Navigating Uncharted Waters: Having and Being a Role Model

Ever wondered what it means to be a role model? Or how someone else's journey can shape yours? In this week's newsletter, we will delve into the importance of role models in our lives, and how they help us in achieving our goals, moulding our character, and shaping our worldview.

"I've noticed that you have a specific framework when it comes to doing your ward work and figuring out how to save time. That's actually a really interesting skill to have."

A resident told me this last week. It was then I realised that being a medical registrar serves as a learning platform for juniors, and I was actually a role model for another person.

Why a role model?

It's intriguing that in life and career, we often look up to someone or aspire to be like them. The term "role model" was introduced to me at a young age, and it's the best way to describe this role.

However, it's important to realize that life is not always that straightforward. As students, we often set specific goals like passing exams or achieving certain grades. These are convenient targets, but reality is different. Whether working part-time while studying or now as a full-time doctor, I've learned that there are no set rules in life. We're all navigating unfamiliar waters.

Learning by trial and error can be time-consuming and restrictive. Hence, we benefit from others' experiences and mistakes. By imitating their success, we can reach our goals more efficiently.

That's why I believe having a role model is crucial. Time and experience are precious, and if we can leverage them effectively, we can lead a better life.

Looking for the role model

The importance of having a role model in both our professional and personal lives cannot be overstated. These figures serve as our compass, guiding our actions and decisions, shaping our behaviours, and setting benchmarks for what we perceive as success. They often play a critical role in moulding our character and our worldview, even without our explicit realisation.

Their influence is pervasive, subtly permeating every aspect of our lives. They inspire us to strive for excellence, to pursue our ambitions, and they often provide a blueprint for our own success. Their experiences, triumphs, and even their failures serve as invaluable lessons on our own journey.

However, it's crucial to keep in mind that these role models are, at their core, human beings. They have their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses, their own tales of success and failure. They have their own struggles and victories, their own dreams and disappointments. We should not lose sight of this realism when we look up to them, when we aspire to emulate their achievements. This understanding is a crucial aspect of personal growth. It's important to remember that perfection is a myth, an unattainable ideal.

How I try to be a good role model

Once I completed my internship and became a registrar, I realized that I was becoming a role model for others. This privilege carries immense responsibility. Every action I take and decision I make can influence those around me. It motivates me to set a positive and inspiring example for upcoming healthcare providers.

As I strive to be a good doctor, I also aim to be a good role model. I offer advice to junior doctors and consider how I can best fulfil this role. Most medical knowledge can be found in textbooks, but if that were all we needed, AI could replace us. Medicine is also about experience and developing our own approach and practice. We need guidance on potential mistakes, effective strategies, and how to navigate complex cases.

That's how I try to guide juniors. I find it more interesting and practical to teach them this way, as textbook knowledge can be dull and doesn't always fit easily into practical situations. It often takes time to integrate theoretical knowledge into our practice, and it is only with that process that makes medicine a fulfilling career for me.

So, what about you? What's your experience with role models, and have they helped guide you through your years?