Do you want to be a surgeon? The path to it is not easy, but nothing worth it is ever easy. If you’ve got the passion and the willingness to put in a lot of hard work, not to mention the ability to stomach a lot of situations that most people cannot handle, then you might consider yourself a fit for the job.
But there are specific steps to get there, from your pre-med school applications to being under medical or dental operating lights. For sale-related jobs and businesses, you would need a lot of money know-how. For education, it is pedagogy, and for the medical field, it is a keen understanding of the human body. Surgeons, like all medical specialists, have their own requirements to fulfill, whether educationally or physically or emotionally. What could these requirements be?
Educational Requirements
To become a medical surgeon, you must be licensed. To be licensed, you must fulfill different kinds of educational requirements: a college degree, preferably in biology or related subjects, a medical school degree, a specialization, and a residency. It takes a lot of time to study and work to get to where you want to be. You should keep your eyes on the prize. Know that one day, you’ll be saving lives and contributing to humanity. This is your sacrifice to society as a whole, and with this comforting thought in mind, you will feel alleviated of a little bit of the stress. Try to keep a good support group with your fellow surgeons-in-training, keep a diary, exercise regularly, and avoid activities that will stunt your ability and vision.
Physical Requirements
During your training, you will practice a lot of dexterity exercises. Your hand-eye coordination must be impeccable. If not, it should improve over time and with a lot of practice. It is not a job for the clumsy or weak. If you have problems with this part, include sewing and playing pick-up-sticks as part of your recreational activities. If you don’t improve, you can look into medical research instead.
Another physical requirement is endurance. Surgeons work around the clock and go through several hours standing, under the glare of lights, focused and alert to the operation unfolding in front of them. Take note that they often do not get to eat or drink during this period, especially if several patients are being operated on in emergency cases and there is no time to plan a shifting schedule. Surgeons are often the first line of defense in life-or-death emergencies. You need to have a strong set of legs, a good vision, high alertness, and an incredible ability to endure. To improve the latter, you shouldn’t skip meals when you have the time to eat a complete one. Instead, take care of your body so well that when the time comes for you to skip a meal, you can survive it.
If you’re hard up financially, some scholarships will pull you through medical school. It will be challenging, but you’ll be made of sterner stuff at the end of the training. Either way, the surgeon’s life is not an easy one, and all the stumbling blocks you will encounter along the way will strengthen you. Keep your eyes on the prize and your heart in the welfare of humans. In the end, you can reach your goal.
