Post One

Being the son of two doctors, it would be natural for me to become a doctor.  However, I was never quite sure that this is what I wanted to be.  The biggest fear in my mind is that I couldn't make it.  I was afraid I would have to stay up to all hours of the night, every night, studying and memorizing material.  If I would say that I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up, the response was, "see you in 12 years," joking that I would never have a life.  I also feared being responsible for a life.  The thought that one missed concept in medical school could result in someone dying because I made the wrong diagnosis put too much weight on my shoulders.  Having that two letter abbreviation in front of my name, immediately identifying me as one of the intelligent members of society, was something I would never deserve.  My dad putting a picture of a brain from his last surgery only reminded me that one mistake could ruin a person's life.
As much as I love my dad, I would not have been friends with him if we went to school together.  Back then, he was a know-it-all, arrogant, cocky, obnoxious; he would get to class early and sit at the front corner seat by the door so he could try and talk to every girl that walked in.  He thought he was the whole package.  However, when it came to academics, he could back it up.  He graduated as valid victorian despite having to be a bee keeper to make money for his family.  His freshman year at the University of Florida, he took a nineteen credit course load, rather than the usual 12-16.  He told his worried academic advisor that he could handle it and did not need his help.  He got all A's.  This is the type of person who should be a doctor.  Someone who is just naturally smart and loves learning.  I was not this person.  However, one rainy thursday night changed my perspective.
My dad and I were in the kitchen.  We were washing the dishes after dinner.  My mom had cooked, so she left the clean up to us.  The lights were out because he accidentally hit the switch putting a pot away.  During our casual conversation about my future, five words put my fears of becoming a doctor aside: "you really could do it."  This may not seem like much, but that was the confidence I needed to give this career path a shot.