The biomedical field has always fascinated me. When I was very young, I remember begging my parents for a coloring book, because it seemed like a popular pastime in kindergarten. However, my coloring book, I wanted it to be about human anatomy. I remember my father arriving home with this brick entitled Anatomy to color by Lawrence M. Elson. A book that is far too complex and expensive for a child who still barely knows how to communicate properly. Today, I laugh about it, but it still remains fascinating that at that age, I already had within me this strong interest in human biology.
Nature took its course, and at the dawn of my 20s, I completed a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory from the University of Moncton. It was with a heart full of hope and good will that I began my career in the CISSS du Témiscouata.
However, the sad reality of the health system in Quebec quickly caught up with me. I was now entering a seriously ill system, which cannot take care of itself, but which still hopes to treat hundreds of thousands of patients. Working a mere eight hours in this network seems almost dishonorable, because my colleagues work at least between 12 and 16 hours a day. We shouldn’t blame them, it’s beautiful to work body and soul in the service of the community. However, is it realistic to do this for many years?
The worst, for me, was the night guards. The phone rings in the middle of the night, it’s two a.m. — I’ve just finished a twelve-hour shift, and I have another shift starting at sunrise — it’s a patient having a stroke (stroke). I have 20 minutes to get to the hospital, where I will have to analyze the samples and send the results to the doctor. Once this is all over, I can finally go home to get some sleep, but for how long? Will the phone ring a second time tonight? How many hours will I be able to sleep before starting my work day?
The next day finally arrives, but with the same story, which repeats itself, over and over again.
Nature took its course, and a few years later, I find myself today selling home insurance for a private company. Although it’s not a job that excites me, it at least allows me to sleep soundly and arrive home with a light heart and well rested.
So when people ask me about my professional aspirations, I answer this. I want to work in my field of study, the wonderful world of biology, because it is a world that has never ceased to fascinate me, even through exhaustion. I want to work for an employer who understands that the well-being of its employees is a pillar when it comes to offering quality service, and that there is no point in offering services if we do not can guarantee its effectiveness or validity. I want to work for an employer who offers me working conditions conducive to innovation, development and self-improvement, in addition to prioritizing my physical and mental health.
I want to finally be able to make a living from what I’m passionate about, without having to compromise my own health. I want to contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and remission of patients, who have also suffered for too long from the defect of our health system in Quebec.