EPISODE 20: DEEPIKA DHAWAN

Interview by Tiffany Dial

May 10, 2020

I was born in India but mostly raised in the US. Both my parents are from India, so my experiences growing up were heavily influenced by Indian culture. I don’t think the concept of fitting into certain groups was really what worried me as I grew up. Personally, it was more about figuring out which aspects of Indian culture I genuinely identify with. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with parents who choose to educate me and my brother about their values and upbringing without imposing anything on us. Not to say that everything is always easy, but, for the most part, they’ve left it up to me to discover what I believe in.
 
This support also transferred to academics and my career. My parents never forced me to pursue medicine. When I’ve told people about my aspirations, they would sometimes assume that my parents want me to go to medical school and would overlook the real reason I’m on this path. My parents believe I should only pursue what I am passionate about, and they would have supported whatever career decision I made. In a way, I think that has made my entire journey that much more precious and valuable. I’ve set certain academic and career goals for myself to get to where I am today, and they’ve been there to support me through it all. They really let me naturally find myself.
 
I explored many different academic disciplines during my undergrad. I wanted to pursue other academic interests while taking pre-med classes. I actually went into college with the goal of pursuing a Math and Economics combined major. It’s funny, if you ask any of my friends from freshman year, they’ll tell you I was obsessed with math. I was able to start the major by taking a higher-level math class, but my class experience quickly changed. I was struggling and initially felt intimidated because I was one of few freshmen in a math class with mainly upperclassmen. I went to office hours very frequently, and the professor really saw me grow and improve throughout the semester. After taking classes for other majors and getting more interested in Chemistry, I eventually went on to pursue a major in Biochemistry and minors in Math and Business Studies. I consider this experience one of my most important experiences in my life – struggling in a class so early on in college helped me develop more focus, strength, and honesty with myself. I was able to overcome this challenge and reach out for help and still complete the course, instead of dropping the class. My professor from this math class in college is still one of my mentors to this day. That mentorship and that growth would’ve been things I missed out on if I hadn’t gone down that road in the first place. I still love solving math problems and enjoy learning about economics. I don’t view these experiences as time wasted, but rather time spent. I’ve learned so much from every experience.
 
One topic that I feel is constantly discussed here at school is the idea of finding balance. The concept of balance is interesting because people usually take this to mean that their day-to-day life needs to be balanced – that they need to find time every single day to dedicate to exercise, work, cooking, hobbies, family, friends, etc. This adds a lot of pressure because it’s hard to find balance in any given moment; it’s something that comes over time. One of my professors and I would have this discussion all the time. For example, you could have a week where you’re working nonstop for three days but then you’re off for four days. People don’t usually see that as balance, instead they feel like they’ve messed up somewhere or didn’t allocate their time properly. I like to look at the big picture. I like to know that over the course of a few weeks or a month that I made times for myself and the things and people that I love.
 
Having said all of that, I definitely don’t think the initial transition to medical school was easy. We all come from different parts of the country and have had such diverse experiences. That also means that we are all capable of handling stressors in our own way which plays a role in how fast someone can transition to such a new environment. Initially, I felt overwhelmed and anxious at times. I definitely spent first block setting unrealistic expectations without really being efficient with any one study strategy. Adding on to it, as soon as I had gotten used to it, we started a new block, and I found myself needing to reorganize my schedule again. What’s really helped me in that regard – and my friends will tell you I’ve definitely worked on this all year – is focusing more on myself and using my own progress as a benchmark for improvement. The way that I do things works well for me, whether that means I need to study more than other people or have more free time than other people.
 
I’ve been working on reminding myself that we are all here to do our best and to constantly improve. Sometimes it seems like someone has it all figured out, but we’re all constantly changing and working on things. I try not to be too hard on myself and not to compare myself to others. I try to embrace my strengths and focus on addressing my weaknesses. Medical school isn’t about checking things off on a checklist; it really is about paving your own way through your own experiences and pursuing the things that interest you. That’s easier said than done at times, but I do find myself reflecting on it and reminding myself every once in a while. Approaching the final weeks of my first year at NYMC, I find that I’ve definitely grown more confident in finding what works for me. With the help of my professors and close friends here, I’ve learned to believe in my own strengths and capabilities more. I just never want to get over-confident because sometimes there is a fine line between too much and too little confidence.
 
We’re all going to be doctors, and I wish nothing but the best for every one of my classmates. They are my future coworkers and I’m more focused on helping others succeed. It’s important to be collaborative in medicine, and I’m glad I’ve found people with the same mentality here at NYMC. I value the friends I’ve made here; I’m very lucky to have people who can joke around with me but also sit down and have a deep conversation or listen to what I have to say about school or life without judging. I really appreciate all the people who take the time to listen and help me grow as a person, and I’m also always happy to do the same.
 
Looking forward to the rest of my time here at NYMC, I will keep striving for self-improvement. What I’m doing now is completely different than anything I’ve ever done before, but I’m surrounded by a very strong support system in my friends and my family. Hopefully, I’ll have the chance to meet more of my classmates and hear all their interesting stories in the years to come!

What are your 5 Most Recently Played Artists on Spotify? 
Beyonce, Bad Bunny, John Legend, Drake, Rihanna

If you could have any superpower, which one would you choose?
Teleportation – I love traveling, but sometimes you just need to get to where you’re going.

Pick something or someone from NYMC to give a shout-out to!
Shout out to all my friends and my Season 3 Cast friends! Also, anyone who takes the time out of their day to smile (and my mom – Happy Mother’s Day!).

If someone wants to talk to you, they should lead with:
Anything they want to talk about (but with an emphasis on anything food related)!