what I'm taking into the next life
and what I'm leaving behind
Recently, I gave up a promising medical career and decided to pursue a life in the arts.
I was nervous, at first, to break the news — I was afraid to disappoint. But I’ve been humbled by the outpouring of support not just from mentors, friends and family (even my mom!), but also readers who shared their own struggles choosing between the head and the heart.
Thank you all. I'm very touched.
Now I'm packing my boxes, trying to decide what to take into this next life.
A medical work ethic, definitely. A love for science, sure. Used needles, piss bottles and exposed viscera? Probably not.
But there is one thing medicine gave me that I treasure above all else. It was drilled into me at Hopkins and lifted me to great academic heights. It's my most deeply held value, more so than even intelligence and creativity.