I juggle 4 side hustles and a full-time job to save for med school. I barely sleep 5 hours daily.

Eeman Farooqui, a 24-year-old clinical coordinator based in Buffalo, has decided to take on four side hustles alongside her full-time job to save for medical school. Her decision to pursue a medical career rather than research was sparked after her grandmother, whom she was very close to, passed away from a stroke. Farooqui realized her passion lay in patient care, not research.

Her week is dominated by a demanding 12-hour day job, where she interacts with patients and ensures seamless communication between doctors and patients. She works four days a week, often clocking 10 hours of work each day, with overtime pushing her shifts to 12 hours. To supplement her income, Farooqui has four side hustles, including babysitting, tutoring, per diem medical assisting, and DoorDash deliveries.

The most time-consuming side hustle for her is babysitting, which she does three days a week for up to three hours each day, earning $28 an hour. Despite the grueling schedule, Farooqui remains disciplined and wakes up at 5 a.m. to tackle her day job, which includes a gym session. Her side hustles allow her to save for medical school tuition fees and potential relocation.

However, her sleep schedule is severely affected, as she manages to get just five hours of sleep daily. Farooqui acknowledges the toll this lifestyle takes on her mental and physical health, often feeling fatigued and burnt out. She is determined to maintain her motivation for becoming a doctor, but she knows she won't be able to sustain this lifestyle in medical school.