As a third-year medical student in India, I decided I was going to build a career in neuroscience, and I was going to do it in a whole new country. I did my due diligence, researched everything online, went down the rabbit hole of Reddit threads and medical student forums, and mapped out the steps that I needed to take to achieve this goal. It was also the first time I realized the magic of simply asking for advice.
The Magic of Asking
It began when I reached out to a senior who was already a resident in the U.S. healthcare system, hoping to understand her journey and how I could map out my own path to residency, emulating what she had done. By the end of that call, I understood that what I really needed was reassurance that someone from the same background as I could make it. One piece of advice I got that day was, “Don’t let your anxiety get the best of you,” and it still resonates with me.
Then came my licensing exams. I went online and explored as many resources as I could find. And then I asked.
I reached out to every single one of my friends, classmates, and seniors who had already taken the exam. Listening to their experiences helped me figure out my strengths and weaknesses and gave me the confidence I needed to take it on. A few months later, I passed my exam and made my first trip to the United States.
From Asking to Giving Back
It was my first week at a hospital in Kansas City, and I was as nervous as I was excited. Everything was new and unfamiliar, but I had to ask and adapt. From the right color of scrubs, to understanding electronic medical records and workflows, I had to bring myself to ask about every single thing. Initially, I was hesitant, but I began to excitedly ask everyone I worked with for feedback, guidance on my next steps, and lessons from their own journeys. I discovered that each one had something new to offer, shaped by their background and experiences.
As I progressed, I started developing experiences of my own. I was now asked for advice. Friends, colleagues, and other students from my medical school were eager to learn from my journey. It was even more exciting to share advice from my own experiences than it had been to ask for it, because passing on my experience may allow someone to learn from the mistakes I made and understand what they could do differently.
That enthusiasm grew into action and eventually led me to build a formal space at my medical school to connect students with alumni from different walks of life. Through an online community and monthly alumni-led discussions, we created a platform where students can learn from real-world experiences, fostering a culture of mentorship and shared learning.
Three Realizations That Changed My Mindset on Mentorship
- Mentors don’t have a formal title. Mentorship does not have to come from someone with an official role. Anyone who has navigated the journey you aspire to take, or anyone working in a similar field can be a mentor. Most are willing to share their wisdom when approached respectfully and in the right setting.
- Talk to as many people as you can. Everyone speaks from their own experience, and learning from multiple perspectives helps you figure out your strengths and interests. Listening to someone else’s trajectory may give insight into what your own could look like. Too many opinions can be overwhelming at times, though, so take what makes sense to you and remember that no one’s journey looks exactly the same.
- Human connection beats online search. You learn far more from conversations than from the results of any search engine. Every discussion leaves you with a new perspective or a deeper understanding. Not all advice will apply, but if you do not ask, you will never know.
Mentorship has taught me that growth comes from connection, curiosity, and courage. Every conversation, piece of advice, and shared experience has shaped my journey.
But I am not done yet. I am still learning and asking for advice. I also believe that seeing someone you aspire to become keeps you hopeful for the journey ahead. I am excited to continue learning from mentors in my career and to be a mentor to many. I am hopeful that mentorship will continue to foster meaningful human connections, even in an era of AI, where answers to almost anything are just a click away.
About the Contributor
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