A pre-med student is born the moment they accept the challenge and accompanying reward of a selfless life predicated upon helping others. While this might seem like a remarkable endeavor, it is definitely not one to be taken lightly. That being said, this individual must be certain, beyond all fathomable doubt, that this is the one and only thing that they could see them self doing for the rest of their life. If there is any inkling of desire in any other field, this person, in my opinion, should not go into medicine. There exists the common misconception that many people pursue a medical degree for the monetary rewards. This is a fallacy. Financial success can be achieved in many fields outside of medicine. Those who do in fact pursue the dream of becoming a medical doctor, do so for the underlying satisfaction that is derived from playing a pivotal role in the lives of their patients. These professionals assume a direct responsibility for the healthcare and wellbeing of those individuals. The realization unfolds during the evolution of the doctorate process, it is not the doctor who is above all, but in fact, the immeasurable compassion and desire to help that ultimately becomes larger than life.
As one of these students, I have embraced this way of life with arms wide open. For the past several years I have been working as an intern at The Eye Care & Surgery Center. The unbelievable opportunities and relationships this practice has given me will undoubtedly help me along this path. For this, appreciation could not be expressed through mere words. The schooling involved on the road to a medical degree, may feel life-consuming at times. The demands may seem daunting, especially for students that also hold down jobs while attending school. There is “required” research, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) that requires hundreds of hours of studying, as well as an exam to determine acceptance to any top tier school. These tests essentially determine if your undergraduate work and efforts put forth have been in vain.Often the question is posed, what kind of grades does prospective medical student need to attain? In today’s competitive admissions process, a “B” is a mere symbol of inadequacy. As humans, we are imperfect by nature, yet you must flirt with perfection if you want to be considered for a seat in a medical school. Regardless, as a very wise man once told me, “while all your material possessions can be removed, no one can ever take your education away.” No matter what the sacrifice, no matter how hard or painful it is at times, achieving this goal and becoming a successful surgeon is the culmination of everything I could ever dream of.
Thank you to our guest blogger: Zack Mildrum, Medical Student
