In recent times, its been noticed that there have been a lot more female medical students compared to the number of male medical students. But when you get to the hospitals, it’s still been noticed that the ratio of male medical doctors to female medical doctors is very high.
The most appalling result is when you compare the ratio of male notable doctors to female notable doctors, it is at the barest minimum.
The big question is…Where are our females?
Are we just wasting our time spending at least six years?
What of all the family events. Eg weddings that we can’t attend cause of the timetable?
How many asoebi materials do you have storing up in your room for when you’ll have time to sew it?
Or even the number of hours it takes you to study?
The worst is when that aunty keeps disturbing you to show her your man and you keep having to explain to her that you’ll prefer to finish school first.
It’s a concern for female medical students, when you ask yourself is it really worth it when I’ll not even get to where I want to.
Just mistakenly tell your mother after over 7 years that you’ll like to start your residency and it’ll take 4 years minimum to complete it. That’s if she’ll not start rolling on the floor and asking God where she went wrong.
Let this not be a deterrent to achieving the heights you want to get to. There’s nothing that can’t be achieved if good planning goes into it.
The theme for the 2017 International Women’s Day is ‘Be bold for change’.
There is a term ‘Status quo’ basically this means ‘the state of the way things are as opposed to the way they are supposed to be’.
So they go hand in hand, until you’re ready to leave the status quo, you’ll never be bold enough for change.
Truth is, Medicine is not easy and it takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice and strength. So if you’re not focused and know exactly what you want you’ll just be like what they call ‘anywhere belle face’ or ‘anywhere breeze blow’.
On this note, it’s my Ernest wish that as females, we’ll be advocates for change.
Why start something you can’t finish? Come-on if you can actually qualify for the Mbbs, what’s stopping you from going further?
Let it be that at the end of the day, the younger generation look up to you as an inspiration and not just ‘one of the others’
On this note, I’m shouting out to all the female medical students in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. Most especially, 300level ladies, I Love love love you guys. I’m wishing y’all a Happy belated Women’s Day.
One day you guys will be like superheroes, saving lives in your white coats.
👏.
Very thoughtful. As much as I agree with you, there are a few other points to consider, especially when it comes to females as doctors.
Irregardless of the validity of dreams and passion, biological factors are still always at play.
For eg. The increasing rates of syndromic abnormalities or other foeto-maternsl problems associated with increased maternal age eg. Downs Syndrome.
I encourage all medics, irregardless of gender, to pursue their dreams to the furthest degree. Blaze trails and conquer heights – do it all. But there’s nothing that says you cannot be a great doctor and have a happy married life. It all depends on how much you want it, and how much you’re willing to do for it. With a great partner by your side, impossibilities are not out if reach.
If, however, you believe there is no way around it, and you feel you need to wait – then pursue the most appealing path you see. But blame no-one for the path you choose, it was always your footsteps on the road.
Create your dreams. Don’t just follow them…