Born To Be A Doctor

I was born in 1970. My father was a teacher and he used to take me to school at the age of three. So I got admission in first class at three years of age. I was good at studies and topped in every class up to tenth standard.

Our school was a government run school in a small town of Punjab and at that time we used to learn abc in sixth class.

As I was doing very well in studies my parents used to say that I will become a doctor one day. This got into my mind too and I started dreaming of becoming a doctor when I grew up.

I passed my 10th class at the age of 13 years and got admission in 11th standard in a city college in medical stream. Two of my other friends from school also joined medical. As all the subjects now were in English we all had a difficult time understanding as our English was not so good. Both my friends left medical and joined arts after two months. However, I continued.

I used to take help of my father but still, as the exam approached my preparation was not up to the mark. It so happened that due to some problem in state in 1984 our exams got postponed and I got six more months for preparation. I took this opportunity and worked very hard.

It paid off and I got first division in 11th class.12th class now was not very tough for me and I cleared that too. But now a bigger problem surfaced. I was 15 years old and eligibility for giving pmt exam was 17 years. So I had to join two year bsc course in medical.

After two years when I gave state pmt exam I could not clear it. That year all India CBSE exam was also scheduled for the first time but that also got postponed. CBSE gave an option to the candidates that if they didn't remit fee of exam they can give it next year without applying fresh. I chose the second option.

Next year also I could not clear the state exam but in cbse rank I got a medical college in Calcutta.

Initially, my parents were very apprehensive about sending me so far but after consulting with some relatives and me they agreed and I got admission to a medical college. So it was a start of my dream becoming a reality. After three months I got an opportunity to shift to Agra medical college and so I did my MBBS from Agra in very good grades. I did pg also in pediatrics from same college and my journey to become a doctor completed.

Now about 20 years after leaving my college and doing private practice, when I see back, I recall all the hurdles and how with the grace of God I overcame them. I thank god for letting my dream come true.