Corporate Minority: I’m a Surgeon Today - With The Help Of My Mentors

I’m a Surgeon Today – With The Help Of My Mentors

Share this post on:

I’m no Einstein, but the nature of this article precludes me from shying away from my resume so here it is. In short, I graduated top in my class in high school, got a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University, graduated top in my class at Columbia Medical School and I’m now completing my residency training in Ophthalmology, to be a surgeon, at one of the most prestigious programs in the country.  If it sounds like I’m bragging, please believe me when I say I’m not trying to. The only reason I’m sharing the highlights of my resume with you is because this is not the outcome society would have predicted for me.

You see, I’m a first generation immigrant, a person of color, a woman, and did not grow up in the most opulent neighborhood.  So with that picture in mind, a frequent question I get from people is, how? How were you able to accomplish so much? The truth is that being a foreign female minority should be something that is celebrated in our country. However, the reality is that my demographic is often disparaged by society.

Well, what’s missing in my brief résumé above are my failures/setbacks in-between – from not knowing the first thing about how to apply to college, to my first F on a chemistry mid-term in college, to almost giving up on my dream of becoming a physician because my biology classes were so challenging.  So how did I do it? Well, I quickly realized in college that depending on my smarts alone could only get me so far. I realized that the most reliable (at least for me) way to accomplish my goals was to find someone who’s done it before and learn as much as I can from them.  And you know what? They don’t have to be a family member, a friend, or a colleague…they don’t even have to look like you!

What helped me become a surgeon

I wish I could say that the accomplishments I listed above were all a result of my genius.  But that simply wouldn’t be the complete story. I’m proud to say that I have had multiple mentors that have guided me in my academic and professional career. What I love the most about them, is that I was often able to learn from their mistakes and avoid making too many of my own.  So there you have it. Please do not be discouraged by your ambitious dreams. Without them, you’ll never reach your highest potential in life. Instead, keep dreaming, keep working hard, and challenging as it may be – make the extra effort to find a mentor because they truly are a wealth of knowledge!

Who is your mentor? When’s the last time you reached out to them? Don’t underestimate the value of having a mentor.

Juliet Essilfie, Medical Doctor

Share this post on:

Author: Juliet Essilfie

Dr. Juliet Essilfie is a Nigerian immigrant and first generation college student. She graduated from Stanford University & Columbia medical school - Top of My Class. She's currently a medical doctor, and passionate about helping those on their journey to the medical field.

View all posts by Juliet Essilfie >

Leave a Reply