Spark Series Spotlight – Kunal Sehgal (OH 2017)

The OHA are delighted when alumni give back to their school. This year, saw the introduction of the Haileybury Spark Series, developed and run by the Haileybury Careers Department. OHA members volunteered their time to come back and speak to students about their possible careers paths.

Kunal recently returned to the School to speak at the Medical School session of the Haileybury Spark Series.

We had the pleasure of getting to know Kunal a little more through the Spark Spotlight Series:

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Kunal and I am a 4th year medical student at Monash University, and currently tutor secondary school students in my free time. I have also been involved in administrative work in the Monash Medical Interview process in the past. I graduated from Haileybury in 2017 and have very fond memories of my time there. My hobbies include playing tennis, drawing, playing the piano, and watching anime!

What did your post-school pathway look like? Did it differ from the pathway you had in mind when you finished school?

I entered undergraduate medical training straight after leaving Haileybury. That was the path I was hoping to take, and I was lucky enough to be able to do so. However, this is not so for everyone, and I have many friends who have taken different paths into (and out of) medicine.

What were your priorities in school? How have your priorities changed since leaving, if they have changed?

My priorities in school were always about getting high marks in assessments. While this isn’t a bad mindset per se, I am now much more focused on learning. Given that I will be practicing medicine for the rest of my life, I have made professional development and learning as much as I can my priorities, rather than only focusing on just scores (which are important too).

What are you most proud of?

I am proud that I was able to do something that I enjoy. Of course, I am happy I was able to get into medicine, given it is competitive. Ultimately though, more than scores and achievements, I feel pride knowing I chose a career path that suits me.

Did you ever stumble? Did you experience strife or fear related to your transition to higher education/work?

I have stumbled, just as everyone in the world has at some point. However, my teachers were incredibly committed to us students and our success, and thanks to their help, I was able to work my way through the year. The idea of leaving school was intimidating, as the safe confines of school are all we know until we must leave them. However, I was lucky that my university course was designed to ensure a smooth transition, which made things much easier for me.

What are you excited for now or in the future when it comes to education/work?

I am excited to be nearing the end of my degree, and I look forward to working in hospitals as a junior doctor. There is an incredible amount that I will learn over the next few years, and I’m looking forward to the journey.