Column as printed did not reflect Thursday columnist?s views
Valli Muthappan?s column Thursday did not accurately portray her views of business students and theatre majors. Jokes about these students, as well as the final line of the column, were added by Assistant Forum Editor Christopher Kenny without Muthappan?s knowledge.
You roll your eyes when some dopey freshman eagerly brags about pursuing it. You know he’ll be running to the theater department faster than LaSalle Bank out of Norris University Center.
Ah, the premedical track. Dreams of being the next Doogie Howser dance through many Northwestern students’ heads at one point or another.
Yet us hardened veterans know premed’s dark side. The phrase “she’s a premed” sounds an awful lot like “she’s a freak.” Worse, premeds talk of other premeds like Hilary Duff talks of Lindsay Lohan — if you’re up on your Disney Channel drama.
The word is just as indicting as an adjective: “He’s so premed!” It usually describes a person who has to be kicked out of the library at closing time on Friday nights, studying tirelessly to throw off the curve for his heartless pack of competitors. Don’t even bother to ask for notes — these people never share. Come on, you know who I’m talking about.
Or do you? Truth be told, I can’t think of anyone who fits that description. Maybe parts of it, at times, but all the premeds I know are actually fun, decent people. And thank God there’s at least one generous soul out there willing to share notes, or I would have never passed 8 a.m. organic chemistry.
Like all stereotypes, the caricature is easier to swallow than the reality. The word has come to depict a callous zealot with one goal in life: to get into a better medical school than you by any means necessary.
No wonder premeds who stick it out all four years do not want to admit their career goals. For example, I asked a girl in my biology workshop if she was considering medical school. She said something about keeping her options open. Imagine my surprise several weeks later when she asked me about the application process. When I confronted her about being a premed, she finally admitted, “I would rather be known as an engineer who doesn’t shower than a premed who doesn’t have a heart.”
I, too, have denied my premed roots from time to time. Now that I have been accepted to medical school, I prefer the term “in-med.” I mean, I don’t want people thinking I’m a monster.
But why should we feel the need to hide our premed identities? After all, you never hear the Goldman-Sachs sycophants apologizing for majoring in economics. Being a physician means dedicating one’s entire career to helping people. Even with the long hours and rare vacations, it’s the only way I see myself getting up each morning happy to go to work. Deep down, most premeds agree.
Yes, we have that competitive edge, but our motives are rooted in altruism. Ultimately, we want to be the best — and who else do you want removing tumors and treating diseases?
So, premeds of Northwestern, unite! Reclaim your career track and your identity with pride. Be happy studying those long hours, knowing a life of genuine fulfillment awaits. And to the premed haters: Either lighten up or hope you never get sick.
Valli Muthappan is a Weinberg senior. She can be reached at [email protected].
