Do I really Have What It Takes to be a Doctor?

Dear Future Me,

How do I know if I have what it takes to be a doctor – let alone a physician-scientist? I’ve seen so many doctors work and walked through the steps they took to get there: the late nights studying, the seven-hour MCAT, the constant push to network, build relationships, and apply yourself over and over again.

The kind of doctor I want to be encompasses all of that and so much more. Compassionate. Driven. Someone who connects dots no one else can. An innovator. A creative. A leader. But how do I live up to that?

I know the self-doubt is normal – the quiet question of whether you’re truly good enough, whether you’re worthy of the life that will someday be placed in your hands. But when do you know you’ve really got this?

Right now, I feel like I’m somewhere in the middle of a storybook, unsure how it’s going to end. But if someone ever reads this book, I want to be the main character who learns, who grows, who makes the hard choices and keeps going – not the one readers sigh at when she gives up too soon.

And because I like a good plan, let’s run through it together. How will I become worthy of the adjectives I want to describe me?

• Be brave. In your daily life, stand up for others and never be a bystander.
• Trust the process. Life comes in steps. Sometimes all you can do is take the next best one and, by God’s grace, it’ll all click into place.
• Practice leadership. Luckily, you’ve got a head start. You’re the founder of the Science Communications Club at UT Dallas and the event coordinator for Black Students in Medicine. Keep pushing yourself to make an impact. But remember, leadership isn’t just about titles – it’s about leading by example in every space you enter.
• Keep learning. Don’t ever stop. Innovation, creativity, drive, and compassion – they all grow stronger when you stay curious.
• Be kind to yourself.

After writing this, I realize I do have what it takes to be a doctor. Because at the end of the day, what it really takes is consistent effort, and God knows I’m giving that.

Wishing you the best of everything,
E

P.S. Everyone’s just faking it anyway 😉

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