170: 13.3 Slowing down

So far, my life has been structured around Plan As, Plan Bs and plans of other alphabets. The route towards my professional career has been a straightforward, linear path. Finish high school with good grades, enrol into college to get stellar A Levels, then get a place into medical school. Survive medical school, then work. Other than my accidental and compulsory gap year, there was no time wasting in between transitions. I have always been on a path leading me to becoming a doctor - no detours, no U-turns.

But as I have been talking with other colleagues and seniors, my view on professional development has underwent a massive revision. Before, I was set focused on becoming a consultant in paediatrics in the shortest amount of time possible. I planned to take my professional papers early and complete the necessary training to come out the other end, a consultant paediatrician. The only leniency that I allowed myself was to take breaks to have children - but that was it. Much like before, I had a goal and I am focused on achieving it.

But then I met other doctors who opted for a more convoluted path towards the same destination. For instance, an emergency trainee was telling me how he took two years after foundation training to work as a staff grade and as a locum doctor just to gain experience in different fields of medicine. He used the money to travel the world more, and to figure out what exactly he wanted to do. Another colleague is taking a year out to complete a Masters. And after five years of training, another colleague is a locum medical registrar full time to save enough money to buy a house. Some take time out to purely pursue medical education and some detour into management or research. Another colleague also plans to take time out to start a health technology company. And some just chose to hold non-training posts for a few years to gain confidence and experience before taking the professional next step.

The options are limitless. And after learning of what is possible, I have become inclined to not rush, and take my time on this journey to becoming a consultant. I would like to take detours or to take more time at a certain spot. As a fickle minded person, I have been burdened or gifted with the curiosity of many different aspects of medicine and even areas outside medicine. Who knows? I have said before that I may be interested in studying law or public health for a while, or maybe work in health consultancy temporarily. Or just take a year out to learn to code, or join a fellowship program.

Probably as I have grown older, I have learnt to be patient and trust the process. There is less urgency to get somewhere fast, but rather slow down and enjoy the view from where I am. The tunnel vision I once had has now widened and its light has revealed many emergency exit routes within it on the way to its end. So this is really a reminder for me to slow down. Don't worry Ayne, slow down, you'll get there eventually so why not enjoy the journey?