9 answers
kendra
Student
Castroville, CA
16
Questions
Updated
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Did you know what you wanted to be from the start or did it alter throughout the years?
Why do you like what you do?
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9 answers
Michel Davis
Medical student
80
Answers
Cranston, Rhode Island
Updated
Michel’s Answer
When I was 8 years old I wanted to spend a career in the military. I ended up wanting to do this all the way up until after my deployment to Afghanistan in 2013. I ended up messing up my back pretty bad, and realized that I was no longer able to perform my job duties. I had a couple of years of not knowing what I wanted to do and I thought I was just going to do a job and pay the bills and live a boring life.
I ended up taking a shot and going back to school. Originally I wanted to test it out and see if I was smart enough to even pass classes. I was a very poor high school student and didn’t have much hope. Well after the first semester I realized college was a lot more different than medical school. I ended up wanting to become a nurse for a bit. I started the classes and realized my grades were good enough to push the boundaries and go for medicine.
I completed the prereqs and was dead set on wanting to go into psychiatry because I was interested in helping people with PTSD. I saw a lot of it in the military and started doing classes in medical school and realized the field wasn’t for me. I am now wanting to go into Radiology.
Lesson being you will change your mind throughout the years. If you are interested in something like medicine it will most likely stay in that realm of possibilities. I have always been interested in the medical field and all of my advancement and changes in ideas has remained in that area. I love the difficulty of school and understanding what causes diseases and why we are able to treat certain pathologies.
Hopefully this is helpful let me know if you have any more questions.
I ended up taking a shot and going back to school. Originally I wanted to test it out and see if I was smart enough to even pass classes. I was a very poor high school student and didn’t have much hope. Well after the first semester I realized college was a lot more different than medical school. I ended up wanting to become a nurse for a bit. I started the classes and realized my grades were good enough to push the boundaries and go for medicine.
I completed the prereqs and was dead set on wanting to go into psychiatry because I was interested in helping people with PTSD. I saw a lot of it in the military and started doing classes in medical school and realized the field wasn’t for me. I am now wanting to go into Radiology.
Lesson being you will change your mind throughout the years. If you are interested in something like medicine it will most likely stay in that realm of possibilities. I have always been interested in the medical field and all of my advancement and changes in ideas has remained in that area. I love the difficulty of school and understanding what causes diseases and why we are able to treat certain pathologies.
Hopefully this is helpful let me know if you have any more questions.
Chirayu Rupani
Data Analyst
296
Answers
Frisco, Texas
Updated
Chirayu’s Answer
To a point yes, I always had an interest in statistics or collecting data and find reasoning out of it. Over the years I built skills that would be helpful to me in the future. For example, by taking courses that would align me with my future career choice or talk to professionals in the career field to get an idea of what to expect. Some individuals know what they want and others like to try different things before they find what they want to do and there is nothing wrong with this. You should keep an open mind and explore what you have an interest in and align yourself with those skills.
Kess French
Medical Student
74
Answers
Halifax, Virginia
Updated
Kess’s Answer
When I first started in the medical field in 2007, I really wasn't sure that was what I wanted to do. Almost a decade later after working as an EMT (emergency medical tech), I was tired, burnt out, stressed, and totally swore off working anything medical! I jumped around from manufacturing, to modeling gigs, work from home, security, you name it. However, when I was working security it was at a hospital, we had a patient who came in with "chainsaw to the chest". I helped unload him from the helicopter and felt the urge to just jump right back in. I got my EMT cert cert back, challenged for the CNA cert, finished my bachelor's, and am a 3rd year medical student.
TL;DR: you may not know your calling yet and that's ok. When you feel compelled to follow a career, I think that's the one you're meant to be in.
TL;DR: you may not know your calling yet and that's ok. When you feel compelled to follow a career, I think that's the one you're meant to be in.
Kim Khoo
Medical student
5
Answers
Sugar Land, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
For many people, they know what they want to do earlier on in life because they've had exposure to the field. However, it's not unusual or detrimental to figure these things out later in life, especially once you begin to experience more things and mature in how you think. I knew I wanted to be a doctor when I was very young, but only in medical school did I also learn that I had the desire to pursue surgery and public health because that's when I became exposed to those fields.
I think the important thing to remember is that it's okay to take time to develop what you like. It's your life, and you should do your due diligence in discovering what you're passionate about and what gets you excited when you go to work every day. Try new things, talk to new people, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there! Do what is in your best interest when trying to discover what you like or don't like, and if you have an open mind and a positive attitude, hopefully, you'll narrow down areas and jobs that you like!
I think the important thing to remember is that it's okay to take time to develop what you like. It's your life, and you should do your due diligence in discovering what you're passionate about and what gets you excited when you go to work every day. Try new things, talk to new people, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there! Do what is in your best interest when trying to discover what you like or don't like, and if you have an open mind and a positive attitude, hopefully, you'll narrow down areas and jobs that you like!
Sheila Jordan
Sr. Technical Project Manager
712
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Kendra:
I'm answering your question from a parent's perspective who has a young adult son in the medical field. There's no one-way path to the answer. I'd like to share that on "RARE" occasions sometimes a person might know early what they want to be. "Here's my true story". . .
My son knew what he wanted to do at a young age. He would dissect tomatoes and leave them in the fridge for a long time until they grew mold and spores, and pull them out and analyze the appearance and texture. He took notes, made comments, etc. At that time, I was a young Mom who didn't realize what he was doing until my husband told me to let him explore, which I did. . I just wanted the smelly tomatoes out of the fridge.
While in middle school, my son and a friend paired on a project to talk about the veins in the human body. They were provided with long paper to draw the body. One person lay down on the paper while the other outlined the body. They drew the organs, veins, and bones. This was very impressive for such young boys. To this day, I still have that precious paper outline of the body because I honestly think it was the launching pad for my son wanting to go into the medical field. Of course, while showing much interest in the medical field at a young age aunts, family members, and friends also encouraged him along the way. He has first cousins following in his footsteps to become a Psychiatrist and Psychologist.
I share this personal story with you to let you know that sometimes there are people who do know what they want to do in a career. The hard part is deciding on which field you are interested in. It's okay to change your mind. Nothing is concrete that can't go in a different direction. It's up to you to do the work to make it happen. Best of luck to you!
~ Sheila
I'm answering your question from a parent's perspective who has a young adult son in the medical field. There's no one-way path to the answer. I'd like to share that on "RARE" occasions sometimes a person might know early what they want to be. "Here's my true story". . .
My son knew what he wanted to do at a young age. He would dissect tomatoes and leave them in the fridge for a long time until they grew mold and spores, and pull them out and analyze the appearance and texture. He took notes, made comments, etc. At that time, I was a young Mom who didn't realize what he was doing until my husband told me to let him explore, which I did. . I just wanted the smelly tomatoes out of the fridge.
While in middle school, my son and a friend paired on a project to talk about the veins in the human body. They were provided with long paper to draw the body. One person lay down on the paper while the other outlined the body. They drew the organs, veins, and bones. This was very impressive for such young boys. To this day, I still have that precious paper outline of the body because I honestly think it was the launching pad for my son wanting to go into the medical field. Of course, while showing much interest in the medical field at a young age aunts, family members, and friends also encouraged him along the way. He has first cousins following in his footsteps to become a Psychiatrist and Psychologist.
I share this personal story with you to let you know that sometimes there are people who do know what they want to do in a career. The hard part is deciding on which field you are interested in. It's okay to change your mind. Nothing is concrete that can't go in a different direction. It's up to you to do the work to make it happen. Best of luck to you!
~ Sheila
Ndi AIHISATOU
Nurse
5
Answers
Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon
Updated
Ndi’s Answer
When I was younger I wanted to be first a lawyer or a Nurse. I knew I love to see nurses in their white scrubs, again I was supper fascinated by the lawyers costume.
It's completely alright to be like me when you are just over whelmed by their outlooks and feel it will be cool to look like one was well. Some people, had a clearer path whereas others found their passion as they study and get more exposure.
I grow up to be more exposed to the nursing fields and my passion grew each day. I tell you when the right time comes you will know what you want, so donot worry about it just keep on studying and everything will fall in place perfectly.
It's completely alright to be like me when you are just over whelmed by their outlooks and feel it will be cool to look like one was well. Some people, had a clearer path whereas others found their passion as they study and get more exposure.
I grow up to be more exposed to the nursing fields and my passion grew each day. I tell you when the right time comes you will know what you want, so donot worry about it just keep on studying and everything will fall in place perfectly.
jennifer chou
acupuncturist, hypnotist, teacher
8
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
jennifer’s Answer
Some people know exactly what they want to do from a young age, while others may take longer to figure it out. It's not uncommon for people to try out different careers or fields before settling on one that they are passionate about and that aligns with their strengths and goals.
It's important to remember that it's okay to explore different options and to be open to changing your mind. It's also important to be proactive in learning about different careers and seeking out opportunities to gain experience and insights that can help you make informed decisions about your future.
It's important to remember that it's okay to explore different options and to be open to changing your mind. It's also important to be proactive in learning about different careers and seeking out opportunities to gain experience and insights that can help you make informed decisions about your future.
Hi Jennifer: Your comments are insightful. I agree with "some people know exactly what they want to do from a young age". That was my son. He's now in a medical fellowship program and thoroughly LOVEs his work. Thank you for sharing.
Sheila Jordan
Aimee Kneip
Work in a hospital laboratory, teach at a college
18
Answers
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Updated
Aimee’s Answer
I'm not sure if you're trying to determine what specialty to go into or not by this question but my general career experience has changed through the years.
When I was young I wanted to be a veterinarian. I worked as a janitor at a vet clinic in high school and realized I loved the patient's but didn't like their owners much, which is not helpful in veterinary careers. I did discover that we were sending away samples to a lab and that there are laboratories that take human samples for testing as well.
That's when I found out about my current career of medical laboratory science. We collect and process samples for patients in hospitals and other medical facilities. This way I can help people but don't have much patient contact. It's great, but then I discovered teaching for medical laboratory students and am getting my masters to continue to pursue that.
When I was young I wanted to be a veterinarian. I worked as a janitor at a vet clinic in high school and realized I loved the patient's but didn't like their owners much, which is not helpful in veterinary careers. I did discover that we were sending away samples to a lab and that there are laboratories that take human samples for testing as well.
That's when I found out about my current career of medical laboratory science. We collect and process samples for patients in hospitals and other medical facilities. This way I can help people but don't have much patient contact. It's great, but then I discovered teaching for medical laboratory students and am getting my masters to continue to pursue that.
Carol Tomlinson-Cole
Customer Rep
3
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Carol’s Answer
I wanted to be a registered nurse. Thru the years circumstances changed and when I returned to school I decided to go into information technology because that industry had huge potential for growth.