Honestly,I didn't want to be a doctor in the first place.
A little background story-
I
was born in a small village in outskirts of Delhi ( Mundka), in a
society where girls weren't sent to school and were married off quite
early at an age of 14–16.
But
fortunately,I was born in a family, where education was valued more
than anything else and against my grandmother wishes, my dad sent me to
school ( My dad, because my mother had no say in such decisions at that
time).
Somehow,I turned out to be good ( rather brilliant) at studies and always topped my school or
probably, seeing my mom and other girls and women in community, I
understood quite early in life that “ EDUCATION was my only escape”, that drove me to excel in studies.
My
dad was a clerk in a government bank ,had a housing loan on his salary
and had a family of six to support with education of three kids.
Childhood wasn't that great. But having “food in your plate,clothes on body and a roof over head”, was considered good enough,so we had good enough, better than many of the neighbours.
My
dad was an honest and hardworking man, my mother never pressurised me
for any of the household work ( because I was the topper always and she
wanted to do everything she could to let it be that way).
I
remember now,how my dad's vests and socks used to have “ holes” in them
and how my mother never got a single new saree/suit for herself for
many years,but my father never compromised on the education front.
I
always had the books ,I asked for. I was sent to the best school in my
village ( fortunately, my tution fee was waived off and my school dress
was free because the school wanted to retain their topper).
My mom would stay up late with me while I was studying to make me tea/ snacks for when I felt hungry and would wake up early.
I had chosen to taken PCMB in XIth ( It was my decision as I liked both Maths and biology).
In
XIth, I liked genetic engineering a lot and decided that I wanted to be
a biotech engineer ( not really knowing what it actually meant).
My parents wanted me to be a doctor, though!
However,my
dad, as always respected my wish and asked me to write both the exams (
medical and engineering entrance ) and I was free to choose whichever I
got selected into.
I passed both IIT-JEE and DPMT and I still wanted biotech engineer course.
At
that time ( in 2004 ) only Guwahati and Chennai had B.Tech in biotech
engineering,I think,Delhi had M.tech ( not B.Tech).My father went to
counselling with me and I got B.Tech biotech engineering at IIT-Chennai
and MBBS at Lady hardinge medical College, Delhi.
Now, it was upto me to choose.
I wanted to go to IIT-Chennai.
But
then,one fine evening, my dad came to me and talked to me that how he
was getting older and was the sole earning member of family, the fee
difference between LHMC( MBBS) and B.Tech( Chennai), how he would have
to fly everytime to Chennai,in case of any problem and in case something
happened to him,it would be difficult for me to complete the B.Tech
course on my own ( cause of fees), but MBBS would be easy ( fee was
nominal) and LHMC was at walking distance from his office.
After that discussion,he told me that eventually it was my decision and he would be okay with whatever I would decide.
I am the eldest daughter and I had seen my parents going through all the struggles for so many years,just to make our future.
So,I finally decided to take MBBS at LHMC.
Looking back- Do I have regrets?
Not really!
Yes, my life would have been different had I gone for biotech engineering, but what I have now, is good too.
And,my
dad was right. Being at LHMC was actually easier for me and my
family,there were a lot of times, when I needed him and he was there to
meet me within15 minutes of a phone call .
And,
on my convocation day of MBBS- for the first time in life,he got me a
bouquet of flowers :).
And, I could see how proud he was ,of his
daughter and that face,on that day made it worth everything !!!
