It's funny you call me a pre-med keener. I actually have a good friend who I've debated pretty intensely about what it means to be a keener. I don't think I'm a pre-med keener, but if you have your own definition for what that means, feel free to let me know what that is and I'll let you know if I think I fit the bill.

I think both are definitely valid questions depending on how you look at it; I don't really understand why you think only one question should be asked. It is true that I would definitely be happier being a physician than not, and I think that's the first step in the process for sure. It is also true that I would be happier being a writer and a teacher in a variety of ways than not. I can't say the same for some other activities (such as stripping, in case anyone was wondering =P).

I don't think the question you pose would be relevant in every single case. If you were to ask me if I would rather be a stripper or a professional bowler, my answer would be rather pointless since neither profession interests me at all. The question also assumes I must pick one profession over another, which is true in some cases but not others.

When I say that I think I'd be happier being a physician than not, I am not saying that's my only criteria in terms of me choosing to become one – but it is a very important criteria for me. Thanks for the question.

You're absolutely right, there's going to be some kind of balance between stress, difficulty, and variety among all of the specialties, and I guess it's not really fair for us to assume anything until we actually see or experience those fields. Shadowing was a really interesting experience, and if you're interested, you should definitely go ask around and observe if you can.

It's weird but I feel like career shadowing is something everyone needs to do before ever thinking about seriously pursuing a career – but it seems like lots of youth just assume they'll grow into it. If you're going to invest years and years into something you will do for a life time, I think it makes sense to at least try and observe it up close if you can.

In terms of specialties, after completing 3 to 4 years of medical school, you would then spend I about 2 (for a GP) to maybe 6 years in residency (say for neurosurgery or ophthamology), and some specialties are in between. From there, some physicians go on to do fellowships and things like that, so there's really no telling how much further training you'll end up doing throughout your career.

And for sure, working with terminally ill patients isn't for everyone. I guess that's the good thing with medicine – there are so many diverse fields, that if you're really interested in being a physician, there is bound to be something that fits your personality and interests pretty well.

You got to shadow a neurosurgeon? That must've been a really cool experience.

I've always been interested in the medical field, but never able to pinpoint exactly what area. I really enjoy working with children, so I know I'd enjoy something involved with pediatrics. The thing is, I've always grappled with those two stereotypical extremes: working as a GP does in a doctor's office or clinic everyday, or in the more high-stress environment of a hospital. Less stressful but more monotone, vs a lot more stressful but also more varied cases and decision-making opportunities. But I'm sure I've made some severely sweeping generalizations here, and I'm looking to find out more about both in the near future.

Then there's also the amount of additional time it takes to become a specialist. I know it's different for different specialties, but do you know the average number of years? Or specific examples?

Finally, when I really think about it… I'm interested in working with cancer patients, because of my own family history. But the thing about working to save lives is that… well, you're constantly working with patients whose lives are at risk. And, although it might be early to be thinking about it (or not), I'm not sure how I would handle that. I recall being amazed when one specialist worked with a relative in her last stages of cancer; I forget the term, but the doctor's specialty was working with only terminal cancer patients. I don't think I could ever do that, for instance.

Well, that's a record long comment for me. And also the first time I put my concerns into actual words. Thanks again for the article, Josh. =)