"I plan to be able to work for 25 years." Belarusian woman to receive doctor's diploma at 47

For the past five years, her regular route has been the university's academic buildings, dormitory, and the shop across the street. The Belarusian woman dedicates almost all her time to studying. Her schedule only changes on weekends: at this time, Lena goes to her native Brest, where her mother and 18-year-old son Grisha live.

In her youth, Elena studied jurisprudence and foreign languages in Minsk, but due to accreditation problems at the university, her studies had to be interrupted.

She returned to her native Brest and, after some time, got a job as a head nurse at the regional hospital. This experience completely changed her views on the future: at 32, Elena independently prepared using textbooks, passed exams, and entered a medical college for the paramedic department, which she eventually graduated from with honors.

Павялічыць

After this, she began working as a paramedic on an ambulance. It was there, during difficult night calls, when the responsibility for a person's life rested entirely on the shoulders of the medical staff, that she realized: to effectively help people and possess deep competencies, higher medical education was necessary.

Her family fully supported this decision. Her mother, sister, and father took on the financial support and raising of her son Grisha while Elena dedicated herself entirely to her studies.

Павялічыць

Becoming a medical university student at 41, Elena faced enormous workloads. For the first three years, self-study took 7-8 hours daily; in later years, it became a bit easier — about three hours.

Despite the frantic pace, she has strict rules: she fundamentally does not study after eleven in the evening, considering it ineffective, but instead wakes up at 4:40 AM to review the material with a fresh mind.

Elena is convinced that medicine does not forgive gaps, so she always memorizes terminology and complex drug mechanisms, because without basic knowledge, true understanding is impossible.

As an auxiliary tool, the student uses modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (ChatGPT), to quickly understand specific questions, but always carefully checks the received answers against official textbooks and printouts.

Elena's university weekdays are filled not only with lectures but also with constant practical work. She once considered forensic medicine, but working in the anatomy lab showed her that it was not her path.

However, surgery, which had attracted her since college, became her true calling.

Павялічыць

Elena first assisted in a complex operation in her fourth year, volunteering when an intern was absent. She admits that in the operating room, next to the patient's body and experienced surgeons, she feels complete calm and concentration.

To secure a place in a surgical subinternship, Elena has maintained high grades (9-10 points) from the very first day and actively shows initiative, asking to assist in surgeries with professors who value her impeccable preparation.

Elena has her final exams and job placement ahead. Since she signed a targeted contract when transferring to state-funded education, her workplace will be in Minsk.

The woman is absolutely calm about changing locations, as the main thing for her is progress and her beloved profession.

To skeptical remarks about her age, she responds with a sober, pragmatic calculation: if her health allows, she plans to work effectively and productively in surgery for at least 25 or 30 years, as she perfectly knows why she undertook this long and difficult journey.

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