I’ve never shared this story before, but lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it truly means to grow, to fight your inner battles, and become the best version of yourself. From the beginning, I knew that before I could serve others, I had to conquer my own demons — embark on my very own hero’s journey.
For those unfamiliar with the old way of landing a residency before the pandemic, let me tell you—it was intense. As a fourth-year med student, you would travel across the country, conducting interviews in person. The nerves of sitting in a room with a program director, explaining why you were the right fit, were real. But there’s something irreplaceable about sitting face-to-face with someone, feeling their energy, picking up on their vibe. It told you whether or not you could actually work with that person. That is something lost in today’s tele-interviews, and honestly, it’s a lesson that extends beyond medical school—it’s about life and human connection.
I vividly remember interviewing at a program where my final interview was with the director. We sat in silence for a minute as she looked over my CV. She didn’t introduce herself, didn’t ask how I was, just silence. Then, she saw the hobbies section where I had written that I enjoyed self-improvement seminars and books. Her reaction? She immediately began grilling me.
“You like reading self-help books?” she asked, and I could feel the judgment. I told her I prefer to call it ‘education,’ but in her eyes, I had already failed. She looked at me as if someone on a journey to improve themselves didn’t belong there. She ended the interview right then, essentially telling me I wasn’t cut out for her program.
At the time, I was hurt—angry, even. I felt like I had been dismissed for being human, for not being perfect. But that interaction has aged well. Today, I don’t look back with the same anger; instead, I see it as a powerful lesson.
Here’s the thing: the expectation that we should be “perfect” is a lie. We are all works in progress. None of us have it all figured out, despite what social media shows. And that’s okay—it’s something to embrace, not run from.So to anyone out there, especially future psychiatrists, remember this: your own journey matters. The process of growth never ends, and it’s the imperfections that make us human—and that’s where real strength lies.
