Rewind to Success
The Strategic Power of Planning Backwards
Several years ago, a recent university graduate approached me with a desire to take a gap between her undergraduate degree and medical school to volunteer abroad. When I inquired about her destination and duration, she responded, "Afghanistan, for six months." I paused, reflecting on my own journey. Having embarked on a similar endeavor in Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan, intending to stay for a year but extending my stay to three years due to the time it took to acclimate to a new culture, language, and workplace, I realized she may have underestimated the depth of experience she sought to gain in just six months
She told me that six months felt like a long time. She wanted to start medical school and become a doctor before she turned 30. I shared my experience living and working in an unfamiliar country and felt that six months would not give her enough time to really learn and grow. So I suggested we work backwards by identifying the latest possible age she was comfortable becoming a doctor in order to give her a better sense of how much time she could take out to volunteer.
Years later, I ran into her at an event. She told me she ended up spending two years volunteering at a medical hospital in a rural area of Afghanistan. Now, a well established doctor, she’s really happy she took more time between graduating and going to medical school. (And I am sure, she’s a better doctor for it).
So here’s my advice to anyone thinking about taking some time out between school and the next step:
Don’t rush through life: It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to follow a certain timeline, whether it’s going straight from high school to college, or from college to a career path. But remember, life is not a race. Take the time to explore your interests, travel, volunteer, or gain real-world experience before committing to a specific path.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone: Growth happens when we push ourselves beyond familiar boundaries. Whether it’s volunteering in a foreign country, pursuing an unconventional educational or career path, or simply trying something new, embrace the opportunities that come your way, even if they seem daunting at first.
Trust in the journey: Sometimes, the path to achieving our goals may not unfold exactly as planned. But every experience, every detour, and every setback has the potential to shape us into the person we are meant to become. So, have faith in yourself, and stay open to new possibilities, and remember that the journey is just as important as the destination.
