I realize this topic was closed but it's interesting and merits some more input.
When questioned about what I do, I'm always up front about being in medical school for two reasons: first, by virtue of denying who we really are, we are, in fact, setting ourselves apart and may be perceived as more arrogant, and falsely humble, than if we had been forthright initially.
Second, <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" /> I lived with my parents until I was 25, making $6.00 / hr. cleaning sweat off of weight machines and collecting dirty towels in a fitness center. Let's just say that I indulged in the lion's share of self - denial then.
There were a lot of good excuses as to why one wouldn't be candid about their status as a medical student in the original post of this topic. However, don't ever feel guilty about the respect and privilege that we've earned and rightly deserve. Self - denial is a "privilege" reserved for those poor souls who have a legitimate reason to be deceptive as to what they and their circumstances are all about. Ben Affleck drove this point home to Matt Damon in "Good Will Hunting." If you haven't seen it, rent it and you'll know what I'm trying to get across.
On a lighter note, I have a funny story along these same lines. I was working a low paying, lowbrow job while waiting to hear if I had been accepted to medical school. There was a really cute girl working in the same area who I took an interest in and started to pursue. Because she was in a higher position than myself and the embodiment of a "gold digger," she would have nothing to do with me and went to great lengths to humiliate, in front of others no less, somebody as presumptuous as myself who would dare even look at, much less speak to, her royal highness. Well, after a couple months of enduring this and establishing myself as a real schnook for getting trampled on, I got the acceptance letter. I hadn't told anybody about my ambition to become a doctor because I didn't want to count my chickens before they hatched, but as soon as I found out I was in, the word spread like wildfire and my plan was about to take effect.
I waited until there was a group of people, including the girl, in the office and walked in like I owned the place. Amongst all the "congratulations" and high - fives, she asked me if I "wanted to do something this weekend," and I said, while everyone waited for my response with bated breath,
"jeez, I'd really like to but you'll have to ask my girlfried's permission." Jaws dropped, egos burst, as I left the office, never to return again. I'm not at all that arrogant or sadistic, but this one had it coming to her.
When questioned about what I do, I'm always up front about being in medical school for two reasons: first, by virtue of denying who we really are, we are, in fact, setting ourselves apart and may be perceived as more arrogant, and falsely humble, than if we had been forthright initially.
Second, <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" /> I lived with my parents until I was 25, making $6.00 / hr. cleaning sweat off of weight machines and collecting dirty towels in a fitness center. Let's just say that I indulged in the lion's share of self - denial then.
There were a lot of good excuses as to why one wouldn't be candid about their status as a medical student in the original post of this topic. However, don't ever feel guilty about the respect and privilege that we've earned and rightly deserve. Self - denial is a "privilege" reserved for those poor souls who have a legitimate reason to be deceptive as to what they and their circumstances are all about. Ben Affleck drove this point home to Matt Damon in "Good Will Hunting." If you haven't seen it, rent it and you'll know what I'm trying to get across.
On a lighter note, I have a funny story along these same lines. I was working a low paying, lowbrow job while waiting to hear if I had been accepted to medical school. There was a really cute girl working in the same area who I took an interest in and started to pursue. Because she was in a higher position than myself and the embodiment of a "gold digger," she would have nothing to do with me and went to great lengths to humiliate, in front of others no less, somebody as presumptuous as myself who would dare even look at, much less speak to, her royal highness. Well, after a couple months of enduring this and establishing myself as a real schnook for getting trampled on, I got the acceptance letter. I hadn't told anybody about my ambition to become a doctor because I didn't want to count my chickens before they hatched, but as soon as I found out I was in, the word spread like wildfire and my plan was about to take effect.
I waited until there was a group of people, including the girl, in the office and walked in like I owned the place. Amongst all the "congratulations" and high - fives, she asked me if I "wanted to do something this weekend," and I said, while everyone waited for my response with bated breath,
"jeez, I'd really like to but you'll have to ask my girlfried's permission." Jaws dropped, egos burst, as I left the office, never to return again. I'm not at all that arrogant or sadistic, but this one had it coming to her.
