Max Fu, a former gastrointestinal surgeon, left medicine at 28 to pursue his passion for filmmaking, prioritizing creativity and work-life balance over family expectations. Raised by Chinese immigrants, he initially embarked on a medical career to make his academically driven parents proud. However, after years of residency and realizing the demanding nature of the profession, he felt unfulfilled. Overcoming the sunk-cost fallacy, he made the courageous choice to leave that life behind at 28, ultimately feeling grateful for pursuing his true desires after a decade of internal conflict.
I had already spent nearly 12 years studying and practicing, but I realized in the grand scheme of my career, those years weren't that much compared to my future.
The day I was accepted into that six-year medical program was the happiest moment for my parents, fulfilling their dream for me as a medical doctor.
Leaving medicine was a difficult decision, but the desire for creative work became an itch I desperately needed to scratch after years in surgery.
I fulfilled the stereotypes of a first-generation Asian immigrant... excelling academically while ignoring my own passions for the sake of my parents' hopes.
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