When I first entered Aga Khan University Hospital as an emergency medicine (EM) resident, it felt like stepping into a whirlwind. The controlled chaos of the emergency department, the endless maze of technology, the pressure to make decisions in seconds—it all felt like too much. To make things harder, this opportunity came only after facing rejection last year—a moment that could have easily shaken my confidence. Some early on even questioned whether I belonged in EM, subtly suggesting that I might be better suited elsewhere.

But setbacks don’t define us; our response to them does. I refused to let doubt take root. Instead, I used it as fuel to grow. With determination, resilience, and unwavering focus, I pushed forward, believing that even in the most challenging environments, growth is possible. Like a lotus emerging from the depths of murky waters—as Theodore Roosevelt said: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

Almost every resident faces imposter syndrome at some point, but when you’re already nursing the wounds of rejection, it hits a little deeper. I reminded myself why I chose this path in the first place: Because I wanted to be there in someone’s worst moment, to offer calm in chaos, to bring clarity when everything else is a blur. I realized that I didn’t have to be perfect. I just had to show up, keep learning, and keep moving forward.

I asked questions, even when I felt embarrassed. I practiced procedures over and over. I leaned on mentors, found strength in my colleagues, and slowly but surely, things started to click. I became more confident, more capable, and more at home in the whirlwind of emergency medicine.

Residency hasn’t been easy. But like a lotus rising from murky waters, I’ve found my strength through the struggle. And I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.

In my final year, I had the honor of serving as chief resident—a role that tested and shaped me in every possible way. It was a crash course in leadership, mentorship, and self-awareness. I learned how to advocate for others, how to manage the chaos behind the scenes, and how to stay grounded even when the weight of responsibility felt heavy. That year didn’t just refine my clinical skills; it transformed me into someone ready to lead from the front.

Now, residency is behind me. The badge says something different, but the mission remains unchanged. This next chapter isn’t a fresh start—it’s a return. A return to where I’ve always belonged, right in the heart of the emergency department. The place where adrenaline meets purpose, and every second matters. The place where voices echo overhead: “ER staff and doctors attend resus room.”

I’m walking back into those halls not as the unsure resident I once was, but as someone who’s grown through every challenge, earned every scar, and is truly ready for whatever comes through those doors.

Because this is more than a job. This is where I come alive.

Syed Hassan is an emergency physician.