Many of us can recall our favorite books from the brilliant Dr. Seuss. He has been quoted for years and is still relevant today. The aforementioned lines from, “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” is often echoed at graduation ceremonies and other milestones when one enters a new phase in life. I agree with Dr. Seuss that we have the ability to choose our destiny in life. However, I strongly believe that we become who we want in life not of our own volition alone, but rather due to the influence of those who have traveled similar roads before us.
One of my biggest inspirations has been my mentor, Dr. C. I remember the first time I met her. I had just come from a six month leave and was excited to be back on rotations, especially OB/GYN. Usually, I’m nervous on the first day of a new rotation but once I met Dr. C, my anxiety turned into curiosity. I was eager to know more about this lady who was petite in stature, but stood strong in knowledge, wisdom, and influence. I’m not sure if it was because she is young and relatable or what, but we just clicked. I learned so much that month. Not only how to diagnose and manage specific conditions, but I also saw first hand what it means to connect with your patients. The relationships that Dr. C had with her patients was intriguing. She had ways of relating to women of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and personalities. She was unrelenting when educating her patients. I watched her encourage women to lose weight and take better care of their bodies. I listened to her conversations with young teen mothers, in which she showed no judgement, and extend compassion and kindness.
In one month Dr. C taught me so many things aren’t found in the pages of medical journals and textbooks. One of the most important things I learned was self confidence. She saw something in me that I did not even see in myself. After struggling to pass my board exam, I started to doubt myself and was tip toeing on a tightrope of self pity. Dr. C poured into me and shared her story with me. Everyone has a story and sometimes you don’t realize what drives them until you know what they have been through. Such was true with Dr. C. She shared her testimony of how she faced many obstacles and setbacks in her career. Nonetheless, she persevered and later ended up as chief at her residency program and is now distinguished in her field. She helped me to stop feeling sorry for myself, shake back, and get my rear in gear. It was what I needed at just the right time to push me to keep pressing toward my goal of graduating from medical school. In my eyes, Dr. C was superwoman, like literally. I witnessed this lady function off of 3 or 4 hours of sleep, perform early morning surgical procedures, take her children to school, see patients in the clinic, pop in at a rotary club meeting and then manage to make it to see her daughter cheer before heading back to the hospital…all in one day! She definitely has some Black girl magic and I was proud to learn and glean from her.
It’s been nearly 2 years since that OB/GYN rotation, but we still share a bond that I will forever be grateful for. We don’t always get to catch up via phone conversations, but she often sends texts with pictures of her children, who I absolutely fell in love with. She sends me articles that she has published and magazines that she is featured in. She even gave me a list of fun places to check out during my upcoming vacation. If I need her, I know I can count on her.
Good friends of my family have a 16 year old daughter who has an interest in pursuing a career in medicine, and I now have the privilege of being her mentor. Every time we talk, I think of the suggestions and recommendations that I received from Dr. C. More importantly, I am reminded that the life I live and my encounters with others will probably teach my mentee more than any of the advice I give her.
So yes, Dr. Seuss, I do have brains in my head, and feet in my shoes; however, the path that others’ shoes have traveled continues to shape me into who I am today. If you have a mentor or someone who has motivated you in some way, give them a call or send them a text today just to say ‘thank you.’ Who is your mentor and why? Let me know in the comments.
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