''Prescription for Success''
I am challenged by a fear of failure. Most of my college life has been consumed with a relationship that aided in me neglecting school work and getting horrible grades in my classes. I graduated high-school with a 4.0 gpa [Grade Point Average], and now in college, I barely have a 2.0. Now, I've gotten rid of the relationship, but my gpa is still very low, and i'm afraid that after college, there won't be any opportunities for me because of my gpa. I know there's no way i can go to medical school as i've dreamed since i was 5yrs old. Always helping others has been my best attribute, now i'm afraid that no one will give me a chance to exert my wonderful personality and humanity by becoming a doctor. Now, I'm not sure that I can even make good grades in school. I graduate next spring. Any advice would be greatly valued!
-- Worried MD
Hey Worried MD,
I have a good friend who's an MD and therefore more qualified to give advice as it relates to your medical career. So I'll let her take it from here, then I'll wrap it up!
Hey Walt, I would tell Worried MD that there is more to being a doctor than earning exemplary grades. Of course med schools always give those students with excellent marks a first look. However, they also appreciate students who have a wealth of life experience,i.e: work in the peace corps, extensive world travel, community service, overcoming of hardship, etc. These experiences offer a different kind of education that can only be learned through living them, rather than memorizing them from a book. They also help a future doctor connect with their patients on a human level. If someone is truly dedicated to becoming a doctor, but has poor grades, I would suggest that they take a couple of years off after college and do something meaningful to show that the have matured and gained life experience. They might also want to take a few postgrad courses to show that they are capable of obtaining the marks. It also helps to seek out a mentor, preferably one who sits on an admissions board or has some influence or connection with a medical school. Also,there are always foreign medical schools, and osteopathic schools as an alternative. The most important ingredient is believing that you can do it. I didn't have a 4.0 gpa in high school or college, but I did have determination, focus, and a committment to my dream. Even when I was on the verge of failing physics, I never once believed that I would not get into medical school, graduate, and become a doctor. It's amazing the things you can achieve when you adjust your mind to fit your agenda.--
Hope that helps, Worried...Now here's something else:
The best grades that you'll ever earn
come not from class or book
The lessons learned throughout your life
depend on where you look
Look to the texts for lesson one
and there find fact and figure
Look to the world for lesson two
and find something much bigger
With basic human skills
I've come this far and learned one thing
No lessons learned in school compares
to those that life can bring
Our goals in life may often shrink
to fit our shriveled mind
Expand the mind to fit the goal
and here's what you might find:
The you in you is more than grades
believe and have no fear
For men care not how much you know
until they know you care
With thoughts like these ingrained in mind
quite soon you will be soaring
So heed these words two times a day
and call me in the morning!
Search for a specific topic:
(e.g., relationship, career, romance, etc)
(CashApp, Paypal, Zelle, Patreon, Debit/Credit)
More from Walt:
"Life Rhymes aren't the only things I've created! Here are a few of my brands, blogs and book series:"--Walt
