I can't imagine studying anything else (Week#154) [EN]

Greetings friends of the @WEEKEND-EXPERIENCES community.

I always thought that if I started a blog, this topic would be one of the first posts I'd write about because I can't imagine myself studying anything else these days...

Let me give you some context first. I'm a medical student in Cuba, which is nothing out of the ordinary in the land of doctors. But for me, studying medicine has a very special meaning because I'm going to be the first doctor in my family, which is uncommon in my country.

But why study the same thing as thousands of other people and just become another one of them? Well, my dear reader, the first time I fell in love with medicine was through a negative experience.

When I was just 16 years old, my father suffered a stroke and had to be quickly transferred to a hospital. Before I was allowed to see my father, a doctor attended to me who didn't stand out for his looks, but for the way he explained things. The doctor detailed to my mother and me everything that had happened and could happen in such a way that even a child could understand it. That's how we knew what we were facing.

Time passed, and my father was hospitalized for almost a month until he finished his recovery (which fortunately went very well). During that time, I became enamored with medicine. That doctor not only saved my father's life, but for a month, he explained every detail and procedure of what had happened to my father as if he were my teacher, without me even asking him. It made me realize that medicine wasn't just about studying immense books and curing patients, but there was something more profound to the process.

Time kept passing, and my father was making a good recovery. Of course, I accompanied him to every appointment to soak up more of the doctor's knowledge. Two years later, it was time to decide which university I would attend. In Cuba, universities are free, and admission is based on a ranking system that considers your academic record.

In my case, I only applied for medicine (you can apply for up to 10 options, and then you will be admitted to the one that corresponds to your ranking). Many people, upon hearing of my decision, called me crazy and said that I wouldn't be able to handle the pressure, that I hadn't made the right choice. A few others praised me for my confidence. However, I didn't care. All I wanted was to use my stethoscope and heal patients... and so I did.

Due to my academic record, I was one of the first to be admitted to medicine. That day, my mom cried tears of happiness like a little girl (she always wanted to see me in a white coat). My father, despite what you might think, was surprised because he always thought I would become an engineer (even I thought that was my path). I'll never forget their reactions - they were like two sides of a coin.

Then came the first day of university - an unforgettable experience for every student, filled with nerves, insecurities, and high expectations. As time went by, I experienced both ups and downs, learning more with each passing day and overcoming a few tough moments.

Every semester that went by served as a reminder of what I had achieved and the progress I had made. It made me happy to study what I loved, be close to my family, and receive good grades and praise from my professors.

Now, with just two years left to complete my university degree, I am certain that I made the right choice. I often wonder what those who were negative about my decision would say now.

Yes, it's a tough career that demands long hours without sleep, constantly being on the go, and sacrificing personal time for the benefit of others. It can be challenging, which is why having a genuine passion for it is crucial; otherwise, you'll feel like you're living in hell. However, amidst the difficulties, you discover that there's no better gesture of gratitude than the smile of a recovered patient or the thanks of a grateful family member. It touches your soul and makes it all worthwhile.

And, of course, there's always the advantage of knowing how to react in a situation like the one I experienced at the age of 16, which marked me for life. Meanwhile, I'll continue studying rare pathologies and medications with the goal of saving as many patients as possible. Above all, I want my family to feel proud to call me a doctor.

When I was 18, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and study one of the toughest and most demanding careers in the world. I have no regrets; on the contrary, I like it more and more every day. This attitude has led me to meet excellent doctors who are now my mentors (the doctor who treated my father later became one of my best professors). Thanks to them, I can say that I am becoming a better person and a better doctor every day.

If you're reading this and feeling insecure about choosing your future or making a decision, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. And, most importantly, don't be swayed by the opinions of others who don't know what's best for your life. As Nike says, "Just Do It".