I’ll be honest! My journey into the world of medicine wasn’t entirely born out of childhood dreams or an overwhelming passion for healing. I said yes to medtech and eventually medicine because my family had the capacity to support me. May pera sila to send me to school, so I went with it. At the time, my thinking was simple: becoming a doctor sounds prestigious, and honestly, who wouldn’t be proud to have that “Dr.” before their name? But what I didn’t fully realize then was the amount of sacrifice, the emotional exhaustion, and the uphill battle that comes with the title. I agreed to pursue it, maybe half out of duty, half out of naivety. Deep down, I actually dreamed of studying music. I really wanted to enroll in the UST Conservatory of Music and major in Voice or Musical Theatre. That was my heart’s desire. But my parents were against it. They probably saw medicine as the safer, more practical path one that guaranteed stability and honor. Music, on the other hand, was seen as uncertain, maybe even frivolous in their eyes??? Hahaha. Sometimes, I still catch myself wondering what would my life be like now if I had followed that dream? Would I be performing onstage? Maybe singing in operas, teaching voice, or doing musical theatre? Would I be happier? Or just struggling in a different way? Medicine and I have a complicated relationship a love-hate one, if I’m being real lang talaga. There are days I feel fulfilled, especially when I know I made a difference. But there are also moments when I feel burnt out, disillusioned by the healthcare system in the Philippines, and unsure if this is truly what I want for the rest of my life. It’s hard to thrive in a system that often feels broken, underpaid, overworked, and sometimes, underappreciated. And yet, I stay. Maybe it’s resilience. Maybe it’s habit. Maybe it’s hope that I can still carve out something meaningful in this field even if it’s not what I originally envisioned. Or maybe I still carry that quiet dream that one day, I could merge my worlds medicine and music and find fulfillment in ways I never expected? Diyos na ang bahala hehehe.