5 answers
Updated
377 views
I want to be both a 7th grade math teacher and a pediatrician. How can I successfully pursue both careers and feel fulfilled by the time I retire?
I aspire to pursue two fulfilling careers: being a 7th grade math teacher and a pediatrician. How can I balance the education and training required for both professions, successfully work in each field during my lifetime, and feel accomplished in these roles by the time I retire?
Login to comment
5 answers
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Pursuing both a career as a 7th-grade math teacher and a pediatrician is an ambitious and commendable goal, and achieving success in both will require careful planning, dedication, and strategic time management. The key to balancing these two careers is to understand that they both require a strong foundation in education and a commitment to continuous learning. You might consider starting with one career first, likely the path to becoming a pediatrician, which involves extensive education, including a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and a residency. As you progress in your medical training, you can build a flexible career path, perhaps starting with part-time teaching or tutoring while completing your medical degree. Alternatively, you could work as a math teacher first, obtaining the necessary certification and teaching experience, while gradually pursuing the medical education you need to become a pediatrician.
To manage the demands of both professions, creating a balanced timeline and realistic expectations for yourself will be crucial. For example, you could focus on teaching as your primary career early in life, using the summers or periods between teaching jobs to pursue medical school or specialized pediatric training. By structuring your career in phases, you can set attainable milestones for both professions without overwhelming yourself. Additionally, there may be opportunities to combine your passion for both fields, such as teaching health education, engaging in school wellness programs, or even specializing in pediatric care for school-aged children. This combination of roles could allow you to incorporate your interests in both subjects while giving you a fulfilling, varied career.
Feeling accomplished in both careers by the time you retire will depend largely on setting clear goals, staying adaptable, and fostering a passion for lifelong learning. It will also require a mindset of flexibility and the ability to reassess your priorities over time. Whether you ultimately decide to focus more on teaching, pediatric care, or find a harmonious blend of both, taking the time to reflect on what drives you and staying open to how these roles evolve will help ensure fulfillment in both fields. The commitment to nurturing young minds in the classroom and providing compassionate care as a pediatrician will offer you a diverse and rewarding professional life, making your dual-career journey a truly fulfilling experience.
To manage the demands of both professions, creating a balanced timeline and realistic expectations for yourself will be crucial. For example, you could focus on teaching as your primary career early in life, using the summers or periods between teaching jobs to pursue medical school or specialized pediatric training. By structuring your career in phases, you can set attainable milestones for both professions without overwhelming yourself. Additionally, there may be opportunities to combine your passion for both fields, such as teaching health education, engaging in school wellness programs, or even specializing in pediatric care for school-aged children. This combination of roles could allow you to incorporate your interests in both subjects while giving you a fulfilling, varied career.
Feeling accomplished in both careers by the time you retire will depend largely on setting clear goals, staying adaptable, and fostering a passion for lifelong learning. It will also require a mindset of flexibility and the ability to reassess your priorities over time. Whether you ultimately decide to focus more on teaching, pediatric care, or find a harmonious blend of both, taking the time to reflect on what drives you and staying open to how these roles evolve will help ensure fulfillment in both fields. The commitment to nurturing young minds in the classroom and providing compassionate care as a pediatrician will offer you a diverse and rewarding professional life, making your dual-career journey a truly fulfilling experience.
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Hello! These are both fantastic options. My best advice is to take courses now and read books related to both careers to try to narrow down and focus once you get to college. I was a high school English teacher before I got into sales and I can't imagine also working toward another career, especially one in medicine, at the same time. These careers both impact the lives of young people immensely and can both be very rewarding, but you will need to focus entirely on whichever you choose. Best of luck!
Updated
Billy’s Answer
Hi Sammy, great choices in life! You certainly can achieve both because life is a journey not a sprint. Start now with your pre recs for being a teacher. Once you have become a teacher you can continue your journey to become a doctor. While you inspire children you continue your pre recs to become a doctor! It takes a lot of school to be a doctor so be a teacher and later be a doctor. You certainly will be a good humanitarian!
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hey Sammy, this sounds like an awesome plan, and great that you're thinking about how to plan for it already! As someone who is also balancing multiple interests (and is currently figuring out how to do that), I would make sure to think about the requirements for both careers you're interested in.
Becoming a pediatrician requires attending medical school in addition to traditional undergraduate college, which is important to consider. It's also easier to move from being a doctor to a teacher than vice versa; while both careers require lots of training / education, doctors have very specific requirements that can take a long time.
Also, it's important to think about which career you would like to experience first. Would you like to become a practicing doctor, then teach students using those real life skills? Or would you like to understand the material really well as a teacher, then move to become a doctor afterwards?
Becoming a pediatrician requires attending medical school in addition to traditional undergraduate college, which is important to consider. It's also easier to move from being a doctor to a teacher than vice versa; while both careers require lots of training / education, doctors have very specific requirements that can take a long time.
Also, it's important to think about which career you would like to experience first. Would you like to become a practicing doctor, then teach students using those real life skills? Or would you like to understand the material really well as a teacher, then move to become a doctor afterwards?
Updated
Martha’s Answer
That is an intriguing and challenging question, Sammy. Here are some thoughts:
- As an undergraduate, you could choose a medically-related major, such as biology or biochemistry. Then you could get a certificate in teaching or get emergency certification if you teach in an economically-challenged area. After teaching for a few years, you could apply to medical school and start your 7-year path to being a pediatrician.
- Alternately, you could go to medical school after being an undergraduate and plan to become a teacher later in your career. At that point, probably getting emergency certification or working in a private school that does not require certification would be good choices.
I am curious about why you chose these two professions. If you identify what you like about each, perhaps you could find what you want in one profession. For example, if you are attracted to sharing your knowledge with others, perhaps you could become a medical school professor or a type of medical educator. If you are attracted to applying math, perhaps you could get more involved in medical research, especially as it relates to children.
Good luck!
- As an undergraduate, you could choose a medically-related major, such as biology or biochemistry. Then you could get a certificate in teaching or get emergency certification if you teach in an economically-challenged area. After teaching for a few years, you could apply to medical school and start your 7-year path to being a pediatrician.
- Alternately, you could go to medical school after being an undergraduate and plan to become a teacher later in your career. At that point, probably getting emergency certification or working in a private school that does not require certification would be good choices.
I am curious about why you chose these two professions. If you identify what you like about each, perhaps you could find what you want in one profession. For example, if you are attracted to sharing your knowledge with others, perhaps you could become a medical school professor or a type of medical educator. If you are attracted to applying math, perhaps you could get more involved in medical research, especially as it relates to children.
Good luck!