Doctor as a Career Option

Doctor as a Career Option

My daughter is currently in her 12th grade. You may have read my posts JEE vs NEET vs STREES Part 1 and Part 2. My daughter scored 99.2% in her 10th grade, and naturally, many encouraged her to pursue medicine (PCMB). In my family, no one has pursued medicine before, but my parents and in-laws have always dreamed of having a doctor in the family. It’s a common wish among many Indian families—a hope to have a trusted doctor to consult when needed. It reminds me of the famous movie Gentleman, which many Indians might remember.

Growing up, my parents wanted my eldest sister to pursue an MBBS. She couldn’t clear the entrance in 1998 due to stress. Even if she had, affording a medical seat would have been difficult for my parents. Still, it was a dream. Instead, she studied microbiology briefly and then pursued electrical engineering. Today, she works for a software company in the U.S. and is awaiting her green card. When I reflect on her journey, it’s a reminder that life often takes unexpected turns. We may start down one path, only to end up on another (Māyā, as we say in spirituality). What we study and where we end up can be vastly different.

I have another relative who originally secured a merit seat in computer science at PSG Tech (my own college) but left it to pursue an MBBS seat he was later offered. Even now, he’s the one we consult to confirm doctor prescriptions and for general guidance on health matters.

My wife shares this common dream of seeing an MBBS in the family. In a recent career counseling session (see my blog on that here), the speaker likened an MBBS career to Lord Rama’s vanavasa (exile), saying it takes 10 to 16 years of dedicated effort before the career truly takes shape. He went on to say that unless parents own a hospital or clinic, pursuing medicine may not always be the most viable path.

I could have encouraged my daughter to become a doctor. But I see firsthand the role a mother plays at the heart of a family. Children don’t choose their parents, but they deeply need them. A mother’s and father’s presence is essential for a child’s mental well-being. When a child returns home, seeing her mother (or father) there makes all the difference. In urban areas, children often grow up under caretakers, which has become a norm. One positive outcome of COVID-19 was the normalization of working from home, a blessing for working parents. At last, kids could spend more time with their parents.

When we started ActOnMagic in 2014, my wife supported the family financially for a year, then joined me in building the business. This turned out to be one of our best decisions. I picked our kids up from school, and they did their homework in our conference room. Either I or my wife was always there for them. Occasionally, we needed help from our parents, but the kids grew up seeing us daily, which strengthened our bond.

After we sold the company to an MNC in 2018, balancing work and family became a bit challenging, with multiple office-school shuttles, but it was manageable. That period affected our children a little, but we made it work.

My wife eventually left her corporate role to pursue her passions—writing stories, singing praises of God, and raising our children. She is my foundation, and I am incredibly grateful for her. There’s a saying, “Behind every successful man is a woman,” and she truly is my strength—my best friend, life partner, spiritual companion, and an incredible mother who has sacrificed much for our family.

Back to the topic of careers, when we launched ActOnMagic, we used to watch Shark Tank with our kids. Our daughter once drew a picture of Lori, and Lori even replied!

We wanted our children to feel empowered to choose their own careers. The phrase “I am on my own” holds great power. Being content is a beautiful habit, and for a contented person, everything is a blessing. The opposite leaves one insatiable.

With so many career options today, there are many ways to contribute to this world. Unless someone has a burning passion to become a doctor and God’s grace to support it, I wouldn’t choose an MBBS path for my daughter, knowing the demands it places on time and well-being.

This article is dedicated to all the women doctors and their children, who sacrifice their time and joy to care for others. My prayers and best wishes to them. Aum.

Punctuality Vs Late ⏰

Summary Punctuality means being on time for your commitments, whether it’s arriving at school, completing…

Read More