When I was interviewed for new jobs and encountered with
people after I resigned, I noticed that
most of them were curious about my decision. They couldn’t believe it, and some
even think I might have made the wrong decision. All I can say is, you are not
in my shoes. Hence I don’t think other people have the right to say whether or
not I made the wrong decision.
These are some of the questions frequently asked, and these are
my answers to you.
Why quit being a doctor?
Being a doctor is not my dream, it was my parents’. During
my time, when you have good SPM result, people automatically think of the
professional career such as doctor, lawyer, or engineer. My family falls into
that mentality, and I have taken the responsibility as being the eldest. I had to quit my enrolment at a private
university under a good scholarship, and pursued my medical degree as soon as I
got the offer from JPA.
It was not an easy path. I did try to drop out many times,
but I continued studied anyway and finally graduated. When it comes to real
working experience, I know right away it wasn’t for me. Every day was a torture.
It is not really about the stress, badmouthing and workload, but I was just not
into it. Every day I came to work just to survive another day.
However, I did not want to disappoint my family, and I have
the responsibility to my colleagues and patients, and I do not want to put any
burden to them, so I continued working. I continued working, up to the point
that I think I have done enough. I took some time off, and think about the life
I have gone through. I knew I am not going to be happy doing this for the rest
of my life, so I took the leap of faith and resign.
Why don’t you want to be a doctor?
In simple words, I don’t have the passion.
It’s kind of complicated and personal to explain, but I can
say the responsibility of dealing with life and death is hard for me. Being a
houseman, you don’t have the responsibility yet professionally, but when you
are a medical officer the responsibility feels real. Every decision you make
will decide the outcome. I realized that since my heart was not into it, I am
not qualified to make any decision of someone’s life. Most people might think it’ because of the
stress and workload, it was not. I know wherever we work, they are going to be stress
and workload. If you can’t handle them, you cannot work anywhere especially
with people.
Why took more than 2 years to make decision?
I have many responsibilities such as to my parents, siblings
and also my personal financial responsibility. Being the eldest, it was hard to
just let go the responsibility that was put on me. Out of those
responsibilities, I had decided to finish my housemanship which I luckily got
to finish without any extension. I also took the 2 years time to think and to
plan carefully, especially financially.
Change of career is not easy these days. There are so many
people unemployed for various reasons, and I know if I am resigning, I am
taking a big risk. I can’t just jump into the river not knowing what I am
fishing.
If you have anymore questions, you can email me at nukezonne@gmail.com ==