Why do some people feel that they have a right - or an obligation, for some - to tell others what they should be doing with their lives?
I had a long chat last week with the woman at work who keeps pronouncing my name wrong, even though I’ve been there almost two years now. The chat started out innocently enough. She’s a nurse, and was very interested to hear all about my medical technology internship in the hospital. I started telling her about how I got to see surgery, and autopsies, how the blood bank was stressful but exhilerating, and how bacteriology stinks but is still tons of fun. My voice was excited, I was smiling; it’s ovbious that I’m enjoying myself in the labs. I’m goddamn elated about what I’m doing, even if it’s difficult.
But then, she interrupted me to ask why I never considered med school. Now, I did, at one point, think about it. I find medical science fascinating and I love problem-solving, so I’d probably enjoy medicine. The thing is, though, my grades weren’t quite good enough, and to be honest, I’m turned off by the thought of working through a bunch of rotations that don’t interest me. And I’m getting a little tired of school and want to start working.
With the program I’m studying now, I’m working in the labs, and I’m important. Without the tests I’m running, people can’t get blood transfusions. Doctors can’t know whether a patient’s anemia is from leukemia or because he’s not getting enough iron. They won’t know what antibiotics to give for a resistant infection, and they won’t know whether a tumor is cancerous or benign.
Which is why I can’t understand how this woman dared to tell me “but you have so much potential! You could be a doctor! Why don’t you apply to med school, just to see?”
First of all, how dare you tell me that I’m not living up to my potential by doing what I’m doing? You’re a nurse - why’d you stop there? Why aren’t you a goddamn astrophysicist? I hops your son wants to become a professional ballet dancer. That’d just flip your whole damn life upside down, now, wouldn’t it?
Look, I don’t care what someone’s IQ is - whether he decides to be a lawyer, a philosopher, or a florist is of no concern to me. When you’re happy with what you’re doing, and you can make a living with it, that’s all that’s important. And yet, when I started this program 2 years ago, I had to deal with dozens of people, some of whom barely even knew me, asking why I was doing this instead of medicine.
Why do I keep having to justify my choices to these people?
Mind your own business and go to hell!
Why are you addressing threemae as antigen, kiz?