I have always been fascinated about how life begins. From my younger days, I had dreamt about being a veterinarian and unravelling the mysteries on the biology of reproduction to breed rare and endangered species of animals. I “experimented” by keeping and breeding various species of fishes, mice and hamsters, understanding their reproductive cycles and genetics of breeding to achieve the progeny I would expect. This continued until I realized that veterinary medicine was not a course offered at our local universities and my family could not afford me an overseas education. Then I decided that getting into medicine would nicely marry my love for biology and desire to make an impact in the field of reproduction. I resolved to be a clinician-scientist in my second year in medical school when the MBBS-PhD scholarship was offered to medical students. I reflected at that time, by being a clinician, I could help only so many persons at one time; but if I discover something that would change the understanding of a medical condition or change clinical management, through the hands of other clinicians, I could help many more. The road ahead was tougher than I had thought. Securing the scholarship to pursue this dream, was fraught with challenges and times of despair. It was a human revolution I had to make. Making the cut to get the scholarship, I was told the road ahead as a clinician-scientist would not be smooth sailing, and to expect to take longer to complete one’s training. I survived on the idealism of a young person passionate to be a change-maker to drive what I held true. Clinical training in medical school was tough but taught me well, my PhD training at a prestigious overseas university opened my eyes. There were no regrets. Coming back home to pursue specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, followed by subspecialty training in Reproductive Medicine was more tumultuous than I envisaged. There were small successes but there were also many reality checkpoints. When I thought I could take charge and contribute to the field I have chosen in medicine and science, there were more hurdles to clear – the research ecosystem, funding, clinical requirements, and career progression were realities that had to be dealt with daily. Despite the numerous ‘no’s, failures and ‘not good enough’, the burning passion to do what one believes, to serve and grab every opportunity to share, excite and get others on board, kept me going. Importantly, the couples, women and mothers I looked after as a clinician reinforced my will to move forward undaunted. Being a successful clinician-scientist appears illustrious; to journey as one is completely different. To pursue research in a field that is not mainstream is an uphill task. Nobody says it is easy. The many seniors and peers I met on this journey have molded my resilience and fueled my passion to continue on. Having a failure does not mean the end of the road – I say that to couples who have failed their fertility treatments, mothers who had lost their pregnancies and women with their youths gone and now frail. I use the strength from them to pick myself up to hold on to every opportunity I have now, to believe and to carry on what a clinician-scientist does, to breakthrough not only in medicine and science, but to be a better person every day.