Applications

As this month is a study month for me, I've not had many clinical encounters to comment on. What I have been doing is studying for the next board exam, which is currently scheduled for September 6th. Nothing new there; I imagine we all have an idea of what it's like to study. What has been sort of new is beginning the long, arduous process of applying to residencies. I say "sort of" because I have done an important, extensive application every few years for the last decade. College wasn't too hard to get into, med school was much harder, and residency is looking to be at least on par with med school.

I have just revised my curriculum vitae based on suggestions by our dean of clinical affairs. We have a mandatory meeting with a dean to touch base and make sure our dean's letter is as accurate and as supportive as possible. Also, we get feedback on our CV, personal statement, generalities about which letters of recommendation would be good to use, etc. I received feedback on my personal statement, too, but I decided to revise the CV first because that came down to simply reformatting a list of facts about my life. For the personal statement, not only had I barely written anything, but I was headed in the wrong direction. The dean said I shouldn't focus on the past and what has led to my choosing medicine and ortho, but instead should focus on "Why ortho, why now?"

So, I need to justify why I'll be a good orthopedic resident and ultimately ortho surgeon, and explain what is currently driving me to seek orthopedics. Marketing myself has always been awkward, and now trying to explain why I want to be an orthopod without dragging up the fact that this has been my goal for half of my life will be a challenge. Perhaps residency directors are looking to see that applicants have actively re-evaluated their desires and skills instead of just defaulting to what sounded good in high school. I think I may incorporate my insight during my EMT training, which confirmed that I need to have more than a technician's level of understanding. Then in med school, I wavered in my drive to become an orthopod, initially because I was worried about being competitive enough, then because I realized I had little experience with many specialties and should at least keep an open mind to other avenues. After stepping back and re-evaluating my career goals, I ended up choosing ortho anyway. Until just now as I'm writing this post, I thought of my "wavering" as a liability and wanted to sweep it under the rug as a possible indicator that I can be easily swayed from my goals. I now think I will include that experience as a demonstration that I am able to re-evaluate my direction in life and don't blindly continue pursuing plans that were based initially on ignorance.

Back to it.

Scott

No medicine, just life

Getting back to the details of my motorcycle, I bought it off Craigslist. It's a decent-sized motorcycle with a good amount of power. A freind said its looks match my personality, and I rather agree. I wish I could post a picture, but it's in the shop getting tuned up. It was a whirlwind of a few days leading up to my buying it. A was on a hike with a friend who reminded me that I had wanted to get motorcycle training, and I realized I could do so this month. On a Tuesday, I bought a helmet. Wednesday, I started a two-day class which included the requisite testing to get a motorcycle-endorsed driver's license. At the end of class Thursday, I went to see the motorcycle and arranged to pick it up the next morning, then bought motorcycle insurance online and planned out the next morning. Friday, I had to get cash to pay for the new license, go to the DMV to update my license, get a cashier's check to buy the motorcycle, then drive out with Dad so he could drive my car back as I rode the bike. The couple selling the bike had built thier own house, and Dad, having worked in the housing development business, started talking about the home building process. The wife was only too happy to give us a tour of the whole place while I was only too anxious to get the motorcycle and ride it home. I finally did just that, taking the long, slow way home so I could enjoy the bike longer and not kill myself getting used to it at 80 miles per hour. I can't remember the last time I drove a vehicle and could feel the acceleration when I opened the throttle. It's a good feeling.

In more personal news, I have had a general upturn in my mood since April and have gradually been reconsidering the idea of getting in a relationship and even (gasp) eventually getting married. For the last year or so, I've been growing closer to a friend and becoming more attracted to her, contemplating asking her out, when out of the blue someone I knew several years ago gets in touch and it turns out she wants to re-connect and possibly start going out. So, now I'm trying to figure out what to do without hurting anyone, damaging relationships, or being a fence-riding sleazeball. Whenever I see a happy-go-lucky bird singing contendedly, I wonder what it's like not having to worry about taking motorcycles to the shop, applying to residencies, or navigating relationships. Then I realize it's pretty good being able to enjoy the deep complexities of the human experience. I'm just hoping I clear the hurdles as they continuously pop up. And maybe learn to pick a metaphor and stick with it.
Scott

Motorcycle

I GOT ONE! I'll post details soon, by I wanted to share the exciting news while it was still fresh. Briefly, it's a 750cc that's older than I am, but it's got a lot of power. I'm not used to opening up the throttle and actually feeling the acceleration. Anyway, that's one thing I can cross off my bucket list.

Scott