Glenn Lura’s Long, Winding and Bumpy Road into Medicine
The path to becoming a medical doctor is never easy. It’s most often reserved for those who shine very early — top students with clear direction, focus and the right support. But what about those who don’t start strong? The ones who weren’t “chosen”?
Can a late bloomer still find their way to a career as demanding and prestigious as medicine?
The answer is yes. Ask my friend Glenn Lura.
My High School Chum
Glenn and I were high school buddies. We shared a love for sports and the high school social life. Glenn was a good student, a high school athlete and popular. By all measures he appeared to be building the foundation for a successful adult life.
Like many young adults, Glenn followed his parents’ advice and moved away to attend college. That’s not uncommon. When we’re young, we lean on our parents’ and others’ experience and direction to shape our early trajectory.
But often in life, we may follow a path without truly “owning it.” And when that happens, we must be willing to accept both the good and/or bad that may come from it.
Glenn shared, “I remember how excited I was to be going off to college, but I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t prioritize it. After two years of wasted time, money, and failed courses, I dropped out of state college. I tried again at a junior college. And then at another junior college, with the same results.”
When You’re in a Hole, Stop Digging
One of life’s most valuable lessons is knowing when to stop. We all find ourselves in bad situations from time to time. How we respond to those events helps define our maturity.
It is said, “If you’re in a hole, stop digging.” Glenn was doing his best — the best HE knew how. But it wasn’t working. His initial college experience had become a string of failures. He had no choice but to attempt to build a life without a post-secondary education.
Clarity on a Cold Mountain
In his second year after giving up on his college education, Glenn found himself working at a ski resort, grooming slopes in the bitter cold in the middle of the night. “It was actually beautiful in its own way,” he said. “But the job and lifestyle was also a haven for people that were avoiding the real world. My colleagues and I were “part-timing” our way through life and spending free time foolishly, living the ski bum lifestyle.”
He continued, “I clearly remember being on top of the mountain one cold night, making snow under a clear moon. It all hit me square between the eyes. I said to myself — ‘What are you doing?! You don’t want to be doing THIS at 50!’”
That moment was Glenn’s epiphany.
The Power of an Epiphany
Epiphanies often come when we’re grappling with discontent. They bring clarity, resolve, and a shift in perspective. They can come at any time. But Glenn’s came in the moonlight, on a snowy mountain. And it changed everything.
He realized he’d been mismanaging his life. And he wasn’t going to let it continue.
The thing about an epiphany is that you must experience it for yourself. You can’t have an epiphany for someone else! They need to have their own. They need to “feel” the power of that unique and personal understanding as it remakes their perspective.
A New Plan, A Hard Path
“I had to change,” Glenn said. “I moved back in with my parents at age 22 and committed to school again. But this time, I meant it.”
What Glenn didn’t expect was rejection. The local junior college told him he wasn’t “college material.” They wouldn’t let him re-enroll — except for adult night classes, where perhaps he could prove himself.
His reputation had caught up with him. And now, he had to work twice as hard just to get back to zero.
Reputation matters. Decisions you make follow you. Problems you created go unresolved. Circumstances you ignore come back for revenge. Sometimes, the damage is hard to undo.
Glenn learned that early — and it fueled his resolve.
Everything on the Line
Glenn saw all his peers moving forward. He felt stuck. But he made a promise to himself: “Let me prove it to myself. Then I’ll show the world.”
He took every night class he could. He studied all day and became obsessed with the quality of his schoolwork. He earned straight A’s and returned to Cal State to reenroll. This time, they accepted him and after several years, and he earned a double major with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration.
“My final GPA was terrible because of those early college years,” he said. “I couldn’t erase that. But the last few years were exceptional. I proved to myself I could do it. I learned how to learn, and I became a very good student.”
Glenn discovered that desire without discipline is just a wish.
In his first attempt at college, he wished for success. In his second, he planned for it — and followed through. And he began to enjoy the fruits of his hard work.
With his Business and Economics degree, he joined a local bank and built a strong career in commercial banking. He was making good money, building a family and establishing roots. Now in his 30s, he was again questioning his purpose and goals in life.
Navigating a New Course
It was after a year-long sabbatical he spent sailing with his family in Mexico, that Glenn decided he would change careers. Commercial banking wasn’t satisfying his desire to help others. He wanted a life of purpose.
“My initial sites for a new career were set on nursing, and I began to pursue those requirements. However, I discovered a genuine love for science in the process and decided I was going to apply to medical school,” he explained. “Here I was at 39 years old applying to medical school. I wasn’t positive I’d even get accepted, but I had to try. I knew that if I didn’t, I would always wonder. Fortunately, the admission staff at Loma Linda University saw my history, understood the changes I made in my life, and the conviction I had to complete what I start. Plus, my strong MCAT scores offset my woeful grade point average.”
Imagine starting medical school at 39 — knowing it would take 7 more years before you could practice! Glenn had signed on for a total of over 10 years of additional education considering both his pre-med and med school years.
Glenn shows that to live the life you believe you were made to live comes with a sacrifice. There is a real cost in time, money and forgone desires. Only a few are brave enough to sacrifice so much.
Reflections at Retirement
Today, Dr. Lura is winding down his medical career. After 17 years fulfilling his ultimate life purpose to help and heal others, he is still looking for ways to contribute. Sharing his story with me is one of those pursuits in the hopes others will gain the courage to do the hard things.
Glenn reflected, “Sure, I wish I could redo some things. But that’s not how life works. My failures taught me humility. They made me work harder. I’m grateful for those lessons. I encourage others to do the same — learn, course correct, recommit and repeat.
Life shouldn’t be lived as a punishment. Don’t be afraid to work hard to find satisfaction.” Commit to being a life-long learner so you will be prepared when the future arrives at your doorstep.”
Listen up! Those are doctor’s orders.