The Radiation Therapist: An Accidental Career

“But Dad – I want to be an engineer, just like you!”

The question where parents will come to ask someday and that their children would have to make a decision – “What would you like to study next and which college would you be applying for?”. Well, my turn came after I completed my Form 6 (which is an equivalent to A Levels) and truth be told – I have no idea. However, I do know my strengths and my passion for the subjects; Physics and Biology.

Growing up seeing Dad as a Production Specialist Engineer in semiconductor wafers, made me feel that it would be cool to walk in his shoes someday. He would tell us (my younger sister and I) stories of how he would need to dress up in a white clean room gown and don a head cap before entering a high pressure shower cabin and beginning production.

In school, I’ve loved physics and had taken a great interest in Biology. Hoping that someday, I could be an engineer (like Dad!) or perhaps branch into the medical field, and choose the path of a pediatrician. For the latter, I was inspired by a doctor who had attended to me since I was a child; a very kind, warm and sincere lady who goes by Dr Athi.

It’s decision time…

It was Chinese New Year of 2008, where we had our annual gatherings of relatives and family friends to usher in the new year. It was then that we had a close family friend, Dr Nonis and his family over for lunch. Dr Nonis was Dad’s oncologist; who attended to Dad when he needed his treatments back in 1996. Over the years, our families have become close as his daughters were the same age as my sister and I, and we all went to the same school together!

Then came the conversation about what I would like to do and if I have made up my mind about my future. The parents have been very supportive about my decisions since young, but this time – Dad had envisioned a bigger picture.

“No, please, I do not want you to end up bald like me! Why don’t you try something that has a mix of both physics and biology – which you love?”

– Dad on his thoughts of my future

That was when I learnt about Radiation Therapy. It was my first time hearing of the occupation let alone knowing what the job nature entails to. But hey – from what Dr Nonis explained, it looks like it was right up my alley. Why not take the leap of faith?

So that was how my journey began.

And over a decade in, I have no regrets.