"Why I Wanted to be a Doctor"

Last week, me wife was shuffling through some old files when me stumbled onto this almost decade old essay written by our eldest on why he wanted to become a doctor. It was quite a revealing piece and its unpretentious "free flow" style had caught me attention and prompted me to immortalize it in this entry.

Hope you don't mind Dr.Along since me think it is good to share what you had gone through then and comparing with the present, now that you have achieved your dream and are a doctor yourself and busily serving the "real people" in this "imperfect world".

Also for others, your brothers and sister and all the young people of the world to share and learn an eternal and universal message - that we must have a dream and a strong will and passion to achieve what we desire in order to succeed in whatever our chosen fields or careers in this worldly life.

Happy reading....

"I had always visualized medicine as saving lives, curing ailments, alleviating pains, and overall making life healthier for everyone. However, the reality at all times is far away from my fantasy.

During my first hospital attachment at the Tampin District Hospital, I had learned my first lesson of medicine for all its power, medicine cannot always succeed. I had experienced one of the most disheartening and demoralizing aspects of medicine and faced it. At the A&E Dept., I witnessed doctors did their very best to save one heart attack patient, how they collaborated among themselves, their persistence and the absolute teamwork between the doctors and nurses to ensure the patients’ survival.

I also noticed that the application of medical knowledge was most effective when mingled with compassion and empathy from the health care provider. Then I learned my second lesson of medicine, it is hard to be a good and dedicated doctor. They live in a mind numbing, tedious world. Dreams of watching doctors like in the ER series were soon replaced with the reality of the irritable patients, uncompromising criticisms, never-ending paper work which seem to steer all dreams away.

Scheduled rounds to the wards had opened my eyes on how challenging a doctor’s life could be. When I did my second hospital attachment at the Armed Forces Hospital, one of the doctors told me that the most fundamental thing that I must be aware of at this point is the reality of a doctor’s life.

Nevertheless, while thoroughly aware of the long hours a doctor must work and the challenges he or she faces, I am choosing medicine because of the unique satisfaction it provides the rewards of helping other people. The area of paediatric has been of great interest to me since I began my research into medical training, and I aim to pursue a career in this field.

My unique family background first launched me toward a profession in the service of other. Honestly, none of my close relatives are involved in this discipline. However, growing up in a family with five brothers and a sister, it seemed that someone always needed help, either physically or emotionally. As a big brother to so many siblings, I learned that helping others in need is more than simply a career choice - I feel that it is as my moral responsibility.

This had led me to serve my fellow friends in many ways. Back in my secondary school years, I was the President of Karate-Do Club and one of the Executive Committees (EXCO) of the Prefectorial Board, sharpen up my leadership skills. My participation with Karate really taught me about something, since it required a lot of passion, endurance, and discipline to thrive in it. Only after 5 years of hard work, I finally managed to obtain my 1st Dan Black Belt in Karate.

I was appointed as the Religious and Moral EXCO of the Student Council for my college. This position of responsibility meant helping out at formal college functions and acting as an ambassador for the college. The Duke of Edinburgh Award has taken up much of my out of college time for the past one year. In order to achieve my Bronze Award, I have participated in an Ecological Expedition in Endau-Rompin National Park, and planned weeklong activities.

The community service was beyond doubt an inspirational experience as I helped the aborigines to build their kindergarten’s playground, and taught their children on how to read and write. We also held a health carnival at their village, which involved some of the health workers from the nearest town. It also opened my eyes to the restrictions of the health care necessities particularly in isolated, rural areas. This experience, though not medical in nature, had allowed me to work with and help people, which I found especially rewarding.

Some of the interests I pursue outside of the academic hours include reading, and participating in sports, I represented my college in several rugby tournaments, and managed to reach at least semi final in each of the tournaments. I have recently enjoyed reading “One for My Baby” and “Man and Boy”, both by Tony Parsons.

I have contributed to college activities on a regular basis throughout my college career and I would seek to bring this participation to university life. I believe that I have the qualities, which are suited to medicine, including a great level of commitment and the ambition to become a good doctor..."

Any comments Dr. Along?!!

RM 228 Hotel Promenade,
Kota Kinabalu
22 July 2010