The Importance Of My Life

1097 Words3 Pages

I still remember the look on the dean 's face, Dr. Charles Lee, as he stood up and took a bow just after my medical degree was bestowed upon me. After years and years of work, and applying to medical school after school, I finally had it. There was nothing better. If only my friend was still alive I could 've helped her then, but I know at the very least she’d be proud. Now I could help other women just like her, the ones too embarrassed to go to a male doctor. To begin, the journey there wasn’t so easy. After growing up in a home where education was very important I grew to always strive to better myself, to gain more and more knowledge. I grew up in England where my father stressed the importance to both my siblings and I, that we continue …show more content…

Several weeks later, my father grew ill with a terrible fever, and passed away. He left us in a lot of debt, so soon after that me and my sisters, Anna and Marian started a school and after converting from Episcopalism to Transcendentalism the school received a much adverse reaction, causing it to be forsaken. I didn’t let that get me down but took it as an opportunity to see that I should continue my education and improve as a person. In 1844, My sister helped me get a job in Henderson, Kentucky but I did not like seeing all the authentic slavery that took place there. So I made my way back home. Later, I decided to should pursue being a doctor, using my friend 's death as an inspiration that there should be female doctors. So I acquired another job teaching music in and academy, in Asheville, North Carolina. The school was ran by Reverend John Dickson, a pastor who also had his medical degree. He let me study his medical books in the library, although I was all alone. I had many doubts about being a doctor and was very lonely in my pursuit but got through it by focusing on my …show more content…

Some people gave me dirty looks while others seemed intrigued. I aimed to do well, and soon found my place there. Soon, many people started to respect me and my aspirations, some men even tried to pursue me, but I rejected them all, wanting to be alone and found solace in my studies. In the summer, I returned to Pennsylvania and stayed with Dr. Elder, I applied for positions all around trying to get work in clinics for experience. Still, there was a stigma on my being a woman doctor, many people just turned me away. Until finally, The Guardians of the Poor gave me an opportunity in Blockley Almshouse. I gained a lot of experience there, but was still met with discrimination from young doctors at times refusing to help me treat patients. While there I grew distaste for the syphilitic ward and seeing those suffering from typhus. So that’s what I wrote my thesis on, typhus. After which, I received my

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