When Women Choose Their Lives!

Meeting new people has always been one of my favorite things to do, especially when I can engage in a long conversation with someone new. Unlike quick networking meets and random introductions, these longer conversations allow me to talk in detail with someone, get to know their history, thoughts, and aspirations, and gather knowledge. And being in Silicon Valley, I get to meet people who are amazing in their field, making the conversations inspiring and intellectually fulfilling!

A few days back, I met a wonder woman (Yes, I like to call inspiring women that name!), Gwendolyn from Sweden.  Initially, when I met her, she introduced herself as the wife of Anders, who facilitates cooperative projects in sustainable mobility for the Swedish Government. They have two lovely boys, aged 10 and 8, who were seen running around her at the time, and we chatted about their school and how she liked the place. Soon enough, I realized that Gwendolyn was much more than just a wife and mother. 

I was intrigued by her intellect and asked if she was looking for a job in the area. She said, “Qualification-wise, I have a doctorate in literature. But instead of continuing in that field, I’m pursuing my medicine studies.” I was surprised and asked her to clarify, “You mean, you are trying to become a ‘doctor’ who treats patients?” She smiled and said, “Yes, that’s right. I joined the course three years ago, and now I’m in my third year. I joined at the age of 40. I have 2.5 years left. But I had to come here for my husband’s job. I’m currently on a break from my course, but I’ll do some self-study while I’m here and look out for opportunities in research.”

It took me a while to process all of this. Here was a woman in her 40s, already a literature doctorate, and then deciding to start a totally new career in STEM! I kept asking more questions, and our conversation continued for over two hours. I probed her to understand what made her make this radical career shift and how it was possible after mid-life.

She narrated her story, “Yes, I know this is quite challenging and exciting. But it’s possible only because I am in Sweden. In Sweden, education is free, and this enables women like me to start at any point in life. It’s a different experience to sit in a classroom with students/peers half your age.” I chipped in, “But why this drastic change, which means, you need at least 10 years of further studies to establish as a doctor! If you were interested in Biology, you could have chosen it after your high school.” She: “I think the reason why many of us choose our early careers is due to our immediate influence. While I was growing up in Canada, I didn’t have anyone in my immediate circle who chose STEM or biology. No one told me explicitly that I couldn’t become a doctor, but neither were there any examples of people like me who did become one. Despite my getting an “A+” for Biology and only a “B” for English, I chose English and continued in that field, because that was valued by people around me. When I got married and came to Sweden, I spent time with my father-in-law who was an orthopedic surgeon; medicine was a common career in the family.  And I learned the story of a close colleague of my father-in-law who had worked for many years as a lumberjack (someone who falls and cuts trees) before deciding to go to medical school at the age of 30. He became a successful surgeon and researcher.” Yes, indeed, most of us get influenced by our surroundings and the role models we meet. 

She continued, “So, I decided that I wanted to become a doctor myself and enrolled in the university. But, since my high school subjects were not STEM, when I wanted to shift to medicine, at first, I had to take a foundation program of one year to meet the eligibility requirements in Physics, Maths, and Chemistry. In Sweden, we have the ability to reeducate and switch careers with this foundation program. Though I love narrative theory and literature, I was unable to advance in academia. I had to find a new career path and I struggled with language-related career options due to my Dyslexia.”

Now, I was even more in awe of this lady! I exclaimed, “Wait, what? Someone who was dyslexic, achieving a literature Ph.D. and then shifting careers to become a medical doctor, this is the first time I am hearing anything of this sort!”. To which, she said, “No, I’m not the only one. In my medical class, there are four women over 40. They had a career as a violinist, a flight attendant, and as a med-school course administrator before starting their education. But yes, I know this wouldn’t be possible in Canada or the US, or anywhere else. And that’s because of the flexibility and focus that Sweden gives for adult education.” Just then, Anders joined the conversation and said that he was always awed by her commitment to her new education dream and also said, he is waiting to see her graduate as a doctor and pursue her passion. Anders is investing in her dreams by running the family with his income, instead of forcing her to take up a job that she is not suited for! Now, that’s, even more, a wonderful example of a successful marriage and partnership. 

Gwen’s story highlights multiple factors that lead to the success of a woman’s life. It shows the importance of successful role models influencing their career choices, the importance of a supportive spouse, and of course the importance of Government/policy-level support in developing careers and continuing education of women.

As I sat there listening to this wonderful lady’s story, I realized the true value of education and how it can transform lives- not just women, but everyone. The fact that Sweden provides free education to everyone, regardless of their background or age, is truly remarkable. It allows people to realize their true potential and choose their careers based on their interests, rather than being limited by their financial or social status.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in many parts of the world. In some countries, women are still deprived of education, and even when they do have access to it, they may face cultural and societal norms that limit their potential. This is a form of mismatch theory that prevents people from evolving to their fullest.

Remember, Homo Sapiens as a species are currently the most evolved and the most predatory species of all on the planet! When homo sapiens grew in numbers, many species died – says the ecologists and anthropologists! But the irony is that within the Homo Sapiens, there are large sets of people, underprivileged women, deprived of resources, and power and even made to believe that they are secondary lives. It’s our collective responsibility as a species to help everyone evolve to their fullest potential, regardless of their gender, race, or social status.

We must work together to remove any barriers that hinder people from realizing their potential, whether they are technological, cultural, or governmental. Only then can we truly thrive as a species and regenerate our planet. Education is the key to unlocking our true potential as individuals and as a society. It’s our responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to it and is not limited by their circumstances.

Because, I think, when a woman chooses her life, she changes the world!

Let us work together to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to realize their dreams and contribute to a better future for all. 

Cheers to all wonder women who choose their lives!
 
Until Next,

Universal Love and Abundance

#DrCeeVee

(Dr. CeeVee is the pen name of Dr. Chandra Vadhana R,

Founder of Prayaana Labs and Managing Editor, SheSight Magazine)