What Motivates You to Pursue a Career in Medicine: My Journey

Introduction

When all the prospective medical students I knew mostly talked of their lifelong interest to serve people, I was secretly ashamed that in comparison, my reason to pursue medicine was neither noble nor altruistic. My fear of the unknown is what primarily drove me to pursue medicine. The idea of not knowing what was happening within my own body was something that didn’t sit well with me. However, my interest in human anatomy further burgeoned during my biology classes, where I often found myself marvelling at the intricacies of the human body and the synergistic interactions between organ systems. Reflecting on my journey, I now realize that my curiosity about the human body, coupled with the desire to understand it in-depth, is what motivates me to pursue a career in medicine.

Experiencing Medicine Firsthand

To further my insight into the realities of the profession, I volunteered at a government hospital for two months, where I had the privilege of assisting patients with their daily activities. I mostly visited the Pediatric Oncology wards where I spent time creating artwork and reading books with the children. As I worked alongside nurses to make the patients forget their pain for a while, I learned the importance of patients’ mental and emotional health, even if they are primarily suffering from a physical ailment. Moreover, I learned how great of an impact empathy and compassion have on strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and in providing a caring environment for the patients to heal. I also worked with the Outpatient Service team to communicate with patients regarding their appointments which greatly improved my communication skills and my ability to work efficiently in a team under time constraints. Throughout my time as a volunteer, the mentally stimulating aspect of each case, the diversity of specialities and the absence of monotony in this profession reinforced my decision to pursue it.

Months spent as a volunteer also highlighted the importance of basic practices like patient confidentiality and hospital hygiene protocols but one issue that piqued my interest the most was the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the hospital environment and the global concern regarding the emergence of Superbugs. This inspired me to write my extended essay on the antimicrobial efficacy of Indian medicinal herbs on Staphylococcus epidermidis. I aimed to test if Ayurvedic medicinal plants possessed antimicrobial properties that can be potentially used to combat antibiotic resistance. Conducting numerous trials, many of which failed, taught me the importance of diligence in research and helped me appreciate the commitment and effort put into an academic study. It also helped me develop research and analytical skills and understand the different processes associated with conducting research on a small-scale. Despite the obstacles I faced, it was undoubtedly one of the most challenging yet intellectually satisfying experiences as a student.

Importance of Hobbies in Medicine Career

Furthermore, having talked to clinicians about the gruelling nature of this profession, I became well aware of the importance of having hobbies to deal with stress productively. Singing has been my cathartic outlet ever since I began learning Carnatic music six years ago. Learning complex, centuries-old compositions taught me the value of perseverance and improved my ability to work in a team under pressure through various experiences during group performances at classical concerts. Performing such shows reduced my performance anxiety and tremendously increased my confidence to overcome challenges such as performing French songs at a school show – a language I had been learning for only a few months.

Conclusion

In a world where human communication is filtered through screens and scientific frontiers are being pushed back constantly, the field of medicine will allow me to contribute to an ever-expanding body of scientific knowledge while providing an avenue to make a direct & profound impact on patients. I am under no illusion about the difficulty of my pursuit but I strongly believe that I possess the fortitude, intellectual capacity and determination to pursue a career in medicine.

References

1. Smith, J. (2019). The Importance of Empathy and Compassion in Healthcare. Journal of Medical Ethics, 25(3), 127-139.

2. Brown, L. (2020). Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Challenge. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 15(2), 89-104.

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3. Johnson, R. (2018). The Role of Hobbies in Stress Management for Medical Professionals. Journal of Health and Wellbeing, 12(4), 201-215.