“Today is the first day of the rest of your lives.”
How many times have you heard a commencement speaker deliver this proverbial statement at your friend’s, family member’s or own graduation ceremony?
Well, they weren’t wrong. There’s something about that shiny diploma that you’ve worked so diligently and hard for. Something about the long sleepless nights, granola bar lunches (or even lack thereof) and musty textbooks that make graduation so commendable and incredible. Today is the first day of the rest of your lives, and when tomorrow comes, it will be too.
But what happens now that you have that overpriced cardstock? Do you use it for selfish pursuits, personal fulfillment or, for lack of a better term, the advancement of mankind? Whether you are looking to become an accountant, a scientist or an English professor, you have the privilege to choose and to aspire.
In fact, you’re probably a part of the blessed third of the population to have attained a bachelor’s degree — be proud! And in the words of Sheryl WuDunn, the commencement speaker for Rice University's class of 2016 ceremony, know that luck had just as much a part in your success as your hard work.
When I was getting ready for the wonders of college, I couldn’t help but dream of the possibilities. After all, I had succeeded against steep odds in high school and had been accepted to my dream school — I felt like I was quite literally walking on sunshine! Like many other teenagers who were coming of age, I felt invincible. And, in my mind, I would save the world one day.
As I sat through graduation this year, I couldn’t help but notice the joy and pride on the faces of the graduates. They looked ready to conquer the world, to utilize the skills they learned from varied life lessons gained over the past few years and to follow their dreams. If anything, they reminded me of how I felt only three short years ago as a graduating high school senior: confident and eager to make my own mark.
So why is it that it has become increasingly difficult for me to find the silver linings in my milestones? It may be the very thing that I fear the most: burnout.
Now, don’t get me wrong — I have always loved to learn. From exploring a survey course in early English literature to reviewing the minute details of a real cadaver in an anatomy lab, I love to explore the plethora of educational opportunities available to me to my fullest extent. Maybe it’s just the nerd in me talking, but for some reason, school just feels right.
Anyone who knows me knows that I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I wasn’t born knowing that it was the right road for me — I heavily considered other careers which did not quite capture my interests — but now I can’t imagine my life without medicine. It’s almost inexplicable. Whether standing in an examination room or closely observing in the OR, I feel at home. For me, being a doctor means much more than merely helping others. It will allow me to utilize my passions and channel them into something that will directly serve and help others.
In my practicum clinical leadership course this past fall semester, I learned explicitly about physician burnout, a phenomenon affecting doctors all over the U.S., a country that is already in a dire shortage of qualified and dedicated health professionals. I quickly learned how these doctors, once passionate, inquisitive, and empathetic individuals who were ready to change the world, had slowly lost their twinkle, the light that had initially inspired them to pursue medicine. How was I going to prevent this same thing from happening to me, especially when it seemed in danger of beginning? After all, those long hours revising papers and running experiments seemed so far removed from my goals.
Burnout is something I never thought I would encounter — but it began to rear its ugly head. It is in moments like this that I take the time to review my reasoning for pursuing medicine. I am reminded of the lofty, aspirational goals I had set for myself. I remember the looks of joy and hope emanating from all the eager students at graduation, and once again I feel confident.
So how does one avoid burnout? Surely, it is a slippery slope.
Remember that wide-eyed, curious child that you once were, and feel the wonder and amazement that happy-go-lucky student channeled. And, most importantly, take the time to reflect. Step back from those pipettes, problem sets, projects and theses, and think about how happy and excited you were to begin your journey in education. Why is it that you chose your path? It is incredibly easy to become so caught up in the details that you lose sight of your true goals, the big picture. And make sure to take a break! Perhaps those students that I observed at graduation had performed the same regimen. No matter the details, they seemed to have reached their zen moment. For me, this summer will be a great time to relax and recharge for my last year of undergraduate life.
As this semester finally draws to a close, I begin my medical school applications. Although it will be an arduous process, I remain excited for the essays and interviews. It is definitely amazing that I am even able to apply. Furthermore, in a year, I will have graduated from my dream school with even bigger dreams of becoming a doctor, all while just a few years older than my freshman counterpart — and hopefully wiser. I know that I am not invincible (as much as my younger teenage self would like to attest), but I hope that my passions will continue to burn brightly instead of burning out. And perhaps one day I will have my chance to save the world.
