When I grow up...

I probably won't meet a McSteamy but a girl can dream can't she?


So ever since I was little I have answered the question, "What do you wanna be when you grow up?" With a simple short answer: "Iwannabeadoctor." It rolls off my tongue so fast you would think they were some of my first words. I wrote about the experience of redefining this statement in all my college entrance essays. And although college entrance essays are probably not a typical place to go through the process of self-discovery, it's exactly what happened to me. Yes, it may seem like those essays are usually full of insincere BS that is stuffed with big, long, multisyllable words to make the entrance committess melt, but sometimes the process of writing about yourself can be enlightening.
Through these essays I realized a small but important distinction. Now, instead of “Iwannabeadoctor” I say: “I want to practice medicine.” Because practicing medicine is a lot more difficult, and a lot more important that getting your M.D. Practicing medicine means healing. Healing lives completely; on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. It means seeing patients as people, instead of cases. It means being compassionate enough to take the time to care for each person, to realize the potential you have to change lives.
So what does this mean for my future career? It means I have broadened the spectrum considerably. Doctors are not the only ones who practice medicine, I could end up being a public health official, a midwife, a physical therapist, a chiropractor, or a naturopath. In the end, it won’t really matter what I do, what matters is that I care.
I hope all this future talk isn't boring you all too much...it's just what's been on my mind lately.

Regards from a forward thinker,

Miss M