Why I'll miss being a student

Aug 2, 2012

Even though I graduate next week, today is my last day of actually being a student.
It's bittersweet.
Yesterday was my last day in the operating room as a student.
As my going away gift, my doctor handed me a scalpel and let me amputate a patient's toe all by myself.
I felt like it was my birthday!
He trusted me to do it all, such a great feeling.

It's a little weird realizing that I have been a student for the last 20 years of my life.

What will I do knowing I don't have a test looming in the distance, or when I no longer have someone in charge of me that has the ability to decided whether I pass or fail.

I no longer have to wear that awful name tag, labeled Emily Ratcliff, PA-Student
(Remember, that one that fell in the toilet?)

When I mess up, I won't be able to shrug it off with the excuse "Oh well, I'm just a student"
. . . but then again, it will be nice to walk into a patient's room and do a knee injection without hearing "Oh, you're gonna do this? Have you ever done one before? Can I see the doctor?"

This summer I had the privilege of working with some amazing people in my hometown who taught me more than they will ever know. 
I learned how to do great physical exams, joint injections, and casting . . .

. . . but more importantly they taught me the skill of compassion and putting your patients first.

On another note, I also got to dog sit this precious seeing eye dog (it's the students obligation, right?)

. . . and we also got to enjoy the chaos that comes with Gerard Butler filming a movie in our ER.

Should I be scared that this was my fortune the other day?
A little foreshadowing, eh?

I'm not ready to be an adult!
I never thought I would be sad that I am about to graduation.
I've thought about August 11, 2012 for two entire years and the day is slowly looming.
Barf.

4 comments:

Heather said...

I just graduated in may and I TOTALLY understand what you mean in this post. I've even had the moments of "crap I forgot what my clinical schedule will be!" well that's because I don't HAVE one! Lol

Alex, Speaking Denglish said...

haha that fortune does have a little ominous tone to it - but i know the future will be awesome! plus, all my recently graduated friends say working is better than school in lots of ways because you dont have commitments once off the job. we'll see...

Alex, Speaking Denglish said...

oh and how could i not mention - I CANT BELIEVE YOU AMPUTATED A TOE, CRAZINESS! so cool

Chelsea said...

Good luck! It's true. Definitely enjoy the college years while you can because the working world is tough! In most professions you work a lot and only get 2-3 weeks of vacation a year. Congrats on graduation!

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