English philosopher John Locke once said, “We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the color of our moral character, from those who are around us.” In Dr. Rachel Pearson’s case, this quote is undeniably true. In her decorous memoir, No Apparent Distress: A Doctor’s Coming-of-Age on the Front Lines of American Medicine, Pearson gives a detailed description of her harrowing journey as a medical student, and the people that she encounters and forms relationships with on this journey- her family, patients, and peers- heavily contribute to her identity as a doctor and her overall identity as a human being. Similar to the people in her life, her education, albeit very flawed, is vital in molding her into the doctor she is. Throughout her studies,
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This particular issue ends up being a breaking point for Pearson, as shown when she states, “I failed a test, was late to class, and stopped caring what I looked like. And nobody noticed, because in medical school it is possible to be surrounded by people and remain truly alone" (91). Furthermore, the author describes having suicidal thoughts, falling-outs with close friends, a messy apartment, and other problems. In the midst of this extremely dismal period, Pearson dreams about Frank, her former best friend from medical school who later committed suicide. She states, “The dream had done its work, however. Within two weeks, I left that apartment. I started classes again, and began going back to St. Vincent's” (93) All in all, because he is the figure who manages to motivate her to get her life back together, it can be concluded that he is crucial in helping form her professional identity. For Pearson, he acts as a symbol of the darkness associated with medicine, but he also stands as a reminder to be strong, resilient, and to move forward despite the …show more content…
Rachel Pearson’s No Apparent Distress: A Doctor’s Coming-of-Age on the Front Lines of American Medicine, the reader acquires a first hand experience of what it takes to to be a medical student, and how taxing it can be on the mind and soul. When faced with formidable obstacles on her professional quest, Pearson deals with them with eloquence, grace, and courage. She is able to do so because of the harsh but necessary lessons she learns in school and because of the impactful people in her life. After reading Pearson’s story, the audience must remember that to attain success, one must have an amazing support
This particular issue ends up being a breaking point for Pearson, as shown when she states, “I failed a test, was late to class, and stopped caring what I looked like. And nobody noticed, because in medical school it is possible to be surrounded by people and remain truly alone" (91). Furthermore, the author describes having suicidal thoughts, falling-outs with close friends, a messy apartment, and other problems. In the midst of this extremely dismal period, Pearson dreams about Frank, her former best friend from medical school who later committed suicide. She states, “The dream had done its work, however. Within two weeks, I left that apartment. I started classes again, and began going back to St. Vincent's” (93) All in all, because he is the figure who manages to motivate her to get her life back together, it can be concluded that he is crucial in helping form her professional identity. For Pearson, he acts as a symbol of the darkness associated with medicine, but he also stands as a reminder to be strong, resilient, and to move forward despite the …show more content…
Rachel Pearson’s No Apparent Distress: A Doctor’s Coming-of-Age on the Front Lines of American Medicine, the reader acquires a first hand experience of what it takes to to be a medical student, and how taxing it can be on the mind and soul. When faced with formidable obstacles on her professional quest, Pearson deals with them with eloquence, grace, and courage. She is able to do so because of the harsh but necessary lessons she learns in school and because of the impactful people in her life. After reading Pearson’s story, the audience must remember that to attain success, one must have an amazing support