I’m a Medical Student Abroad and I’m Struggling to Survive

I always dreamed of becoming a doctor. From a young age, I imagined myself wearing a white coat, helping people heal, bringing comfort to those in pain. I never thought the path to that dream would be filled with such overwhelming struggle — especially far from home.

Today, I’m a medical student studying abroad. What once felt like the beginning of a hopeful journey has become one of the hardest chapters of my life. Between financial struggles, mental exhaustion, and the weight of living away from my family, I’ve come close to breaking. I’m writing this not to complain, but to share the reality behind the image of “studying abroad” that many people misunderstand — and in hopes that this story can help someone else who’s struggling too.

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🩺 The Dream to Become a Doctor

Since childhood, I’ve been drawn to medicine. I wanted to be someone who could help — who could make a difference. Getting into medical school felt like the first real step toward that goal. When I got accepted into a university abroad, I was thrilled. It felt like the beginning of everything I’d worked for.

But dreams don’t always come easy. And sometimes, chasing them comes at a cost you never expected.

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🌍 The Reality of Studying Abroad

Studying abroad sounds glamorous from the outside, but the reality is often lonely and overwhelming. I’m far from my family and everything familiar. Adapting to a new culture, language, and lifestyle takes energy — energy I often don’t have after 12-hour days of lectures, labs, and exams.

Medical school is hard. Doing it in a foreign country without the emotional or financial support systems I had back home? That’s something I wasn’t fully prepared for.

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💸 The Financial Struggles Are Breaking Me

One of the biggest challenges I face daily is financial stress. Tuition is expensive. Rent, food, textbooks, supplies — it all adds up. And in many countries, international students can’t legally work while studying. That means I have no income, and my family back home is also struggling.

Every month, I worry about how I’ll pay for next month’s rent. Sometimes I skip meals to stretch my budget. There have been nights where I studied for exams on an empty stomach, and mornings where I wondered if I’d have to drop out just because I couldn’t afford to continue.

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💔 Mental Health: Silent Battles

No one talks enough about the emotional toll of being a student under this kind of pressure. I’ve had sleepless nights filled with anxiety. Days where I couldn’t get out of bed. Weeks where I questioned if I’d made the wrong choice chasing this dream.

Sometimes it feels like I’m drowning silently, with no one to pull me up. But I keep going. Not because I’m strong, but because I don’t see any other choice. I’ve come too far to give up now.

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💪 Why I Refuse to Quit

Despite everything, I still believe in my dream. I still want to become a doctor. I want to help others — maybe especially because I know what it’s like to feel helpless.

Writing this article is one of the ways I’m trying to survive. Vocal Media gives writers a chance to earn through their words. It’s not just about money — it’s about telling my truth, and hoping someone out there sees it, understands it, or finds comfort in knowing they’re not alone.

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📣 To Everyone Who’s Struggling Too:

If you’re a student, a dreamer, or just someone trying to survive — I see you. I know how it feels to fight for a future that seems farther every day. I know the quiet pain of pretending you’re okay when you’re not. You are not weak. You are not alone.

Please don’t give up. We’re all fighting our battles in silence, but we can still reach out, share, support each other, and heal together.

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🙏 How You Can Help Me Keep Going

If you’ve read this far, thank you. Just reading this means the world to me. If you feel moved, you can support me by:

• Sharing this article

• Leaving a kind comment

• Sending a small tip through Vocal

Every read, every share helps me earn a little income to pay for food, rent, and school. I’m not asking for charity — just the chance to stand on my own feet with your support. And one day, I promise I’ll give back even more.

From my heart to yours — thank you.