I have always wanted to be a doctor since I was little, but I truly never knew why. Nor did I ever think that I had an ounce of ability needed to even major in biology. After my first semester, I really thought about changing my major and choosing a new career path. I felt lost and really wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing. "Grey’s Anatomy" helped me in a few ways.
Is this right?
One day, during this past fall, an old friend of mine was watching "Grey’s Anatomy," and I was instantly very reluctant to watch it. The episode I watched was season 12, episode two; the episode involved a woman who was extremely tall and had several “passing out” episodes. In the duration of watching it, I found myself figuring out the case and actually being right. Honestly this gave me a little confident boost.
I wasn't, and still am not, fully grasping the concepts in class and my GPA is not where I want it; but watching "Grey’s" and being able to figure out things is actually helping realize that everything will be OK!
The golden hour
Season 7, episode 15 — this episode introduced me to the golden hour, the most amazing thing ever (to me at least). In the beginning of the episode, Meredith Grey opens with this quote:
“How much can you actually accomplish in an hour? Run an errand maybe? Sit in traffic? Get an oil change? When you think about it, an hour isn't very long. Sixty minutes, 3,600 seconds. That's it. In medicine, though, an hour is often everything. We call it the golden hour. That magical window of time that can determine whether a patient lives or dies. An hour. One hour can change everything forever. An hour can save your life. An hour can change your mind. Sometimes an hour is just a gift we give ourselves. For some, an hour can mean almost nothing. For others, an hour makes all the difference in the world. But in the end it's still just an hour. One of many. Many more to come. Sixty minutes, 3,600 seconds. That's it. And it starts all over again. And who knows what the next hour might hold?” |
At this point, I had become a "Grey’s" “superfan” and became crazy glued and addicted to the show; Meredith is running the ER for the night, and there are a number of patients that come into the ER.
There is:
- A man with midsternal chest pains
- A man who experienced a seizure/stroke
- A little boy who needs double leg casts
- Richard Webber’s wife, Adele
- A man who has a knife sticking out of his head
Throughout the episode, you track each patient's case throughout the hour. It truly shows how much can go on and how wide on the spectrum the cases can be. I fell in love with this idea! I love the idea of things always being different and expecting the unexpected.
My inspirations from the show
Only a few characters have inspired me to want to continue the track of being a doctor and believing in my capabilities. First I would have to go with George O’Malley. For any of you who have watched the show, you know George is, in a sense, the underdog. No one expects great things out of him. It all started with the 007 appendectomy; George made me think that is how I may be — scared and slightly clueless. But eventually, George redeemed himself with flying solo in the elevator; this made me feel like it would eventually be fine for me and that I could do this if I tried my hardest.
Next I’d have to say Owen Hunt. He is not my favorite character, but he is a trauma surgeon and was in the military — two things I want to try to do in my life. In season six, episode 18, I gained respect for Owen Hunt. It gave a slight insight into what he had been through when he was in Iraq. I know the scene will never amount to how it truly is in the field, but it made me want to be there. I had and still have a deep feeling that it is something I need to do.
Miranda Bailey, she is highly respected, to the point that they call her the Nazi. I want to be that respected one day, just as Dr. Bailey and Dr. Grey are on the show. It shows that women can be successful in whatever they choose to do.
Lastly, I’d have to say Derek Shepherd; he is depicted as the best neurosurgeon there is. It makes me want to be great; it makes me want to be the best I can be. In order to do this, I am going to have to push myself; to have success, you must struggle first.
In conclusion, I am inspired by all of the doctors on the show. The show has truly made an impact on me, probably very different than many others. "Grey’s" has showed me if I try, I can do this. I can be a doctor and hopefully be a successful one. I can't wait to see what the next season brings. Hopefully the inspirations keep coming.
