Can a medical student really be a creative freelancer? Caleb Ng shares his experiences flexing his right brain during the pandemic.
I, along with many others, can confidently say that the ensuing lockdown for the past two years, had put a lot of my plans on the backburner. I saw myself sitting at home with my family, with nothing much to do, and as I was about to spoil myself with video games, movies, and lounging with my cat, I decided to dip my toes into online freelance work in the creative field instead.
Getting real here, I’d never expected to get deeply invested in my creative work, as I’d always assumed that most freelance commissions were for those with the skill of the pen and the tablet. Was there a place for a person like me, a person who’d fully intended to pour his attention into medical school and whose experiences in music and voice acting were few and far between?
Turns out, there was!
Online forums, Discord servers, even local communities that I’d connected with had given me a plethora of opportunities to explore! With every passing day, more and more casting calls popped up, seeking people to fill roles that the artist themselves couldn’t. Sometimes, the talents I had and the requirements they needed coincided. Sometimes, they didn’t need experience, just a person who could get things done fast.
I’m proud to say that I’ve broken out of my online comfort zone and lent my talents to numerous projects, be it through music, producing, or voice acting. Here’s my account of what I’ve learnt through this rare, eye-opening experience before entering medical school.