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Staying on your chosen path
HER father was a specialist and wanted his daughter to become one, too. But she was interested in pursuing the arts.
Nevertheless, she tried to satisfy her father by studying the subjects that would prepare her for a career in medicine.
It was during an anatomy practical that she had her epiphany. She had carefully dissected and pinned the stomach of her anaesthetised frog onto a board. Unfortunately, the effects of the chloroform began to wear off and the frog stirred. As she saw it struggle, its innards no longer contained within its body, she became utterly distraught.
She decided that she could not continue on a pathway towards medicine. Her future crystallised at that moment and she could see herself as an artist. Her father was very unhappy. “You mustn’t have let that frog die in vain,” he said.
And so it was that on the opening of her first solo exhibition of art, one painting in particular stood out. The main subject of that work was a frog. And, emerging from its body, was a human embryo. It was the artist’s birth. So you see that the frog’s sacrifice was not in vain, after all.
Another woman was true to herself and that helped her to succeed as well. Her aim was to get a job when she was in desperate financial straits.
She was waiting to be interviewed for a receptionist position at a college. She wondered whether she would be at a disadvantage because she was in her mid-50s. She overheard the interview of another candidate through the door.
“And how do you feel about filing?” the interviewer asked.
“Oh, I love to file,” answered the bright young candidate. Shortly after, the middle-aged woman was ushered in.
The interviewer looked at the qualifications of the woman before her and saw that she had a master’s degree.
“How do you feel about filing when you have a postgraduate degree?” she asked.
“It’s okay,” the woman said, “but do I have to love it?”
“No,” the interviewer laughed, “but you’re hired.”
I’m inspired by these stories of people who show courage and speak honestly.
This brings me to the matter of the little survey that accompanied the RACGP’s recent invoice of $470 for QI&CPD.
“What activities, events, services and modules would you like to see as part of the QI&CPD Program?”
My response: “How to deal with superfluous GP organisations and blood-sucking parasites.”
We must not let the frogs die in vain. And we must not let the hogs drive us insane.