Every time I tell someone I'm a Neuroscience and Pre-Medicine major, they always make a face or say, "Wow, good for you," or "Oh my god, why? I could never do that!"
Honestly, yes, my major definitely comes with hard work and a little bit of sacrifice, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Nothing about my career path will be easy, so why should my major be? I want to be a surgeon. I know that's something that little kids or avid Grey's Anatomy fans say, but I really mean it. I really want to help people and work crazy hours and be on my feet for what feels like days; I want all of it.
When I think about saving lives every day and being a part of one of the most challenging, fulfilling professions in the world, I can't help but get more and more excited for my future. I want to be a part of something bigger and better than myself, and this is the best way that I can think of to do that. Honestly, it's the only way I want to do that.
I know that I have to endure four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, five years of surgical residency, and two years of fellowship, but I just can't wait for all of it, and I'm so eager to learn, grow, and be a better person for it too.
A lot of people don't understand my major or career choice because of all the hard work, but there is nothing else in the whole world that I would rather do or could even see myself doing. I don't care about the money really or even the "glory" of surgery, I'm really just so passionate about what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I wish that everyone could feel this way about their career choice.
I know that I have a long road ahead of me, and it sure as hell will be a challenging one, but I'm ready for it and I'm more than willing to do whatever it takes to get there. I'm a combination of extremely excited, a little bit nervous, and feeling like an underdog for sure, but I know that I want this more than anyone ever could. I want to spend every day of the rest of my life saving the lives of others and I'm so proud of my goal.
I know that a lot of people don't understand why I want to see "blood and guts" all day long or exhaust myself with crazy work weeks, but I eat, sleep, and breathe pre-med and wouldn't have it any other way.
As my mom always says, "Life is a journey, not a destination," and I'm ready for both, wherever this journey takes me and however difficult it may get.