Life is now

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I really felt like what you described until about my third year in college, when I realized something --

I freaking love college. I love how crazy busy I am. I love long nights in lab. I love walking home watching the sunrise. I love feeling on top of my classes, especially when they are humongously difficult. The only reasonable reaction was to accept that these are some of the best years of my life, and there's no use pretending like I'm doing them just for the final reward.

So, yeah..enjoy your classes and the camaraderie of your fellow students going through something difficult. There's no point in going through it miserable.

While I'm not as "in love" with all the other stuff you mentioned, I agree.

If you two keep that attitude going into medical school, it'll serve you well. I will whine and complain about having to study for an upcoming test for hours on end, but at the end of the day, I'm still glad I'm doing it.

 

[phospho]

I guess I just realized that. Maybe you all already know this, but I didn't. Ever since I can remember life has always been something off in the distant horizon. For me life was supposed to start in high school, you know, cool parties, cars, sports. Instead I got caught up in AP courses, SAT's, etc. Then life was supposed to start in college, but I got caught up in GPA's and pre-med courses. Then life was supposed to start in med school but obviously I feel like a hamster in a cage spinning on his wheel. So I had convinced myself life starts in residency, then maybe as a practicing physician? Meanwhile, life is passing me by. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Life is now.

Say hi to somebody you've never spoken to in your class today. Break out of your clique and sit next to somebody new. Live today, instead of always waiting on tomorrow.

Lay off of the OP; his/hers is an important realization, and I was fortunate enough to come to the same conclusion during third-year. This ought to guide your choice of specialty and residency program. Do something that you love, at a place where you'll be happy, right now. I know way too many PGY-7 general surgery residents, practically living at the hospital (the best one they could get into per US News, which isn't necessarily to say the best place for them), pounding out research in every spare minute and applying to fellowship.

There's something good to be said for making your career the main aspect of your life, but people tend not to know when/where to stop, and it is precisely this that some of the highest-end residency programs take full advantage of (malignancy at columbia, anyone? 7-year general surgery at penn? Scrubbing the floors at MGH????), expecting us to be overjoyed with having no life in exchange for the great honor of training there. We e
xpect ourselves to do the most well-respected thing possible with every ounce of our energies, but if you're not careful...before you know it you'll be pushing 40 on a fellow's stipend and a family comprised of 3 friends (your fellow PGY-8s).

Most people on this site won't understand this, by virtue of the same drive that has them perusing this site in the first place.

VS.

If this were true, though, at least 3/4ths of us would drop out. I mean, seriously, right now the moment I'm living in involves me memorizing picture after picture of diseased genitalia. Who would do that if life is all about the now?

While I don't disagree with the idea of trying to sneak as much balance into your life as possible, I honestly think it's important to realize that most of the time between now and at least the end of your intern year is going to suck and, more importantly, that you are working to get into a situation where the situation doesn't suck any more. I think it's the people who let stockholm syndrome set in and decide that 'this is my life' who never really try to get clear of the misery, instead letting themselves get sucked into endless 100 hour workweeks and endless additional education even post residency. The fact that this can go on forever doesn't mean it needs to, and if you don't want it to it's important to realize that you will very soon have the opportunity to stop making yourself miserable and go enjoy the income and job security you've earned through all the work you've already put in. And then life can really begin.

great thread... lots to think about... I agree w/ both sides...

 

[Knicks]

^^ Agreed.

 

[Flapjacks]

You are not missing much.



I could elaborate if you want, but I'm too busy living the life you think you are missing.

 

[onomatopoeias]

I guess I just realized that. Maybe you all already know this, but I didn't. Ever since I can remember life has always been something off in the distant horizon. For me life was supposed to start in high school, you know, cool parties, cars, sports. Instead I got caught up in AP courses, SAT's, etc. Then life was supposed to start in college, but I got caught up in GPA's and pre-med courses. Then life was supposed to start in med school but obviously I feel like a hamster in a cage spinning on his wheel. So I had convinced myself life starts in residency, then maybe as a practicing physician? Meanwhile, life is passing me by. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Life is now.

Say hi to somebody you've never spoken to in your class today. Break out of your clique and sit next to somebody new. Live today, instead of always waiting on tomorrow.

Very insightful. I just came to this realization yesterday when I was telling someone how I'm so ready to graduate and be done with undergrad. It dawned on me that I should simply enjoy each and every stepping stone in my life no matter what. 🙂

 

[deleted116380]

I'm 100% glad I am a non-trad and worked a few years (completely different career) before starting med school. I have actually never enjoyed school (for the most part)...memorizing notes and textbooks is not "life" or what I would call enjoyable. The stuff I enjoy is hanging out with friends and family and not having a worry in the world. Thankfully I had a lot of that when I had a job, but unfortunately not as much now. Can't say I understand those that want to be ranked #1 in the class, AOA, etc. As long as I pass, who cares...

I really had no intention of doing research this summer and wanted to travel, but I got to shadow a few docs in a field I didn't know much about til a few months ago. Now they asked for some help crunching numbers (they liked my work experience) and it's what I'm doing. No pay, no nothing. Just doing it because I enjoy it. Others in my class are looking for research...any research...to get their name on some paper. That ain't me. 🙂

 

[FringeScientist]

"Live your life now" is easier said than done...

 

[Knicks]

"Live your life now" is easier said than done...

👍