The comfort of the Sciences
These days I put my faith in my learning of the sciences: Physics, Org and Phy Chem, Biochem, Bio, Psychology, Sociology. I mean, these are all MCAT topics and yeah I’ve been prepping. But in the larger scheme of things, I’ve been so interested in how the mind works, how neuroscience works, how diseases occur, how neurosurgery works.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m naturally a musical person, I sing in the shower with vibratos and highs and lows, belting to my favourite songs (:D). I also have a grade 8 ABRSM Piano Practical Exam Certificate (LOL), which means I’m pretty competent (I’d like to think) at the piano. Well, standardised exams don’t really capture my talent that well. But trust me, I’m a passable pianist.
These days, my artistic endeavours have been restricted to maybe a 10 min burst of random playing of pop music (whichever comes to my mind first) and not forgetting the lyrical voice to go along (:>). I used to think maybe one day I would become a professional pianist, a singer, a creative. On the other hand, I used to abhor studying for standardised exams, blablabla physics, blablabla math and the list goes on. Yet, nowadays, I find comfort in studying for this standardised exam. Which is a miracle.
Well, I don’t quite claim it to be a miracle. I’ll call it empowerment. It comes with the dream, 2 for 1.
You see, by studying for this exam, I am one step closer to becoming a doctor. Something I have always (albeit quietly) wanted to become a doctor and finally the last year, I’ve started to set my heart to that one goal, forsaking all others just to see where it will lead me. I’m proud to say it has led me this far: the point where I am this close to doing (I hope) the MCAT (part of only a long list of requirements for post grad med)
This alone is not the only reason behind me finding the sciences to be closer to my heart. Neuroscience/medical knowledge/research in particular stirs my soul. I will relate it to how successfully playing a pop tune on the piano or hitting the right notes to a song is. Yet, it comes in a different form of comfort: a straight to the point arrow that hits all the right spots. It’s the unravelling of the unknown, the connecting of dots that makes it feel so satisfying and so intriguing and so magical.
I used to think being in life sciences is just a path to getting a degree which I feel is just a key to open doors to jobs but today as it is, my training in life sciences has opened up doors but not the practical kind, rather the door towards a fervour for discovery, research and using my science training to unravel the mystery that is the unknown. It’s a sort of exploration and this sort of exploration, a garnering of greater knowledge of the human body, science and everything else — just is a part of me as music is.
Sheryl