5 answers
Adaeze
Student
3
Questions
Updated
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How do people with big creative dreams manage to thrive in medicine without burning out?
I just got into college to study medicine 🎉, and today my mom and I went for my clearance and a short tour around my faculty. Meeting some of the medical students made everything feel so real — and honestly, a little overwhelming. I learned that I won’t start my core medical lectures until 200 level, but once I do, it gets very intense: no long breaks, few holidays, and long hours of study and practicals.
Hearing all that made me start thinking deeply about how I’ll combine my medical career with the other things I’m passionate about — filmmaking, storytelling, writing, acting, and ambassadorship. Medicine is my main path because I truly love helping people, but those creative dreams also mean a lot to me.
How can I begin building these other parts of myself now, during my pre-med year, and still stay focused enough to succeed in medicine later on? I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve juggled multiple passions or careers. 💫
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5 answers
Greg Fazekas
Technical Writer
15
Answers
Pécs, Hungary
Updated
Greg’s Answer
My partner just finished her medical journey, and she's now a full-fledged doctor - so I asked her. :) Her advice, and what she would change about how she went about it, is to document your journey. Journaling can be a great creative outlet, especially in times when you just don't have the bandwidth for anything else. But keeping a journal (personally I recommend the bullet journal method) will keep your creative ideas in place, and also become a permanent record for you to look back on and a story you can tell in a lot of ways, either during or after your studies.
You can keep a blog, a vlog, or any other creative project, but that can also become overwhelming. Your journal is the same thing, except it's subtle and it's also for you. You can find solace in it, when you're struggling: writing out negative thoughts frees you from them, and also serve as a reminder of all the things you can overcome. It'll be a repository of your wins, too.
You can keep a blog, a vlog, or any other creative project, but that can also become overwhelming. Your journal is the same thing, except it's subtle and it's also for you. You can find solace in it, when you're struggling: writing out negative thoughts frees you from them, and also serve as a reminder of all the things you can overcome. It'll be a repository of your wins, too.
Wow… this really touched me. 🥹 Thank you so much for sharing this — and please thank your partner too. I love the idea of journaling my journey; it feels like such a peaceful way to stay creative even when things get busy. I’ve always loved storytelling, so turning my medical path into something I can reflect on or share someday really speaks to me. I’ll definitely look into the bullet journal method — it sounds grounding and freeing at the same time. Thank you again for this beautiful reminder. 🤍
Adaeze
@Adaeze - Please do not plan on "turning your medical path" into anything but a medical career. Your passion to become a doctor is going to have to be stronger than needing to be creative.
Michelle M.
Derick Watitwa
Am a Student
3
Answers
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
Derick’s Answer
Hello Adaeze,
Medicine will stretch you — but it will also shape your discipline, empathy, and storytelling depth. The key is balance, not separation. Use your pre-med year to build creative habits in small, steady doses: write short pieces, film mini-projects, or share reflections from your medical journey online. These outlets will keep your spark alive and even make you a better doctor one day — more human, more inspired. Remember, thriving in medicine isn’t about giving up your art; it’s about letting it grow with you.
Medicine will stretch you — but it will also shape your discipline, empathy, and storytelling depth. The key is balance, not separation. Use your pre-med year to build creative habits in small, steady doses: write short pieces, film mini-projects, or share reflections from your medical journey online. These outlets will keep your spark alive and even make you a better doctor one day — more human, more inspired. Remember, thriving in medicine isn’t about giving up your art; it’s about letting it grow with you.
This honestly means a lot to me, thank you 🥹. I love how you described it — not separating my creative side from medicine, but letting them grow together. That’s such a comforting reminder, especially now that I’m just about to start pre-med. I really appreciate the encouragement! 💖
Adaeze
Lisa Hendrix Simmons
Writer
2
Answers
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Updated
Lisa Hendrix’s Answer
No matter what degree you are studying for, you need to keep your creative outlet for all your life! Honestly, even in the medical field, jobs can change, or go on hiatus. I graduated with a BS in Secondary Education thinking that was my way to keep writing. I never did get a job teaching, I did lots of other jobs, administrative assistant, stay at home mom, at home work, secretary/mom at a grade school and finally a Manager of our church. But through all of that I was writing, I have published 17 books, I have written numerous articles for many different publications and most of all I started a business with my husband and kids teaching martial arts. We have been doing that for 30 years. So even though I thought I never used my teaching degree, turns out I have used it but I've also published books and articles. I think if you need that creative outlet, no matter how busy you are studying medicine or any other life skill, you will still make time for your creative film and story making because that is what fills your soul! Good luck!
Wow, thank you so, so much for this. Your words honestly touched me — they gave me a kind of peace and reassurance I didn’t even realize I needed. I love how you shared your journey so openly; it reminded me that creativity isn’t something I have to put on pause just because I’m studying medicine — it’s something that can grow with me through every phase of life. Your story inspired me deeply, and I’m so grateful you took the time to write this. 💛
Adaeze
Sharon Black
screener
2
Answers
Smith Center, Kansas
Updated
Sharon’s Answer
Talk with your professors or department about using your interests. 0ur hospital has film crews in a lot for PR. Maybe they need training videos for medical teaching. Just ask.
This is such a brilliant suggestion, thank you! I hadn’t even thought about connecting my creative side with medicine in that way. I’ll definitely look into whether my department or hospital has similar opportunities — it sounds like such a fun and meaningful way to grow. I really appreciate you sharing this!
Adaeze
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Adaeze !
I'm somewhat confused - are you entering College ? or Medical School ? because they do not teach Medicine in undergraduate school. That is taught in Medical School, so I am not sure. Since you've mentioned Acting, I wanted to give you some advice, however.
Typically, as a life science major on a pre-med track in undergraduate school for your Bachelors Degree, you will need a lot of time for your science courses and many of them may require lab hours. Lots of time for study and writing papers. You've had the tour of your department and you state that you understand that it's overwhelming and intense - undergrad school isn't necessarily but Medical School is.
Once you get into Medical School your complete focus and attention will be there. There's an enormous amount to learn and there will be no time for other activities such as filmmaking, storytelling, writing, acting, and ambassadorship. Sorry, but that is the reality. It's a huge sacrifice. Four years of undergraduate school, four years of Medical School and then more years for a residency and specialty. You really have to just be into it, not introducing any "creative" elements. As a doctor, it would be quite inappropriate to tell your manager, let's make a film or I want to be in the training video. Your niche would be taking care of patients, not combining hobbies at work. Sorry to be so frank, but that is the reality of it. There are very high and certain expectations of you once you become a medical doctor.
While you are working on your Bachelors Degree, it's possible that you might be able to fit in your hobbies in your free time. Majoring in a life science can be very demanding, though.
Also, Medical schools do not assign course levels (such as 100, 200, 300, 400) in the same way as undergraduate institutions do. So I am not sure why you're saying you'd have your "core" medical courses until the 200 level. All I can say is that I want to be honest with you so that you are 100% sure of the correct path to become a Medical Doctor. You will first obtain a Bachelors Degree, take the MCAT exam and then go to Medical School at which in the first two years, you will have courses in anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, pathology, and medical microbiology. And in some Medical Schools, in your first two years, you would start to work with patients. In your third and fourth year you would do clinical rotations working with patients in major specialties under supervision in hospitals, doctors offices, etc. What you've stated does not align with a typical Medical School regimen or curriculum.
I hope re-orientating you is not disappointing but you need the best, most realistic advice and I wish you all the best going forward.
I'm somewhat confused - are you entering College ? or Medical School ? because they do not teach Medicine in undergraduate school. That is taught in Medical School, so I am not sure. Since you've mentioned Acting, I wanted to give you some advice, however.
Typically, as a life science major on a pre-med track in undergraduate school for your Bachelors Degree, you will need a lot of time for your science courses and many of them may require lab hours. Lots of time for study and writing papers. You've had the tour of your department and you state that you understand that it's overwhelming and intense - undergrad school isn't necessarily but Medical School is.
Once you get into Medical School your complete focus and attention will be there. There's an enormous amount to learn and there will be no time for other activities such as filmmaking, storytelling, writing, acting, and ambassadorship. Sorry, but that is the reality. It's a huge sacrifice. Four years of undergraduate school, four years of Medical School and then more years for a residency and specialty. You really have to just be into it, not introducing any "creative" elements. As a doctor, it would be quite inappropriate to tell your manager, let's make a film or I want to be in the training video. Your niche would be taking care of patients, not combining hobbies at work. Sorry to be so frank, but that is the reality of it. There are very high and certain expectations of you once you become a medical doctor.
While you are working on your Bachelors Degree, it's possible that you might be able to fit in your hobbies in your free time. Majoring in a life science can be very demanding, though.
Also, Medical schools do not assign course levels (such as 100, 200, 300, 400) in the same way as undergraduate institutions do. So I am not sure why you're saying you'd have your "core" medical courses until the 200 level. All I can say is that I want to be honest with you so that you are 100% sure of the correct path to become a Medical Doctor. You will first obtain a Bachelors Degree, take the MCAT exam and then go to Medical School at which in the first two years, you will have courses in anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, pathology, and medical microbiology. And in some Medical Schools, in your first two years, you would start to work with patients. In your third and fourth year you would do clinical rotations working with patients in major specialties under supervision in hospitals, doctors offices, etc. What you've stated does not align with a typical Medical School regimen or curriculum.
I hope re-orientating you is not disappointing but you need the best, most realistic advice and I wish you all the best going forward.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and honest response! I think the confusion came from our different systems — I’m studying Medicine in Nigeria, where it’s an undergraduate program, so the levels and structure work differently from the U.S. model.
I also can’t study in the U.S. because it’s too expensive for my family, so I’m on the MBBS path here at home.
I truly appreciate your clarity and kindness. Thank you for guiding me — it means so much
Adaeze
Oh, okay. Now I understand ! I wish you all the best in your education and future career ! Have an awesome day !
Michelle M.