to talk about the medical profession.
Doctors have to be smart. That is for sure. I mean, these people look at complex system and save lives etc etc. They face challenges everyday and have to be up to date all the time. With the researchers and all. So there should be no dispute over how great doctors are. It doesn’t matter if they are not all compassionate and kind. Some may be money loving, some may be so wicked as to steal organs, kill people because they can etc etc. Most of them are great anyway, they are smart and they save people. Whether they intend to or not, that is another matter.
But at the same time, I think being a doctor must not be very rewarding. Doctors are suppose to do their job well. They can only do it well. They cannot afford to make mistakes. But don’t they also need experience and practice to do it well? Every surgeon has their first time. Of course, in their trainee/school days, they practiced and had experience with corpses, animals and what not. And they probably sat in while the seniors do the job etc etc. But surely, these things are different from the real thing? A musician can practise and practise. He probably needs to anyway. The doctor can’t. I mean he can, but his subject happens to be a human being.
Of course, there is always a mentor around and not all mistakes result in fatal or potentially fatal problems. But what if they do? You are suppose to learn from your mistakes, isn’t that why you practise? but they are not allowed to make mistakes. which makes it a huge responsibility.
I am not very sure how it really works, but isn’t it true that while a musician can practise a thousand times before she goes on stage, a doctor can’t? No I am not being sour grapes about not getting into medical school.
Really.
Oh and did I mention that a doctor has to deal with gross things as well? And have to work really hard in their trainee days while being miserly paid.
