From Our Say to 'Say Ah' – Meet Doctor Kellie

14 Voice Issue4Summer2017 02089372400 [email protected] From OurSay to ‘Say ah’–Meet Doctor Kellie Former BHPYouth BoardMemberand OurSay writer, Kellie-AnnCumminshas just qualifiedasadoctor. OurSay caught up with her.

Oursay -Why didyou want to and preparesthemfor caesareansection Science(or otheressay-orientated become adoctor, have youalways operationifrequired. subjects such as History),todevelop robustgrammatical skillsfor medical been interestedinmedicine? OS -Are yousqueamish about essay writing. Iwas unawareofthe Kellie-Ann Cummins -Fromavery anything in your job? importance of Englishasasubjectwhen youngage when askedbyotherswhatI KAC -Iamprettygoodwithmost applying formedicine, having studied wanted to be,Ialwaysresponded with injuries/blood/operations butthe one Biology, Chemistryand P.EatA-level, "whenIam olderIwanttobeadoctor". thingIstrugglewith, funnily enough,is andlooking back, is definitelyasubjectI I’mthe only doctorinmyextended broken noses! Forsome reasona wouldhave taken. family,however my mumwas anurse broken nose makesmefeel sick! before sheretrained as ateacher, so this Additionally, think aboutany extra mayhavegave me the idea of acareerin OS -Whatadvicewould yougive curricularactivitiesthat youmay wish to healthcare. Ihad watched Casualty to wannabe doctors? getinvolved in.Activities such as sport, religiously from ayoungage andIwas KAC -Iwould wholeheartedly musicalinstruments,voluntary work in fascinated with medicine.Being injury recommendacareerasadoctor to charitiesand elderly care homesare andillness prone myself,Ihave had my anyone thinkingofbecoming one. It is an crucialtoset youaside from other fairshare of NHS experiences,and on extremelyrewardingjob,inwhichyou applicants,asevery candidatewillhave every occasion Iwas leftinawe of the to areabletomakeadifferencetoa straight As! thehealthcareteamproviding me with person's life and alsototheir families' Lastly,Iwoulddoyourresearch! With thebestcare. As apatientIhave learnt lives. As adoctoryou areinaposition of the internet at your fingertips, Iwould thatdoctors andotherhealthcare responsibility and dependence,whereby utilise resourcesavailable foraspects professionalsalike, provided emotional patient'sintheir most vulnerable such as theUKCAT (medicineentrance supportontop of medicalcarefor moments puttheirfaith in youtohelp exam), interviews andthe differing patients andthose aroundthem. This them. This requiresgoodjudgement, medicine coursesbetween universities. uniquebalance betweenscience, which growsduringmedical training. Iwishyou theverybestofluck! practicalskillsand communicationmade Sometimespatients pass away whichis acareerinmedicinereallyappealing. an unavoidable partofbeing adoctor. I OS -Whatdoyou specialise in? highlyrecommend those contemplating Areyou aGP/JuniorDoctor? acareerinmedicinethink aboutthis aspect thoroughly before applying.You KAC -Atthe momentIamaJunior areprovided with good training forthese Doctor,however in thefutureIhopeto circumstances,but,the effect these be an anaesthetist -morespecifically an situations canhaveonyou cannot be obstetric anaesthetist. An anaesthetist is underestimated. adoctorthatisresponsible forkeeping patients safeand asleepduring an In termsofschool/ sixthformoptions I operation.Anobstetric anaesthetist also wouldadvisethose thinkingofapplying provides epidurals to womeninlabour, to concentrateonEnglish as well as @BHP_Housing brenthousingpartnership Voice Issue4Summer 2017 15

OS -Tellusaboutgrowingupin OS -Who is your favouriteTV OS -Would youencourage other Brent, diditinspire youtopursue doctor? youngpeopletobepartofthe your career? BHP YouthBoard? KAC -Myfavouritehas to be Connie KAC -Growing up in Brent, and more Beauchampwho hasstarred in both KAC -Without adoubt,Iwould specificallyinasmall close, Ihad a Casualty andHolby City (I highly encourage others to getinvolved in the wonderful childhoodwhereby Iwas recommendbothprogrammes).Asa BHPYouth Board. It provided the constantly outsideplaying with other female doctor thereismoredifficulty in opportunity to meet newpeople, children in ourstreet. Ourparents had theprofession in comparison to our develop your writingand grammatical to drag us inside to eatdinner.This male counterparts duetohaving skills,and it is definitelyanappealing constant socialisingand meetingnew children,maternity leave andsubsequent extra-curricular activity to have on that children definitelyprovidedmewith breaks in medicalspecialty training. medicalschoolapplication! robustcommunicationskillsthatare still Connie's character, although abrupt, Iwishthose consideringacareerin applicable today. Icannotemphasise the provides that female doctor figure who medicine the best of luck in thefuture. importance of communication skills as a hasmanaged to reachasenior levelin doctor,and if this is somethingyou themedical field as well as beinga enjoy, then medicalschooliswaiting mother.Plusshe absolutely rocksinthe foryou! emergencydepartment!

(I know this sounds cheesyand cliched) Thinking positive thatevery grey cloudhas itssilverlining. Moreover,ithas helpedmeto Happiness. It’s thedifference betweenexistingand appreciate people more.Readingback actually living.Therefore,isn’t it really sadthathappiness on my list,Ihave seen that other is afeeling that seemsunattainablefor many? people’s actions arepotent. Something thatIsometimes failed to acknowledge. I Thereare many reasonsfor widespread Easy,Ithought. feel likeItakepeopleless forgranted unhappiness.While technologyallows Istarted atasknotingdownthree happy nowbecause everytimeisthere for us to keep in touchwithfamilyand things aday.Onlythree things yetI me /doessomethingnicefor me, friends,itisabitofadouble-edged struggled.Ithit me -shouldthinking Iacknowledge it on my list. sword. Scrollingdownnewsfeeds,we aboutthe positivesbeastruggle? arebombarded with somethingelseto Thesepositivepsychologypractices have Yet, Icould oh so easily pointmyfinger worry, cryand sigh about. Also,social helped me andsoIwoulddefinitely to allthe mini-disasters of theday that mediaactsasafuelfor to compare encouragepeopletoatleast tryitout. left me shattered. ourselvestoothers.Everyonewants to Linda Moronfulu,18 presentaperfect polished pictureof As Icontinued,this effort wasgreatly theirlives -because who‘likes’ugliness reduced. It became natural to focuson andblunt truths? happiness. Ifound that even in acrappy circumstance, the smallthings likedoing On topofthat, thereisthe stress of well on an assignmentorafunnyjoke everyday life,work, educationand family duringthe lecture, wassufficientto problems.It’ssoeasytoslip into a boostmymood. Inow have themindset negative mindset. Ifoundmyselfstruggling alittleafter startinguniversity. Iwas desperately trying to wrap my head around the workload andmakefriends.Onmy course,Ihave learnt briefly about positive psychology,where everyone developsregardless of whetherthey experiencepoormentalhealthornot. This reallyencouragedmetotry some positive psychology practises. Thepractises were simple.Atmost20 minutesaday,engaged in atask.