Finding a purpose in medical school
Submitted: 20 April 2020
Accepted: 29 April 2020
Published online: 1 September, TAPS 2020, 5(3), 88
https://doi.org/10.29060/TAPS.2020-5-3/LE2252
Wenqi Chiew
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dear Editor,
I read with great interest your editorial “Grit in healthcare education and practice” published on The Asia Pacific Scholar (Dujeepa & Gwee, 2020). I agree that grit is an important trait to develop in healthcare, especially for patient care. In addition to focusing on grit at the institutional level, we could look at it on an individual level. The question henceforth is that–How do we develop or strengthen the grit in ourselves? Angela Duckworth proposed 5 ways to develop grit–pursue what interests you; practice; find purpose; have hope; and join a gritty group (Barker, 2016). Personally, I feel that finding purpose plays a large role in developing passion and perseverance.
I would like to share this poem that I wrote after my first attempt on blood taking on a patient. Amidst hectic schedules and difficult tasks in medical school, this promise that I made years ago helped kept my passion and perseverance alive.
With shaking hands and a sweaty palm
I slide the needle in and try to calm
And I heave a sigh of great relief
As I watch the backflow fill beneath
Just minutes before, my mentor had asked
“Do you mind if my student try this task?”
With trusting eyes and a reassuring grin,
The patient said, “go ahead, do your thing.”
The trust that you have given to me
Even though I may now be unworthy
Inspires me and greatly spurs me on
To be a better doctor hereupon.
Notes on Contributors
Wenqi Chiew is listed as the first author and she wrote this paper.
Funding
There is no funding provided.
Declaration of Interest
There is no conflict of interest, including financial, consultant, institutional or otherwise for the author.
References
Barker, E. (2016). This is how to increase grit, according to research. Retrieved from TIME, https://time.com/4323260/how-to-increase-grit-perseverance/
Dujeepa, D. S., & Gwee, M. C. E. (2020). Grit in healthcare education and practice. The Asia Pacific Scholar, 5(1), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.29060/TAPS.2020-5-1/EV5N1
*Wenqi Chiew
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine,
1E Kent Ridge Road,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119228
Email: wenqi@u.nus.edu
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