Mirror Magazine - No time to waste

Archana Fernando, 23, is one of those people who seems to have it all. Yet, it only takes a little time spent with her to realise that a lot of what she does have didn’t just fall into her lap. Sure, Archana is where she wants to be in life – but it’s been hard work getting there.

Archana, initially a pupil of the Colombo International School, decided she wanted to go abroad to study medicine in 2000. Her results – she won the Edexcel prize for the best A/level results – made it possible. So, it was no surprise when she was accepted into the renowned University of Cambridge in the UK. What was a pleasant surprise was that the admission came complete with a Bursary from the Commonwealth Fund of the University – a grant that would help pay her tuition fees for the next three years. In 2003, she graduated with a first class and a BSc (Hons). The next step in her career was an M.B.B.S. from University College, London (UCL).

This time, she graduated not only with a distinction, but also as the winner of two prizes. The first – the Chadwick Prize in preventative medicine – and the second – the Robert and Diana Dick prize for the best results of any overseas student – were the highlights in an already distinguished academic record.

In the run up to her final examinations, Archana slaved over her studies. Waking up early in the morning, she would work right through the day, only stopping late in the evening. This sort of discipline – which seems fundamental to her academic success – is also the reason that Archana has a life. Determined to avoid drowning in the stormy sea of academia, she has always approached the difficult business of living in a balanced fashion. Despite this being one of those things to which the phrase ‘easier said then done,’ applies, Archana has never compromised. Whether it was taking English literature in school to weigh against all the science, playing tennis after studying, or simply hanging out with friends, she’s found ways to really enjoy all the variety that life has on offer.

She enjoys dancing and has even choreographed for the Cambridge Dance Society. A show, which featured two pieces choreographed by her, ran at the ADC theatre in Cambridge for four nights. Looking back, she says that she still considers that one of her biggest achievements. She is also an accomplished tennis player, and has represented all three institutions – CIS, Emmanuel College and now UCL. She’s made it up to grade six on the pianoforte, and is as you can see, just plain all- round perfect.

When she first went abroad, things weren’t easy. Home, family and all that was familiar was far away. It didn’t particularly help that she was very attached to her family, in particular her parents, Kumar and Lakshmi Fernando as well as to her grandfather, E. W. Balasuriya. However, now she’s settled down, and she says it’s like having two homes. Next year, Archana intends to return to Sri Lanka and take the examination that will allow her to practice here. The current situation at home concerns her as it does others, and so having spent six years out of the country, has her considering keeping it that way.

However, the land of her birth still draws her. She’s fascinated by how, despite differences in techniques, equipment and approaches, doctors effectively battle the same diseases. Not for her the isolated delights of being locked up in a lab – Archana says her first love will always be the actual practice of medicine. In particular, she enjoys coming into regular contact with patients. This can sometimes be incredibly frustrating or painful – no wonder many doctors find it useful to cultivate a thick skin. Archana, however, is from the other side of the fence, and firmly believes it’s quite okay to get involved and even upset. As far as she is concerned, at the end of the day, to be a successful doctor, you really gotta have heart.

Medicine is a progressive field, and for Archana the fact that she’ll never run out of things to learn is a powerful attraction. She still has a few years before she specialises, but she already knows what she’s going to become – an anesthetist. This will necessarily take several more years of studying and endless effort, but Archana is geared for it.

In the meantime she’s discovered that contrary to popular opinion, dealing with dead bodies, sick people, and gruelling syllabi are not the worst things about medicine. She has no qualms whatsoever about cutting open a body and pulling out the intestines. I kid you not – this woman has a stomach of steel, neither blood nor gore fazes her. She can even watch the needle piercing her skin when she’s getting an injection. For Archana, her personal affliction will always be biochemistry.

That all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl is something this medical student knows rather well. Working really hard is something that pays off big-time for Archana, but then again, so does playing hooky on occasion. For example, taking off to a theme park for the day in the company of friends, is one of her favourite ways “to get a bit of perspective.” If one didn’t do well in the examinations, she explains, even after putting in all that effort, it would seem almost like an entire life had been wasted… and that’s one thing she won’t risk – she has far too much that she wants to get done.