I had an awesome afternoon at the Atlanta Youth Academy today. One of the kids asked me, "Who told you that you couldn't do it? That you wouldn't be able to become a doctor?"
My answer: "No one. No one ever said I couldn't. Or treated me like I wouldn't."
It wasn't until I pulled away and drove down the street that it hit me what that meant.
It is wonderful that no one told you you couldn't or wouldn't. It's interesting the way the child phrased his/her question. Kind of sad really. I hope you inspired that child and they saw what could be.
Actually to put that question in fair context, I'd just told them the story of my dad wanting to go to med school and being told he couldn't. He majored in Engineering instead for that reason. I'm so grateful that no one ever discouraged me like that. It's a huge blessing to have zero naysayers around you.
This post really resonated with me. I always tell people that if I had attended an HBCU for undergrad, I would have become a Physician a LONG time ago. But it's likely that alone probably wouldn't have completely ameliorated the effect of having a parent (mother) that didn't also believe in my dream. All that said, I had to "birth" my main support for this dream (my freshman Engineering daughter, my other support my father is long deceased) and now that I've finally learned to tune out ALL my naysayers, I'm ready to apply to medical school this year, next year at the latest. Better late, than never!! :)
Honestly? I write this blog to share the human aspects of medicine + teaching + work/life balance with others and myself -- and to honor the public hospital and her patients--but never at the expense of patient privacy or dignity.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
"One writes out of one thing only--one's own experience. Everything depends of how relentlessly one forces from this experience the last drop, sweet or bitter, it can possibly give."
~ James Baldwin (1924 - 1987)
"Do it for the story." ~ Antoinette Nguyen, MD, MPH
Details, names, time frames, etc. are always changed to protect anonymity. This may or may not be an amalgamation of true,quasi-true, or completely fictional events. But the lessons? They are always real and never, ever fictional. Got that?
It is wonderful that no one told you you couldn't or wouldn't. It's interesting the way the child phrased his/her question. Kind of sad really. I hope you inspired that child and they saw what could be.
ReplyDeleteActually to put that question in fair context, I'd just told them the story of my dad wanting to go to med school and being told he couldn't. He majored in Engineering instead for that reason. I'm so grateful that no one ever discouraged me like that. It's a huge blessing to have zero naysayers around you.
DeleteBut you can pray for God to show you the way!! I absolutely loved the inspirational quote and wanted to add to it.
ReplyDeleteThis made my heart stop. That child. I hope is someone is telling him or her that its not possible, they know not to listen.
ReplyDeleteThis post really resonated with me. I always tell people that if I had attended an HBCU for undergrad, I would have become a Physician a LONG time ago. But it's likely that alone probably wouldn't have completely ameliorated the effect of having a parent (mother) that didn't also believe in my dream. All that said, I had to "birth" my main support for this dream (my freshman Engineering daughter, my other support my father is long deceased) and now that I've finally learned to tune out ALL my naysayers, I'm ready to apply to medical school this year, next year at the latest. Better late, than never!! :)
ReplyDelete