Logan Doyle

4-10-14
Timeline of Thought
I used to often wonder why the immense feelings of oppression and regret seemed to
be the very first thoughts generated through my mind as I merely opened my eyes each
morning. A sensation similar to gasping for air ran through my body as I lied there
pondering why it was that I had already wished for the end of the day to come sooner. It
was as I grew older that this negative outlook had intensified alongside my curiosity,
through which I had finally begun to realize the fundamental motives behind my
anxiety-ridden nature. The truth is, I had simply lost control of who I had sincerely
wanted to be in life, and in doing so, life itself had begun deciding for me. I actually
remember the day I told my parents I would like to pursue a career in the medical field,
and too be completely honest, I now know that this was absolutely nothing more than a
poorly thought out scheme to remove the daily parental pressures that most teens my
age had been experiencing throughout our inevitable maturation into young adults.
However, the problem is that my parents had remained oblivious of this to this very day,
and have in fact taken it upon themselves to let every family member and friend know
that Dr. Doyle was on the rise. It was too late to go back, the oppressing feeling had
gotten its worst when I had begun my second semester of pre-medical studies allowing
myself to realize that I may never truly discover what on earth I was actually meant to
become as a functioning member of society. I had surrendered my own happiness to
fulfill my fathers vision of success but for what? The answer is because I was scared.
Scared of the potential financial instability that was to come with pursuing my true
passions in life. And most significantly, scared of letting down those who believed in me,
and that I loved so dearly. The problem is that there are students all over the world
experiencing this very situation every day, and in this sad reality in which wealth and
acceptance have replaced the beautiful concept of fulfilling ones true ambitions in life,
how will we ever find true gratification within this short time we have been given?
Therefore I argue that students within the medical field have begun too prioritize
financial stability and parental approval over their very own happiness, thus suppressing
potentially creative minds everywhere.
As the next generation of the American workforce, we as college students have been
placed under the great pressure of todays world in which an inadequate economy as
well as an unconscious desire to fulfill our parents expectations of acquiring a fiscally
stable occupation, as opposed to using the tools and resources we have been given to
discover and pursue our utmost passions in life. In doing so, we have also subsequently
forfeited our very own happiness simply in order to meet a criteria set upon us by adults
who had once missed this same opportunity as well. This problem continues to plague
the youth in a never-ending cycle fundamentally due to the fear of leaving ones
comfort zone to find what it is that they could wake up to the thought of every morning
with pleasure, despite monetary positioning or not exactly following mom and dads
plans for success.
I find that as my research continues, a familiar trend within my hypothesis tends to
reappear at an astonishing degree. It seems as though college students involved in the
study of pre-medical sciences, a reputable field of intense, highly difficult studies of both
conceptual and mathematical information, tend to be amongst the most regretful and
somber of their choice in profession. As an occupation of both highly respected duties
as well as a rather large provided yearly income, it can be said that once the words have
spoken, theres truly no changing your mind. How does one simply tell his mother and
father that he/she would rather follow his dreams of writing beautiful music for the
world or whatever it may be that sparks the wonderful feeling of true happiness inside
with an ultimately safe and stable career choice like a medical doctor as its opponent?
Consequently, I find that as I survey more and more associates of my human biological
studies-based dormitory, it turns out that I do not live in a building of medical doctors
whatsoever. My roommate is actually businessman with dreams of opening his own
clothing store in Soho, New York. My neighbor just across the hall is a talented guitar
player and musician with visions of playing his music for the world to see. It is an
outrage to see such passionate and potentially powerful young minds go to such waste
for the approval of others, or to acquire an insentient piece of paper that decides ones
social status. And this is the very reason I choose to examine this phenomenon, because
whos to tell what this county, or possibly even the world could become under the
control of those who love and live for what they do.
In a recent study conducted under Dr. Ramazan of the Suleyman Demirel University in
2008, it was found that the level of satisfaction that one finds in his/her occupation
could be directly correlated with the physical and mental health as well as ability to
properly function within a family. Using various organizational psychology-based
techniques, various health employees, teachers, police officers, lawyers, social service
workers and more were studied over the course of several months, through which
Ramazan was able to uncover the relationship between both the overall quality and
mental state of ones life with the degree of fulfillment in their profession despite fiscal
positioning. It was found that those with a lowest of satisfaction rates were the most
likely to become mentally imbalanced over time as the duration of their employment
increases. And these subjects were also later recorded at the highest risk of developing
both psychological and physical disorders such as chronic stress, depression and even
loss of sexual drive.
1

In 2011, Bruce Japsen of the New York Times went on to further research this idea
however under the study of upcoming medical doctors in specific. Japsen opens his
argument with statistical data taken from the study conducted under a large physician
staffing company, Merritt Hawkins, which claims that nearly one-third of young doctors
would select another profession if given the opportunity to start all over again.
However, the most shocking part of this study is that the current job market within the
medical field is approaching an all time high due to the recent legislation of Federal
Health Care carrying in a much wider coverage range of patients for the years to come.
Therefore despite a positive spike in pay, as well as an array of job offers awaiting these

1
Dr. Ramazan and Dr. Basak Nur, A RESEARCH ON ACADEMICS
ON LIFE SATISFACTION, JOB SATISFACTION AND PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT.
Suleyman Demirel University Journal of Faculty of Economics & Administrative
Sciences. 2013, Vol. 18 Issue 3, p282-298. 18p.


health professionals, there is still a sense of regret lingering amongst such a drastic
portion of this field.
2

As stated within Dr. Ramazans study, Life satisfaction in other words can be
described as a level of an individuals success in reaching ones own desired goals. The
concept can also be described as positive self-evaluation of ones overall life in line with
the criteria set forth by the individual.
1
This meaning that despite financial success,
parental approval, or whatever it may be that the decision-makers in your life include in
their own personal definition of accomplishment, one can truly never discover the
satisfying feeling of happiness until they begin creating their very own goals to reach for.
Therefore despite popular belief amongst college students searching for a way to make
mom and dad proud with their steady income, money can simply not buy this
happiness!
As a personal victim of the immense negative influences behind occupational selection
in the modern American job market, I know precisely how the feeling of regret and fear
bring upon an inevitable sense of hopelessness for the future. However, by simply
utilizing the tools and resources you are given by your university to discover your true
passions in life, this negative outcome may be avoided entirely. As you can see, it is
essential not to prioritize temporary influences such as parental approval and monetary
success in order to find true happiness and satisfaction with the life you have been
given.


2
Bruce Japsen, Young Doctors Worry About Career Choices. New York Times,
October 6, 2011.