It's just too over-rated

Every year after SPM and STPM results are announced , tons of students with strings of A's will definitely say that they want to do medicine , wish to become a doctor , hope to save people's life...It has been a routine year after year.And honestly speaking, it has become quite boring sometimes when we read in interviews that most of these top-notch students proudly cite the same ambition. Why can't there be more variety?

And admittedly i am among these crowds a few years back. And here i am now doing medicine , pursuing my dream. But come to think of it , is it genetically embedded in every good students to have such great enthusiasim in medicine , and most importantly the seed of passion and kindness to help people around? Or is it just environmental influence that mould a so-called good student since young that he or she ought to be a doctor one day.

I think the latter hold more truth in it. We are living in a society where people's eyes and mouths play such an important role in our decision making. Sadly to say , some have been so susceptible to societal expectations that they are just a subject of manipulation , living others' dreams rather than theirs. Just because people think that good students should study medicine , so good students eventually think that because they are good , their dreams should be to become a doctor too. How often do we go deep into our hearts and ask if it is what we really want? Or is it just what our parents and teachers want?

And of course people always think that it would be a waste if a straight A's student doesn't apply for medicine.

"Do you know how hard it is to fight for a medical place in local uni? Now that you've got straight A's and you don't want to apply for it?"

Ya , ya ..everyone knows only 4As student in STPM got the chance to apply for it (not even guaranteed a place) , so only excellent students can do medicine in local universities. So here comes again , just to show to everyone that i am excellent , i scored straight As , i must apply for medicine. And it is betting your future just to proof that you are excellent. So now everyone knows , medical students are EXCELLENT students.

And definitely , this career is being overrated in our Asian society.

"What is ur son in-law doing?"

"Doctor , ehem.." beamed the mother in-law from ear to ear.

But...

"What is your son in-law doing?"

"Errr..er..hair dresser....." whispered the mother in-law ,praying hard that it is hardly audible.

By the fact a famous hair dresser can easily earn many times more than a normal doctor in hospital. I don't think it is an ideal career if you want to get RICH either. Doctor have to work practically 24-7 with not much time left for enjoyment , sometimes even time to sleep. So what can be done with the money afterall?

And to quote that you want to help people , how far is it true? There are so many ways to help others around and why must it be to be a doctor? Aren't teachers helping to shape the future generations? Aren't social workers helping those underpriviledged in society? So why not pick any of it too? And if it is purely to help others , are you going to prescribe medicine for free for those poverty-stricken patients? But real life stories have told us most doctors in private practice are charging exorbitantly even just for consultation fees.

And now that i am in medical school , i have experienced it myself the so-called "life as a medical student". There are so much to do , so much to study in so short a time. How we wish there are 8 , 9 or 10 days a week. Before you get to sleep well on Sunday , you realise that there are huge piles of work waiting for you to complete for the next week. Most of the waking hours during weekdays are practically spent in front of the books. Just to get a week off during study period will cost you double the mental and physical torture to catch up. And sadly to say , after all the toiling , statistic has shown on average 50% of students will dropout eventually.

So unless you really have great passion in doing medicine , do not embark on this choppy tumultous journey. But of course i am not here to pour cold water , of course some of us are really enthusiastic in doing it. So our will and determination is the greatest motivation that keep us moving. Just a reminder , give it a second thought before making this lifetime decision.