Graduation was a proud and happy moment. I’ve worked so hard during medical school and I’m finally an MD. It was absolutely surreal. My extended family that lives in America made it all the way to watch me get hooded and officially become Dr. Wasiq Sheikh, MD.
Of course, as any other graduation, it started out with many different speakers talking about the joy of medicine, the joy of graduation and advice for residency. And I, obviously, was sitting there, smiling and absolutely not paying attention. I just wanted to fast forward to the part where we line up and get our diplomas. Soon, after what seems like AGES, they start calling people alphabetically. Of course, my last name begins with an S, and with a class of around 230, I was decently close to the end of the line. Soon, I was hooded! After that, we all stood up as a class, and we all said the Hippocratic oath. In that moment, I officially became a doctor.
I emerged from graduation greeted by loving family. We all cried a bit and took photos. I also found my wife (yes, I got married too by the way), and we all took even more photos. I’m writing this after a few weeks and it all seems like a quick blur. It’s the end of May, and I’m gearing towards moving to Providence!
This is so cliche but trust the process. It will be okay. You will make it. You will be awesome.
