[Polldoll]

Hey! Well I thought I would start one of these here blogs to chart my journey from nursing degree to medicine!

My name is Pauline and I am from Glasgow and am 29. I have a place at Aberdeen uni for medicine 2008 and the countdown is on...

I have neen a student for 10 years since leaving school already (oops) so deciding to apply for medicine was quite a big thing! I had always wanted to be a doctor, from about 5 years old, but hit the teenage rebelion stage at 17 and announced to my parents I was going to be a classical musician instead. You can imagine how well they took that! So at 17 I embarked on 7 years of music degree and postgraduates in French Horn. Unfortunately I developed TMJ which slowly stopped me playing until I ended up with fixed braces and could not play at all. Once the braces came off I made the decision not to return to music as my jaw would not hold up long enough to be a professional horn player. At this point I briefly thought of medicine, but my higher grades were not good enough and I thought I was too old, so I never even looked into it. I decided on nursing instead, I would get fully funded, met the requirements and would be close enough to medicine that I would be happy! So I started my degree. As time went on, I became frustrated with nursing, I wanted more, was always asking things and was told I didnt need to know that, I was a nurse not a doctor. I also realised I wasn't as stupid as I thought, I finally learned how to work with my dyslexia and was doing very well academically. With encouragement from several people (friends, mentors and doctors) I started to look into the possibility of doing medicine. Went to nightschool to complete higher chemistry, I got a B, and sat UKCAT. I did extra work experience along side my clinical nursing placements and finally sent off ucas form!
Got 2 interviews and one offer, omg I got into med school!!

Accepting the place in Aberdeen also comes with its own set of problems. Financially its going to be very tough, I have to give up my wee flat and move into halls, I have to give up my car, rehome my pet rabbits and take out lots of loans. The money I will owe at the end will be horrific, but I'm hoping that it will be worth it. I have to leave my friends and family in Glasgow (Im older and set in my ways lol) and start again in a new city. I worry about fitting in with 17/18 year olds and in particular living in halls. Of course I also worry about my academic capabilities of completing a medicine degree. But even with all these issuses, I have to try. I can't not take up this place, and if the worst comes to the worst, and Im not capable, or I fail, then I leave. At least I will be happy knowing that at least I tried!

Funnily enough, I dont regret the long journey, and the music and nursing degrees. I think both have made me the person I am today and will help make me a better doctor.

So 12 years later than expected I am finally off to realise my dream of becoming a Doctor..