First of all, what is it about your relative/neighbor the doctor that makes you want to follow him into his profession? Is it the money? The prestige? Do you even know whether this person is happy practicing medicine? Have you asked him lately? More importantly, have you ever followed this person through a typical day – or even better, a typical week? Ever asked this person what he likes least about the medicine, or about how much time he spends in hospital compared to how much time he spends with his nose buried in the books? Ever asked how long it took him to establish a medical practice, or how many hours a week he had to practice before establishing himeslf as a doctor?

These are revealing questions that may help you explore a career in medicine more realistically. Ask them before you romanticize your relative, the Doctor.