When people make this statement, I really want to know what is on their mind. There is a difference between chasing your passion and suffering, and I definitely disagree with the school of thought that passion should be pursued even at the detriment of your well-being.
I always loved the sciences right from the time I was a kid, and as a child growing up in Africa, I was automatically directed to study medicine. And I loved medicine itself; I loved the knowledge, the concept, and the overall confidence and understanding I got from studying it.
I felt so much at peace when I understood how things worked and restless until I understood why some disease processes happened.
However, my issues with the education system started when I began my clinical rotations in medical school. It was brutal and stressful. I had always heard that doctors had to work a lot, but nothing prepared me for what I saw in the hospital. Mind you, all this was just from being a student.
I kept dreading graduating and what I was going to do after. I loved medicine, but it didn’t love me back. I simply could not imagine myself working for long, grueling hours with no rest.
Furthermore, I am also from a country where what doctors earn is barely enough for them to get by. It didn’t sit right with me that after all the essential work doctors do, they were not properly compensated.
Two years after graduation and starting work, I decided I had enough. If I pen down my experiences from those years I think I’ll just feel sad all over again. My family members were sad; some were even angry that I had decided to quit medicine, but I knew I had to do it for my sanity.
Passion and purpose should not be pursued at the expense of oneself. I wish I had a full grasp of what it truly meant to become a doctor before making the initial decision to study medicine.
You should not have to suffer for the privilege of doing something you love. There must be a balance. I had classmates who graduated with me and are now thriving as doctors by every measure, and I hold them in the highest regard. Their resilience is incredible. But I have come to accept that I was not built for a system that is this demanding.
Today, I work in a field that is closely related to my studies, and I genuinely love it. I am challenged, I am learning, and most importantly, I am able to live a balanced life. I can honor my passion for science without sacrificing the person I am or my well-being.
My respect for every doctor still in practice is massive, but my journey taught me the most valuable lesson of all: a true passion should enrich your life, not consume it. So, any passion that comes with suffering, abeg count me out.
~
E-Solutions is committed to the African community in Russia. Message us on WhatsApp if you are not yet seeing our updates.
If you want to get help on the latest apartment spaces, job listings, and sending packages to and from Russia, you can join our Telegram community for Africans living in Russia.
Also, keep up with the latest news and updates on our information channel. #ESolutionsDeyForYou
Read our recent posts here:
Ranking the Best Cities in Russia: From the Perspective of One African in Russia