This blogpost I made is old, in fact I posted this on my blog almost 3 years ago. According to my blog, I posted it on Nov 1, '09 10:32 PM. I am posting it again, anyway.
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My parents are both doctors (my dad a general surgeon with subspecialty in minimal invasive surgery, my mom an ob-gyn) and they have always wanted me to take up medicine as well. Maybe there really is a certain pressure when your parents are both doctors, because people around you expect you to be one as well.
"O, college ka na pala. Anong course mo?" "Ah, premed na siya."
"Hello doktora."
"Wag mo sabihing di ka magmemedicine? Doctors ang parents mo."
"Good morning doc. Anak niyo? Uy may bago na tayong doctor niyan after a few years."
"The default course is MEDICINE. Unless you really really want something else, you'll take up Medicine."
I have always wanted to become a doctor as well (actually excited na ko) - maybe because I grew up seeing my parents work as medical practitioners, and they always bring me with them (until now) whenever they do their rounds around the hospitals and whenever they do surgeries and attend conventions, conferences and gatherings - No wonder I understand most of their medical jargons. And seriously, wala akong ibang alam na future kung hindi maging doctor. It may be embarrassing but honestly, until now, I still don't really know or understand the job opportunities of other courses. And in a way, I'm not interested anymore.
My mom gave me a copy of a certain article to reinforce my "future life as a med student, and a doctor".
The article was entitled 10 Reasons to Become a Doctor, from the Mind Your Body column by Willie T. Ong, MD of the Lifestyle (Health and Family) Section of the Philippine Star, September 22, 2009 page E-1.
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10 Reasons to Become a Doctor by Willie T. Ong, MD
1. Prestige and respect. There is nothing like adding an MD after your name. May dela Cruz can easily become Dr. May dela Cruz. The respect accorded doctors rivals that of any profession. For Dr. Martesio C. Perez, "Medicine is considered one of the noblest professions. It was my parents' dream for me to become one. I have never regretted it." Dr. Gonzalo F. Austria agrees, "being poor, I had a soft heart for human suffering. Medicine, I was convinced, was a prestigious profession."
2. Ability to help. If you want to make a difference, if you want to help the sick and poor, then this is the profession for you. Armed with only a stethoscope, doctors help multitudes by just sitting, listening, and advising. Unlike businessmen who need to donate millions in order to help, for doctors, helping is a way of life. Dr. Clemente M. Amante says it clearly, "I feel that this is the best way to help people, rich or poor, young or old."
3. Influence. being a doctor opens some doors in business, in advocacies, and even in the love life department. Be sure to use your expertise to good use.
4. Lots of friends (and admirers, too). One thing sure, if you're a doctor, you'll never be lonely or bored. With daily patient interaction, you get the inside scoop to people's darkest secrets. And there'll always be someone asking for your help.
5. Caring for one's family. Every family needs a doctor. There's nothing like a doctor-son or daughter caring for his or her parents. Diseases are detected early, treated correctly, and lives are prolonged. Less worry and headache for everyone. This was especially true for Dr. Manuel Chua-Chiaco Sr. who confides, "I wanted to be a doctor to be of service to my family. My father had tuberculosis, my mother had hypertension, two brothers had thyrotoxicosis, and one sister had severe asthma."
6. You won't starve (but you may not get rich either). Earning tons of money in medicine is possible but sometimes, your conscience dictates that you give free services. If you are a believer like me, I guess the doctor's rewards are in heaven (where moths and insects can't get to them).
7. Doable even with an average IQ. For medical students, earning the MD is the norm rather than the exception. You don't have to be a genius. Perseverance is all you need. You could be like Dr. Trinidad Echano-Madrigal who hates Math, "It was the only career option requiring a minimum of math subjects. I was poor in numbers, hence the choice."
8. Indispensability. Dr. Ernesto P. Namin waxes romantic, "The most needed professionals in my community were physicians and I felt I was romantic to be indispensible."
9. God's servant. Spirituality and peace of mind are welcome benefits for doctors. There's nothing like helping needy people to cleanse one's soul. Dr. Amado M. San Luis underscores the spiritual aspect of medicine: "I consider medicine to be the noblest profession and an extension of God's healing hand, the only profession given the privilege to understand life and cure diseases afflicting man." Dr. Homobono B. calleja agrees, "Of the three learned professions, the clergy, law, and medicine, medicine serves the totality pf the human being, the spiritual as well as the physical."
10. Love of country. Here is something new. In the light of the brain drain of health workers, studying medicine and practicing in the country, especially in far-flung areas, have been equated with heroism. Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was a doctor who studied abroad and came back to serve his country.
Medicine is truly a noble profession, as Hippocrates said.
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Well, that's it. Hope that helped you too. Med School, see you next year!! :D
