The other day someone asked me what my ultimate goal is when I finish school. Without giving it a second thought, I responded with medical school. For seven years now I’ve said I wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor. I mean, all of the books I have my on “to read” list are all related to medicine and the medical field.
Surprisingly though, I’ve only ever had a handful of people ask me WHY I want to be a doctor. And I sat on that question for a few days. Not because I knew at some point someone would’ve asked, but because I wasn’t sure how I was going to answer.
Medicine, science, and just about everything else related has something that I’ve always been naturally good at. In school, I was always top of my class and the “go to” when others needed help with studying both practical and theory. But having the book smarts is only a small portion of what it takes to be a doctor.
So as I sat and thought about what makes me uniquely qualified and wanting to be a doctor is my story. I’ve had so much loss and heartache in my life that I pull from those experiences and events to help me be a better person. They help me realize how others may feel when going through something similar and how to handle it professionally.
No one in my family is in the healthcare field nor ever considered a career in medicine. Being a doctor is something I’ve always wanted to do. And in my nursing career, I had been commended for my excellent skills and abilities. This validated that I had chosen the right field.
Having bi polar disorder, I’ve faced many difficulties and obstacles in my life that I think make me uniquely qualified to be a doctor. And besides, it’s a beautiful day to save lives.
Alex Newton is a nursing student and mental health advocate. She grew up in a small town and plans on moving to London, England one day and open up her own health practice. She has a cat named Maya who she adopted whilst going through some difficulties. She’s a daughter, sister, and warrior who enjoys a nice cuppa tea.
Defying Shadows 
Blessings to you in your career and life.