With the target of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050, we as the young people of Wales need to embrace the challenge and work together by pursuing our education and careers through the medium of Welsh and using the Welsh language as much as possible.
When considering my future and starting to think about university course choice, medicine certainly appealed to me straight away. So I want to share some of the reasons why I hope to study medicine at university and the things I considered when looking to pursue this competitive career.
- I believe that the main reason most students are interested in studying medicine is because they want to offer help and care for people by alleviating pain and suffering and hopefully make them better In other words, to make a difference to people's lives
- Many articles have been published recently conveying the clear need for more Welsh speaking doctors. This emphasizes the importance of the Welsh language for patients and by being bilingual it is possible to maintain the best care; this has certainly stimulated my interest in the field of medicine, as it has done for many others. This has made me proud to be able to speak Welsh and shows us that demand for the language presents great opportunities for many. So go for it, speak Welsh or learn the language.
- Communicating and doing so confidently, effectively as well as concisely when entering the field of medicine is extremely important, as you will be discussing medical terminology and serious information with patients and with your colleagues. But more than that you need to enjoy socializing with people. Likewise, you need to be an empathetic person when discussing profound issues. Mental stress becomes part of the job and as we have experienced during the pandemic as well as now with the strikes, there is no doubt that this is a challenging element. Yet, the work can be extremely rewarding.
- Another reason many go on to study medicine is because research and new discoveries in terms of treatments, diseases etc. are constantly developing and improving. This means that there is always something new happening and every day is different, which keeps you interested in the job and certainly adds an element of excitement. Having said this, the role entails working long and sometimes varied hours, but this is the kind of dedication required by the responsibilities of the field.
- In order to pursue any career you must have an enthusiasm for what you are studying and therefore the main thing is to have an interest in discovering and learning new things about the body and about treatments; how to help to reduce suffering and make people better. To put it simply, that you like science, are interested in people, and are fascinated by how the body works!
I believe that it is important to ensure that more Welsh is used in schools as well as to show children and young people that the future of the Welsh language is in our hands. Certainly, we have a tendency to neglect the Welsh language unintentionally, so I urge you to take pride in it. Remember, we are lucky that the Welsh language makes us part of a special community. Therefore, aim to use the Welsh language in all possible aspects of your future to ensure that it has a bright future.