Читать книгу Start & Run a Medical Practice - Michael Clifford Fabian - Страница 37

The time has come for choosing that career path toward the end of high school. You are very smart and obtaining stellar grades; you are especially strong in the basic sciences. In addition to your academic strengths, you are a gifted piano player and vocalist. You have spent almost every spare minute you have on the piano, singing and compiling your own jazz tunes. You have already done the basic piano training and vocal coaching and are now able to continue playing, singing, and composing music independently. You have starred in every school musical produced at the schools that you have attended in the past ten years. You wanted to join a band, but being 17 years of age, your parents have put on the brakes and said you have to concentrate more on getting into medical school. You certainly have a strong interest in medicine, but you are clearly very musically talented and that is all you really want to do!

Both your parents are academics, one in the area of mechanical engineering and the other in human anatomy. While your interests in going to medical school are known to your parents, your love of music and talents are even better known. Both your parents have always drummed into you that medicine would be the better option, as it is a much safer route for a career than music.

In addition, your favorite grandmother has instilled into you that the need to be a successful professional is paramount. Both she and your grandfather came from Europe to North America with small children and little money. They had to start from scratch with trades and hard labor to survive and support the family. They struggled and sacrificed in so many different ways so that they could give their children and grandchildren the opportunities that they did not have themselves. Your grandmother really wants you become a doctor and you certainly have the smarts and grades to do it.

While you really want to pursue your dreams and passion to be a full-time musician, you cave into family pressure and apply to medical school. Deep inside you wish you were not accepted, but as you are an outstanding candidate, you easily secure one of those coveted positions that are so treasured and sought after by many. You concede that medicine is not so bad after all, as it is a well-paid and respected profession. Of even more importance to you is the fact that you have made your parents very happy. The person most thrilled is your grandmother, who tears up every time she thinks of the concept that her grandchild is about to enter medical school and become a medical doctor. Finally, she feels her sacrifices in life have paid off.

This is not a good situation, and not a reason for going into medicine. While you might ultimately enjoy a career in medicine, there is a good chance that you will not be happy with your choice and will always think about your passion for music and “what if?” It should be emphasized at this point that medicine and the arts are very compatible and I know many physicians who are very talented and successful musicians while being physicians at the same time. There does, however, have to be a strong inherent desire to be a doctor before you embark on a career in medicine.

I actually remember vividly one essay that was written by an applicant to medical school. A file reviewer read it out aloud to the selection committee. This essay was incredibly well written and the applicant explained his love for music in enormous detail. Most of the essay revolved around his musical accomplishments and there was little to hear about a true desire to be a medical doctor. It was almost as if he was telling us — please don’t accept me, because I really want to follow my dreams to be a musician. This candidate did not get accepted into the program and, as I said earlier in the book, some things are just meant to be!