Is medicine for me? Should I go to medical school?

I struggled in high school trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I knew what I loved, what I didn’t enjoy, and what I found genuinely challenging, but I didn’t yet have clarity on how it all fit together. Looking back, what I would have valued most during that time was mentorship and coaching. Someone to help me connect the dots.

Many of my friends who were accepted to medical school on their first attempt had a major advantage. Their parents were already physicians. They grew up with a blueprint for success. I didn’t have that. Neither of my parents were doctors, and medicine was not something I had been groomed for from a young age.

What I did have was curiosity.

By the time I was an undergraduate at Stanford, I began to understand myself better. I discovered a love for medical device innovation, technology, and robotics. I enjoyed research and solving complex problems. I also loved talking to people, teaching, and mentoring, even back then. Medicine was not an obvious or linear choice for me, but it gradually emerged as a path that allowed me to bring all of these interests together.

The journey was not easy.

Medical school was competitive. Matching into residency was even more competitive. Fellowship took it to another level, where every decision, every performance, and every interaction felt closely evaluated. Along the way, I learned lessons that I wish someone had shared with me earlier.

If you are navigating a career in medicine or wondering whether medicine is right for you, here is the advice I would offer.

1. Get comfortable with constructive feedback

In medicine, feedback is constant. Some of it is encouraging. Some of it is uncomfortable. All of it is valuable. Developing thick skin is essential. Do not take feedback personally. Use it as information to guide your growth and refine your craft.

2. Lead with humility

It is important to know what you like and dislike, but it is just as important to stay open. Some of the most meaningful opportunities come from paths you did not initially consider. If you close doors too early, you may miss something that fits you better than you imagined.

3. Do not chase medicine for the wrong reasons

Titles, prestige, and external validation fade quickly. If you pursue medicine purely for extrinsic rewards, burnout often follows. Choose work that brings you joy and purpose, and the long hours will feel meaningful rather than draining.

4. Build meaningful connections

Relationships matter at every stage of medicine. Mentors, peers, collaborators, and friends shape your growth more than you realize. Invest in people, not just achievements.

5. It is okay to be different

You do not need to follow the exact path everyone else is taking. Some of the most fulfilling careers are built at the intersection of medicine, technology, research, education, or innovation. Being the odd one out can be a strength.

Medicine is not a single path. It is a landscape of possibilities. If you are asking yourself, “Is medicine for me?” that question alone is a strong place to begin. With the right guidance, self-reflection, and support, you can find a version of medicine that aligns with who you are.

You do not have to figure it out alone.