My daughter Emma made a career choice we weren’t expecting. After two years of a pre-med academic path, she didn’t change her major, but she did change her mind. She decided to be a physician assistant instead. Emma graduated from PA school via Zoom last month.
Emma went to Rhodes College to study neuroscience and prepare for medical school. I loved telling people she was “pre-med” and a neuroscience major. I usually started with neuroscience. If someone seemed too impressed, I added an oh-shucks-comment like, “It’s not that big a deal. It’s just like majoring in biology.” If I got a moderate response, I added that she was pre-med for the full effect. Then I continued to chit chat while my plumped feathers settle.
Generally, I am not a competitive person. I could care less if you win the tennis match or jog in front of me. However, motherhood has been my singular pursuit. I’ve developed the habit of embellishing Emma’s accomplishments in highly competitive company, which is pretty much everyone where we live. I remember telling my uncle that Emma finished in the top twenty in her second half marathon after he asked me if she finished first. I had no idea where she finished but felt compelled to put her in the running. He wasn’t impressed.
Emma is a thoughtful person and a careful decision maker. She rarely waivers once she’s made up her mind. When she told me sophomore year that she decided to be a Physician Assistant instead of a doctor, I said, “Great idea,” because it seemed like a good career choice, and I didn’t want to mess with her by probing. My doctor cousin and the doctor she worked with pressed her to apply to medical school over and over. After her graduation from Rhodes, I queried to make sure that her decision was based purely on desire. Not fear or insecurity. She was solid. Off to PA school she went.
A little part of me used to wish I could say my daughter’s going to be a doctor so I could bask in her light. Back then, I worked pre-med into the conversation whenever people ask me about Emma. I made her decision to be a PA sound extra thoughtful and noble. People still coo and tell me how much they love their physician assistant and that they think she made the smarter career choice.
The truth of the truth is that I am incredibly proud of Emma for deciding to be a Physician Assistant. She began her education at the Atlanta Speech School and worked really hard to overcome learning disabilities. By the eighth grade, she was excelling in school. Junior year, she sheepishly approached the stage at an Atlanta Girls’ School assembly to receive award after award. Emma’s also matured from an A focused student to someone who doesn’t have to be a doctor to feel smart.
I am going to do my best to follow her example. The next time someone asks what Emma’s up to, I’ll say she just started her first job as a PA. I can never remember the name of the clinic where she works. That is either progress or what I like to call Covid memory loss.
Mark G
She took the better path!
Audrey
This is so magnificent- so honest and beautifully written !!! Cannot imagine how proud Emma is of you !!!!
Maureen Goldman
Audrey,
Thank you for such a lovely comment. xo, Maureen
Maureen Goldman
Indeed!
Maureen Goldman
Just want to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to leave a comment. They make me happy!
Caroline Chesnut Leslie
You have loved and supported Emma in all her pursuits. Emma turned out great! The introspection that you share is wonderful.
Maureen Goldman
Thank you, Caroline! You did the very same with Nancy, and she is just wonderful. xoxo
Julie Pixler
The honesty written here is really refreshing. 🙂 Go Emma!
Maureen Goldman
Thank you so much, Julie! I hope you are doing well. xo
Diane Fechtel
Sounds like Emma’s very wise, as well as beautiful! The PA program is a great way to go; you can still have a life w/o making major sacrifices. You do a lot of what a doctor does and make a good income. I wish they had such a program when I was in school. I thought long and hard about going to med. school, but because I was such a slow reader, and I knew an MD has to stay current/study the whole time they practice, I finally decided against it. (It wasn’t until the past 10 years that I was diagnosed as having done dyslexia!) Emma’s smart! Her life will be much less stressful!
Maureen Goldman
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Diane. Matt has dyslexia. It really slows you down. I hope you are doing well. We miss you in Ridgedale Park. xoxo
Joni Levy
Congratulations! Good choice because doctors will be working for the government before too long and mid-level providers will be making almost as much money without the carried burden of the humongous student loans.
Maureen Goldman
That’s good news! Thanks Joni, xo
Mickey
Maureen, you write so naturally. What is especially interesting is that while I read this, I learned as much about you as I did about your lovely daughter. And both of you are beautiful people!
Maureen Goldman
A very slow reply for which I’m genuinely sorry. Thank you for your very kind words, Mickey. Working with you has been a joy. xoxo
Maureen Goldman
A very slow reply for which I’m genuinely sorry. Thank you for your very kind words, Mickey. Working with you has been a joy. xoxo