4 answers
Madison
Student
Arlington, Texas
1
Question
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How can a high school student choose between two different paths?
Hi, I'm Madison, a 9th grader interested in two very different career paths: becoming an anesthesiologist or a songwriter. Since these field are so different, I'm struggling to figure out which path might suit me best or how to start exploring them. What advice do you have for choosing between a medical field vs. a creative field?
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4 answers
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
283
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
If you are able to do the work to become an anesthesiologist, you should do that. Writing songs is a wonderful thing, and you can do that during free time. I had a friend who was an anesthesiologist and songwriter. Being a physician provided him and his family an excellent income, while the family played and sang music together when he wasn't at work. Anesthesiology is a field where one can choose not to work full-time, so you could have a bit more time to enjoy music and writing that you might in some other medical careers.
Only a very few songwriters make money writing songs, so it is a big risk to limit yourself to that.
Only a very few songwriters make money writing songs, so it is a big risk to limit yourself to that.
Amanda Evans
Nurse, Administrative Supervisor
9
Answers
Huntersville, North Carolina
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
Hey Madison! Is it possible to get into Healthcare and get involved now? You can be a songwriter as a hobby and on the side, but having the financial security of your career is a big bonus. With permission, I'm sure you can sit and interview in anesthesiologist or maybe Shadow.... It's my understanding that the program is challenging and most people report that they can't work during that. If you have tons of family support, I would go for it! It's very rewarding and there is a great need for anesthesiologists and CRNAs. I think your music will serve as a wonderful outlet too!
Jezlea Ortega
Tech Architecture
102
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jezlea’s Answer
The good news is that being in 9th grade means you have more time than almost anyone to explore both paths before committing to either, and the pressure you are feeling to choose right now is much earlier than you actually need to decide. Most people who end up in medicine did not fully commit until college, and many successful songwriters spent years developing their craft alongside other pursuits before it became their primary focus.
The most useful thing you can do right now is get real exposure to both rather than trying to reason your way to an answer from the outside. Shadow a doctor or anesthesiologist if you can arrange it through your school or a family connection, even one afternoon inside a medical environment will tell you more about whether that world fits you than any amount of research. At the same time take your songwriting seriously as a genuine creative practice, write consistently, study artists you admire, and if possible, take music or songwriting courses that push your skills further. Depth of experience in both will reveal things about yourself that thinking alone never will.
The deeper question worth sitting with is not which path sounds more impressive or practical but which one you would regret not pursuing if you had to walk away from it tomorrow. Medicine offers stability, intellectual rigor, and the profound satisfaction of directly improving lives — but the path is long, demanding, and leaves little room for much else during training. Songwriting offers creative freedom and emotional expression at its purest, but requires an unusually high tolerance for uncertainty and rejection alongside the craft itself. Neither path is better than the other but they reward very different personalities, and only you know which description makes your heart move more.
The most useful thing you can do right now is get real exposure to both rather than trying to reason your way to an answer from the outside. Shadow a doctor or anesthesiologist if you can arrange it through your school or a family connection, even one afternoon inside a medical environment will tell you more about whether that world fits you than any amount of research. At the same time take your songwriting seriously as a genuine creative practice, write consistently, study artists you admire, and if possible, take music or songwriting courses that push your skills further. Depth of experience in both will reveal things about yourself that thinking alone never will.
The deeper question worth sitting with is not which path sounds more impressive or practical but which one you would regret not pursuing if you had to walk away from it tomorrow. Medicine offers stability, intellectual rigor, and the profound satisfaction of directly improving lives — but the path is long, demanding, and leaves little room for much else during training. Songwriting offers creative freedom and emotional expression at its purest, but requires an unusually high tolerance for uncertainty and rejection alongside the craft itself. Neither path is better than the other but they reward very different personalities, and only you know which description makes your heart move more.
Hwal Lee
Health science researcher, adjunct instructor, primary care internal medicine PA
303
Answers
Albany, New York
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Madison,
I believe that you can practice medicine (or work in healthcare more broadly) while continuing creative pursuits. If you're interested in both a career as a songwriter and a career as an anaesthesiologist though, you may (or may not) need to choose one over the other. Which career you choose depends on several considerations, such as what aspects of each career you are drawn to and whether you have the resources to pursue either career. You may be able to practice medicine and be a professional songwriter on the side, but I would encourage you to prioritise what interests you and what it takes to have a career in each field you're interested in.
I hope this helps.
Hwal
I believe that you can practice medicine (or work in healthcare more broadly) while continuing creative pursuits. If you're interested in both a career as a songwriter and a career as an anaesthesiologist though, you may (or may not) need to choose one over the other. Which career you choose depends on several considerations, such as what aspects of each career you are drawn to and whether you have the resources to pursue either career. You may be able to practice medicine and be a professional songwriter on the side, but I would encourage you to prioritise what interests you and what it takes to have a career in each field you're interested in.
I hope this helps.
Hwal