@SON: I’m at a point where my thoughts feel heavy, and I don’t know who else to ask. I’m the youngest of five siblings. All either graduated with honors or are currently on the Dean’s List. My parents are exceptional. They both graduated with honors, and my mom even placed in the CPA Board Exam. They’re all in finance. I chose a different path: laboratory science. I dream of becoming a medical doctor. I earned a few honorable mentions in school and made the Dean’s List in college. But it’s clear I won’t graduate with honors. Our parents never pressured us. They’ve always been understanding and supportive. I know they love us equally. Maybe that’s why I wanted so badly to make them proud. They never asked for it, yet I feel they deserve it. I can’t help but wonder if I am my parents’ mistake. Are they even proud of me?
DJ: When everyone in the family is racking up honors, it’s easy to feel like the odd one out. A 2024 study from Lincoln University College found that in collectivistic cultures, a child’s achievements are often tied to the family’s honor and status, creating intense pressure and psychological distress for those who feel responsible for upholding the legacy.
But I don’t see your path as a downgrade. You followed your heart to a completely different destination. And that takes guts. Mad respect, man!
That says a lot about your character. You’ve also made the dean’s list and earned recognition along the way and that’s not nothing. That’s proof of effort, discipline and heart. Qualities that aren’t easily measured by grades alone.
Laboratory science is tough. It’s a path where your coffee needs coffee. I’m not saying finance is easy. But a cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, consistently shows that medical students report significantly higher levels of stress than their non-medical peers. I also know of friends who do not have weekends. What they have are catch-up-on-everything days.
The insane amount of material you have to cram in such a short time is a legit stress bomb. Add in those do-or-die exams that decide if you move forward or not. It’s no wonder students feel guilty for even taking a breather. That guilt wrecks your school-life balance and messes with your mental health. Because this isn’t just about excelling in theory. It’s about gearing up to literally save lives.
You are not your parents’ mistake. You are their bold chapter. The one that brings fresh meaning to their story. You chose to pursue something far greater than grades. It’s about having the heart to endure and learn to heal under pressure. These are not captured by honors alone. You’re learning about patients and patience. That’s more than acing every exam. Grades are but numbers. Resilience is the real measure.
Over time, I’ve realized our worth isn’t measured by medals, GPAs, or who walks the stage with honors. I’ve had those moments too, back when I was younger. But you know what I admire most about your story? Your courage to dream differently, your drive to work for what truly matters, and the kind of doctor you’re becoming. The world doesn’t need more perfect resumes. It needs people ready to give their whole life to a cause.
One day, when you’re beside a patient whose life you’ve turned around, no one will ask if you graduated with honors. They’ll thank you for standing your ground in the hard moments, for lending your mind and hands when it mattered most, and for holding the line when hope felt thin. The applause may sound different here, man, but from where I am at, it’s still loud because it counts. Keep on keeping on!