So, there's the impossible thing achieved in the SPM with some dude scoring 21As, which I personally think, is way too much an exageration. Okay okay fine, I'm jealous. I solemnly admit that. *sniggering*
Anyway, now that things are going according to our plans, he shall fill up the application form and be busy with all those scholarships application. He's took accounts, since he had the ambition to explore the business world and become a rich man in the future. But since I left my first season of Grey's Anatomy at home, I somehow instilled the interest in medicine in him. I was utterly surprised he thought he would want to become a surgeon instead.
So there's the dillema. To let him go for it? Or to stop him from going through hell? I had this un-encouraging talk with the doctor cousin-in-law when I was in secondary school. He said medical school is way harder than I can ever think of, that it's triple the hardwork compared to STPM, if not more. Especially the pre-clinical years. I insisted that I could ace with grace, but turned out the arrogance slaps me back in my face, harder than you can ever imagine. Okay, maybe it's my fault. I wasn't being serious with school, I played too much, I studied too little, so yeah, I'm pretty much struggling to stay alive. And the whole family assumed I was the bookworm type, that I'm struggling to make it to the graduating door, that means medical school is THAT hard. Nope, they didn't know I blog. Daily, for that matter.
So, we had this conversation when I was home for CNY.
Brother: Accountant is good, I could make big bucks. But then, it's just money, and life would be monotonous. Unlike medicine. You feel euphoria when you successfully healed your patient. You know? That it's like, you make a difference! After all, doctors are always regarded more highly in the world, and well, business are always associated with... sly people. I want to make a difference you know, I want to feel like, my life is meaningful. That I matters.
Mum: Then? You know what you want to do already...
Brother: Well.... I don't know... Doctors don't really seem to have an easy future... Bro was saying it's hell there...
Me: If you're scared of that, go for accountancy then! You like figures, so not a problem to you. Besides, if you're rich, we could always ask you to subsidize for family trips! *laughs*
Brother: Who says so? You know I was actually forcing myself to read those accounts? Feels like dying...
Me: Then do medicine. Fullstop.
Brother: Medicine is fun. It's meaningful. But you don't end up a billionaire, or even a millionaire for that matter.
Me: Yes, it's slim to strike it rich, but that's not the whole point of medical school. If money matters, do accounts then.
Brother: Life would be monotonous! It's not even worth living anymore. Imagine you being rich, and you don't have a feeling?
Me: Okay fine. Now that you roughly know what you're interested in, that you don't want a boring life ahead, do medicine. It's a life-long career.
Mum: Good, now your elder brother finally gave you that support to do medicine, go for it then.
Brother: *sniggering*
Me: I'm just being the mean guy here. He wants someone to decide for him. So that next time when he regretted what he chose, he would have someone else to blame.
Mum: Oh really? Did you regret?
Me: I just thought it's hell. But it's my choice, no one asked me to do medicine. I wanted to. Else I wouldn't be that desperate when I didn't get the scholarship last time. But now, he wasn't sure. He just developed the interest lately. You do know medicine is not as fancy as what you watched right?
Brother: *sniggering* Oh, well, it's either medicine or accountancy... But medicine stands a higher chance now.
Me: See! I'm already the bad guy. He'd blame me forever as the person who pushed him into this hell-hole if he regrets medicine.
No doctors in their right mind, would ever encourage people they care about to do medicine. Or at least I thought. People only see the glamour, or the money, and they thought they could ace through the school, despite hearing it's tougher than seperating a full 5L jars of red beans and green beans, mixed up. It's achievable, but it's unbearable. Seriously, that's what I'm telling you. Not that any of the younger kids are reading my blog, but if they are, this is the dirty confessions from a lazy medical student. Hell yeah!
But I guess, students nowadays have this kind of perception. "I've struggled so hard to make sure I do well in my exam, why waste the achievements when I could enter medical school?" And hence you see all the agents for medical schools in Russia, India, Indonesia, who knows where else? Timbuktoo? *sniggering* Even more bullshit, you only need a minimum of 4B in the 4 Science subjects in SPM to do foundation. WTH? People nowadays.... *sigh* ... *double sigh*
However though, I'm not sure what the younger brother decides yet. Mum asked that I asked this acquaintance who was offered a twinning programme in IMU, and I just gave her the number, she was her students by the way. And she called back telling me, wow, it's tough isn't it? Now you know.
Then again, I do have this crazy idea. Not exactly crazy. Rather, the egoistic thoughts. If the younger brother enters medical school, we shall be aligned with those families where more than one kids are doing medicine. Yeaps, I always admired them. There're already a few couple of siblings, in the same school. That haven't include those who have siblings doing meds in the private medical schools or overseas. But I thought, it'll be such a pride for the parents to say, "Oh well, both my sons are in medical school, don't know yet, just letting them do what they like." *sniggering*
I'm telling you this, and I'm quoting the brother from Japan, "Doctor is a boring job." Partially agreed, but I'll recommend you to do something else. It's not just about the status or the money, it's about the sacrifices made. Quoting those fellow bloggers, "Long working hours" and "Doctors are unromantic", presuming the later as a consequence of the former. *sniggering* And I'm quoting from the neurosurgeon in school "Don't rush, just take your time, you're here now, you'll be here until you retire. So while you can, enjoy yourself, for when housemanship comes, you're married to hospitals."
He's right in so many levels. That explains the atypical medical student that I am. Although I'm grumbling and complaining. But he's still right...
And the exam halls freak me out... Examhallphobia. *sniggering*
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
That Career Talk
Medieliciously written by Medie007
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10 Jujus:
Well, as for me, it's either to choose between passion or money. It depends on which factor your brother is looking at. If he wants to fulfill his passion more than getting rich, then he'll have the answer. If it's money that he wants, then go for accountancy.
But remember to let him know that it's a career for a lifetime. Don't choose something just because it looks glamourous. But don't choose something which he has no interest in also or he'll rot in boredom.
A difficult choice to make. I wouldn't recommend medicine either. If you don't have the passion ( or insane obsession ) for it, you'll burn out slowly but surely. It's not an easy path to take.
Well both jobs will take a heavy toll on his personal time especially when he starts working...but it's his decision in the end.
Both are taxing careers, both mentally and physically. So ask him to think carefully. But personally an accountant have more 'life' than a doctor. :P No offence Bong. They get job offers with high salary even before they graduate..
well fellas... the younger brother decided to apply for medicine in the end. and it's all over the papers that he wants to do meds.
i didn't know if i was the one influencing him, but i'm scared he'd end up like one of those who chose meds because his parents or siblings asked him to. garrrr, i'd so blame myself he lost tat interest in the end... :S
21A's is just ridiculously. What is the point of it? Just goes to show that our SPM has no standard in the eyes of the world really.
was there ever glamour in medicine?
and what you think fashion has a lot of glamour?
designers are basically a surgeon when they make a new couture. and i mean reall haute couture. not MNG, ZARA, etc. -_-
QR: yeaps yeaps yeaps!!! 21As is like... ugh... what's the point??
Dan: fashion eh? i suppose it depends on who's seeing fashion, i personally thought fashion is glamorous, but some thought men who think fashion as a glamour are just shallow. so yeah, dun care.. :D
I have always thought the present stage was hard till I hear horror stories about clinical school and housemanship. But yeah, the love for the field is important.
I for one, never thought of going to medschool but I am loving every moment of it now and can hardly picture doing anything else right now.
Which means I HAVE TO GRADUATE, by hook or by crook.
Good luck to your bro with his decision. But there is no hard and fast rule to it. It is still a long way after SPM and even some sponsored students are allowed to change courses prior to admission to university.
I am already expecting to be poor, barely surviving guy with only 40 hours of sleep per week. Wait... I already am.
ah... the medical student finally online pun. :P
i suppose we all HAVE TO GRADUATE, by hook or by crook... dun want to end up a nurse instead when you've been telling evyone u're in med school kan? hahahahha
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