Becoming a doctor in the US has a high salary, many opportunities for development.
Being a resident doctor in the US, you don’t need to worry about money…
Those are the things the media often mentions when talking about this road. However, every road will have hidden corners that no one tells you about…
1. DIFFICULT ASPECTS WHEN PREPARING FOR THE US RESIDENCY DOCTOR EXAM
Last week, during a coaching session with a fellow student, I confided that I was feeling shaken.
Shaken because of the voices outside, as well as myself inside.
There are VMGs I know who have come to the US from Vietnam for 3-4 years, but Then I didn’t get what I wanted, and I had to find a way to return to Vietnam to practice. They asked me if I had thought carefully and why I chose such an uncertain path.
My parents also didn’t really understand the path I was pursuing. Seeing me quit work and stay home to study for exams, they were also impatient. Then even I felt that this road took so long.
2. IS THIS THE ROAD FOR THOSE WHO WANT QUICK RESULTS?
Listening to her story, I suddenly remembered the past, when I was about to graduate from university.
I also had a feeling of confusion about my future direction. At that time, I had intended to go to graduate school when I knew the new direction was to pursue the field of Medicine.
I hesitated a lot, because studying Medicine in the US is a long and challenging path.
If I study medicine, I may have to live far away from my family.
Living so far away from home, if you get sick, who will take care of your mother?
And more importantly, medical school tuition is very high, up to ~ $70K/year, my family with limited economic conditions can’t get that amount of money, then there’s room and board, living expenses…
If you want to go to school, you have to borrow money!
In addition, studying Medicine is so long and difficult, what if I don’t succeed, when will I pay off all my debt?
All medical students are good, with many relationships, but I have nothing, can I keep up?
Then, I also I took the risk to follow the call of my passion and decided to enroll in medical school.
The concerns are still there, but I want to give myself a chance to live the life I want.
And so I entered medical school with a huge loan, it was so big that every day I didn’t do anything I had to pay $200 in interest while I didn’t make any money.
Now that I’m working as a doctor in America, I really can’t believe that I have a life that I never thought of in my DREAM.
I have a solid career, a financially comfortable life, and get to do what I love every day. I also have the freedom and ability to take care of large and small families.
3. WHEN YOU BECAME A DOCTOR IN THE US
Being a doctor in the US has a high salary, working as a resident doctor in the US, you don’t need to worry about money. Once you become a doctor in the US, you will have a green card but few people know…
Looking back at the road that has passed through many incidents, stumbles and successes, I realize 3 things:
1. Successful people are not people without fear
They are not do not have fears, but they are the ones who dare to face and overcome those fears.
I used to be very afraid – afraid of failure, afraid of losing everything, afraid of failing Step 1, Step 2.
Afraid of not passing the interview, afraid of no place accepting me for an internship, afraid of my English not being good
Fear of being discriminated against by patients, fear of being looked down upon by colleagues and superiors, and many other fears.
But what I realized is that these fears help me try harder, prepare more carefully, and grow more. From then on, I not only achieved the success I desired, but also became a stronger and more resilient person.
2. To be successful, we certainly won’t be able to go alone.
There were many times outside voices:
“This road is long and difficult, what if we don’t succeed?”
“What’s the point of climbing high, then tomorrow you’ll fall in pain”
“Why don’t you just settle down?”
makes me feel discouraged.
What is worth mentioning is that these voices not only come from outsiders, but sometimes come from our own loved ones.
I felt very sad, but then I realized that – my family, friends, and loved ones really want the best for me. But because they have not experienced the path they are on, and have not achieved what they want, for them, their dream is really too far away.
But it’s far away from THEM.
And I realized one thing. If you want to be successful, you need to find a guide who has achieved what you want.
And I feel so lucky to have had teachers, guides, and companions throughout my journey. They understand what they need, what they want, and give them strength in every difficult step. Thanks to that, I can have what I have today.
3. The path is not for the majority.
The truth is that the path to becoming a doctor in America is not a path filled with flowers, nor is it for everyone.
Indeed, it is only for those who are truly passionate, dedicated, and have a BIG enough reason to pursue it to the end.
When you have enough determination not to give up, life will always give you opportunities. There is a saying that, “When you are truly ready, the teacher will appear.”
Please comment “yes” if this article is useful to you.
Dr. Christina Nguyen
~ The Phoenix Medical Academy
