Hammad Umar

I was diagnosed with a blood cancer a few weeks before I turned 20. I had just finished my second year at university and was working as a summer research student when life changed in an instant and I had to drop everything.

As a young person with perfect health, I had no reason to expect

cancer, yet I got it and had to deal with it.

During the rest periods between treatments, I had a lot of time to reflect. I began to question what truly mattered to me and where I wanted my life to go if I survived. I realized I had been so focused on my own personal aspirations that I lost sight of what’s going on around me. I hadn’t made any

significant contributions to those around me to make their lives better. I felt a little guilty.

I realized this because of the immense support I received from my family, friends, doctors, nurses, social worker, and most importantly the hospital volunteers. In the toughest moments when I was physically and emotionally weakened, it was the help of the hospital volunteers who got me through

the harsh treatment – it was the simple act of bringing me a warm blanket, offering a ginger ale, and talking with me about soccer. Their empathy was a revelation.

After about 10 months of treatment, I gratefully achieved remission. Now, I wanted act on this important realization and so I began volunteering at the same hospital. Without a doubt, this was the most meaningful experience of my life because I could see the direct impact I was having on patients. Similar to how I felt anxious coming to the hospital, many other patients did as well and simply by talking with them and having a light, off-topic conversation, I was able to ease their worries.

Realizing the power of empathy, listening and the value of interacting with people on a human level, my perspective on my career pathway changed. I initially saw myself as a future researcher who wanted to perform experiments in a lab and look at cells through a microscope, but my experience made me crave human connection – a connection where I could help people directly.

So, I resumed school but changed my majors to human biology and physiology – a path that could help me become a future social worker, physician, nurse, or another compassionate healthcare

provider. While I would love to keep volunteering, I understand we all need to build a career to financially support ourselves and our loved ones. So, I am currently in the midst of applying to professional schools so I can become qualified to support people to a greater degree. Although I

don’t know what specifically I will be doing, I can tell you it will involve helping people directly.

If you have gotten this far, then let me share a few words of advice: as cliché as it sounds, reflect on

your values and passions. Don’t be afraid to take a leap towards the career that truly aligns with your values and passions, whether it is pursuing the necessary credentials or testing the waters through volunteering and part-time work. As young adults, we have a bit more flexibility to switch

our career paths to find a calling that is meaningful to us. My own journey taught me that life can change in an instant and the last thing I want is to regret not pursuing what truly mattered to me when faced with my own mortality. Try pushing away the fear of failure and take that chance to

follow your purpose!