In my first week as a doctor at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), it felt very strange and surreal that just a few weeks earlier, I had been a mere student in those very wards looking for cases to practise for my exams. Now, I was being called "Doctor" and my friends and I kept thinking that people were calling someone else.

My interest in Medicine was piqued at a young age, mostly out of admiration for my own doctors and the belief that being a doctor is a noble profession that called for kindness and compassion. I shadowed doctors in high school and pursued a degree in Human Biology at Stanford University before joining Duke-NUS.

Learning never stops in Medicine. Besides learning hard facts about the human body, diseases and the sciences, Medicine is really about humanity. During a medical oncology elective, I presented a thoroughly detailed medical history that I was very proud of, to my consultant. However, I was floored when he asked me about my patient's hobbies and favourite foods. I think such instances made me realise I wanted a specialty that encompasses broad medical knowledge and engages both my heart and mind - and I found that in Internal Medicine.

Since graduating, it seems that the learning has only intensified and I have quickly accepted how and when to ask for help. As a junior doctor, there is something to learn from everyone - from senior doctors to nurses, especially when on night call.

Outside the wards, I have also been working with Prof Yeo Kung Keong and the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) on a project inspired by my third-year research as a medical student. That initial third-year project brought about more questions and the SingHealth Medical Student Talent Development Award which I received in my fourth year has enabled me to continue working with Prof Yeo in this follow-up study.

Just a few weeks ago, I was also invited to speak at the Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme's (CVS ACP) Learning Week organised by SingHealth. Held at the National Heart Centre, the event helped to build awareness of the CVS ACP and share new initiatives from the Research, Education and Clinical Services. Since the CVS ACP has clinicians doing research at every level of medical training, the event wanted to showcase the diversity of research within the programme. I was chosen to present the follow-up study I worked on with Prof Yeo and the NHCS. It was such an honour and privilege to share the stage with other established clinicians and researchers. It also gave me the opportunity to learn about other exciting CVS ACP research projects and meet inspiring clinician scientists helming these projects.

Admittedly, these few months as a new resident has been exhilarating. While I do miss the camaraderie and company of studying together with my friends and the memories of being in the wards practising for our physical examinations as medical students, I hold on to these moments dearly. Now, what really stands out in the transition from student to doctor is definitely the immense responsibility, the many lessons one has to learn on the fly and a greater sense of satisfaction at the end of each day.

I am sure the road ahead is filled with many more challenges but I am living my dream and I believe it will be exciting and fulfilling. `