What do your parents want to you to be?

[thushan]

Parents say medicine. Apparently there is no other feasible career pathway suited to me

[s.ay]

My dad's a tradie, my mum's a nurse, and my sister is gunning for a career in agriculture and sustainability.
And I'm hoping to do medicine. haha enough said really.

[luken93]

Story of my childhood.

Nah kidding, my parents didn't really care. Was a personal choice. They just preferred if I got something with some decent job security though, but from there they said it's best to just choose something I'd enjoy as well.

Pretty much sums mine up as well - minus the video

[MuggedByReality]

                   Making a living honestly

[stonecold]

My dad's a tradie, my mum's a nurse, and my sister is gunning for a career in agriculture and sustainability.
And I'm hoping to do medicine. haha enough said really.

If they gave out med spots based on creativity then you should definitely get one. :p  Awesome username!  DOUBLE ENTENDRE ftw!!!!

(Yes I am a massive pun nerd haha)

But seriously, you can do it. 

[s.ay]

hahahha why thankyou  glad someone picked up on it! puns are my life. would be nice if med selection was that open ended!

[ariawuu]

The only way it's a waste is if you put the wants of society ahead of the wants of individuals

That's true, but sometimes I wonder whether our society persuades talented individuals that medicine, business, engineering and law are the only reputable/prestigious careers. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying we shouldn't have doctors or that most medical students only choose the profession because of the associated prestige - but I do wonder how many students currently undertaking medicine would be in the same course had the ATAR requirement dropped to about 88.

There was a time a few years ago when I genuinely wanted to do medicine - I was willing to study hard for the UMAT, to consider interstate options, everything. Things changed when swine flu hit, and I started thinking about what the job actually entailed. I (thankfully, and miraculously) realised that the job wasn't for me at all: at this stage in my life, I'd prefer doing something else. I have friends who'll make brilliant doctors and who know what they're in for, but I think many medicine applicants see a glorified view of the profession and don't spend time exploring other career options. I think there's a problem when people who hate communication, biology and chemistry apply for medicine with no consideration to other careers, but meh, each to their own opinion.

Oh, and Russ, I'm seriously not trying to demean those who are pursuing a medical profession. I'm just saying that a disproportionate number of high achievers choose that path - I wonder if their talents could benefit society moreso in another profession, and I wonder whether they'd actually enjoy that more. I seriously do respect those who have a genuine passion for the practice of medicine: I doubt I'd ever be able to do it and I can see how it could be an incredibly rewarding career.

yess, I do think if you have passion for what you do then you will be good at what you do.
my mum has came back from the hospital most often disappointed and frustrated for being ignored several times and have dealt with doctors who lacked compassion and warmth. It's an unfair case to see that there are soo many wonderful, warm and genuine people who can become great doctors are outperformed by very rich or very academic-driven people- some who are just in it for themselves.

What do I want to be? I really don't know. Everyone wants to be wealthy but I just want to be happy and healthy while also making my existence useful to society. Currently, I'm looking into the children's department for med; can always wear a smile around them. Kids are just so lively (ok not when theyre sick..) and cuteee, sometimes a handful but I can handle that haha. Orrrrr a doctor who flies around in a plane.