New Direction?

3 Sep

I never really enjoyed university – now I’m considering going back.

Some of the differences are;

  • I’m now 32, not 16
  • I’m considering health sciences/medicine, not journalism
  • It’ll all be new and very scientific, not something I can bluff my way into by speaking to people and learning ‘on the job’
  • I want to learn, not just get the bit of paper at the end

It was evident from the start of this ‘journey’ that I felt compelled to do something. I’m learning lots in my work at Cancer Council Queensland and it’s really reinforcing that this is the direction I want to head in. Perhaps, further study is it? I don’t know, but I will never know if I don’t at least try.

After that detailed conversation I with Dr D about what I’m going to do with my life, I’ve been investigating study options. Here I am at an Open Day at Bond Uni. I sat in presentations on everything from physiotherapy to psychology, trying to explore all options.

It was the wet lab (yes – I pulled on the gloves and took part in a ‘dissection’), pathology museum (tried to identify different tumors in samples taken during autopsies), and ward (complete with unbelievably life-like dummies hooked up to machines just like in a real hospital), I found absolutely fascinating…..Truly amazing. In fact I rang Mum demanding she come and have a look!

I spoke to staff and students – at length. One student in particular, who will graduate this December, really struck a chord with me. When I asked her what made her want to become a Doctor, she told me that she’d spent many weeks in hospital with ‘girlie’ troubles when she was in Year 12 and that she was so grateful for the help she received she wanted to do the same for others.

All of a sudden I didn’t feel so silly.


There’s an enormous amount of work to be done before I can even apply – and it’s SO competitive. But – I’ve been lucky enough to be given a second chance, it would be wrong of me to waste it.

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