From the age of seven, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. Pediatrician. OB/GYN. Anesthesiologist. It didn’t matter what specialty. I just wanted to help people. These dreams were finally starting to come true when I started college, and I was proud to say that I was on the Pre-Med track, majoring in Biology. I took my first Chemistry class, which was a wake-up call to say the least, but then, I had to take Chemistry II and Biology I--at the same time. And for the first time in my life, I failed. Miserably. And it wasn’t that I didn’t try hard enough or that I didn’t want it bad enough. But now, I was at a crossroads. Do I continue on and try harder? Or do I give up and switch majors?
Being a doctor was my childhood dream. I couldn’t just give up. But I had also given it my all and still failed. And I kept telling myself that, if this was meant to be, I would’ve succeeded. If I was meant to be a doctor, it shouldn’t have been that hard for me. But how could I not be a doctor? I’ve wanted this my whole life! And if medicine wasn’t my calling, what was? I thought about it. And thought about it. And thought about it some more. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t giving up, and I wasn’t admitting defeat. I was accepting my reality, that I wasn’t “good” at science.
The thing is, everyone in this world has a talent, a gift. Everyone has something to offer this world that is theirs and only theirs to give. And if you’re trying to be something or achieve something that’s very obviously not meant for you, stop. You’re wasting yourself, your time, and your talent. You’re not only committing an injustice against yourself, but you’re committing an injustice against the rest of the world, which will never have another you with the gift that you’ve been given. College is a time of exploration, the beginning of the rest of your life, and it’s the perfect time to fail over and over again if it means figuring out who you are and what you want. These four years are your chance to prepare to share the best version of yourself with the rest of the world.
Being a doctor might’ve been my dream, but struggling through classes made me realize that I didn’t love it as much as I thought, and that I actually hated it. It also made me realize that, the more I forced myself to pursue something I no longer wanted, the more I’d hate it. And I don’t know about you, but that felt like a waste of my time and my professors’ time. And I’d much rather be a really goodsomething else than barely a doctor.
Also, your major may not decide your future career, but it will definitely have a significant influence. And who wants to spend the rest of their life doing something they despise? If everyone in the world woke up every morning and knew they'd be able to earn a living by doing what they love the most, the world would be a much better place. And besides, being different from the next person keeps life interesting and makes the world go 'round.
So if you’re in college and you’ve come to the realization that being pre-med might not be written in the stars for you, it’s okay. Many, many, many people have had the same experience, changed majors, and been much happier because of it. Don’t let a preconceived idea of success keep you from finding what you’re passionate about and what you’re good at. Strive to be the best YOU and share THAT with the world.
