Part of a special feature celebrating student success during spring convocation. You can join the celebration by following @MemorialU on Twitter, MemorialUniversity on Instagram and liking the Memorial University of Newfoundland page on Facebook. Well wishes will be projected in the Arts and Culture Centre prior to each ceremony and can also be seen at www.today.mun.ca. 

For Angelique Myles, becoming a doctor and becoming a mother were two dreams she wanted to come true.

Having started the MD program at the Faculty of Medicine in her late 20s, however, the Kingston, Ont., native wasn’t entirely sure either would happen.

“In medical school, the timing of starting a family is discussed a lot between mature students and we encounter it a lot, especially in classes like women’s health,” said Ms. Myles. “It’s something that’s on your mind frequently.”

With that in mind and through her discussions with doctors who went through their residencies with children, Ms. Myles and her husband decided to take the plunge and start the family they had long wanted.

They are now proud parents of a three-year-old daughter and a 15-month-old son. And, Ms. Myles will collect her doctor of medicine degree at convocation in St. John’s on Thursday, May 28.

While she admits it’s not always easy to be a mother of young children and work long hours as a doctor, time management and a strong support circle have been a big help.

“Having a supportive partner and reliable child care is so important. Managing family life and a busy career can be difficult, but with those supports, it definitely makes it easier.”

Becoming a mother for the first time during her MD program didn’t affect her medical career in the least. In fact, she still managed to find time to contribute to extracurricular activities, such as Feb-U-Hairy, a unique fundraising campaign that raises awareness and funds about cervical cancer and the importance of regular screening, of which she is a co-founder.

“I’ve learned that there’s no perfect time to start a family, but you figure out how to manage work and family and both become even more rewarding.”