I'm not sure where to start. I guess I should start with the most exciting news......I will be going to UNC-Greensboro in the fall, for their premed post-bac program! I am ridiculously excited to be studying bio, organic chem, physics, and pre-calc (and that's just first semester!). That's sick. But the reactions I'm getting from most people are this:
Finally! I've been talking about it and obsessing about medicine for so long, and reading medical textbooks for fun, that it's like, okay, good, you're finally going to do something with it. I was talking to a friend of mine, E, today, and he's actually a physician, and he said that I have wanted this more than he's ever wanted to be in medicine, and he has no doubt it will work out for me.....I hope he's right. Because I really do want this, with all my heart. I have wanted this since 2003, and found excuses and reasons not to do it every year.....there are a million reasons why I SHOULDN'T be doing this. But there's one reason why I should:
Because my heart and soul are so invested in becoming a pediatric oncologist. How can I ignore that anymore? I don't want to regret any more decisions in my life. At the age of 28, I feel like I already have more regrets than I should. And that's going to stop. I'm finally taking the first step on a path I've been dreaming about for years, and that feels good.
If MSKCC offered me a job, would I change my mind? I'm not sure. That would be an incredibly hard decision to make, and I would have to weigh everything very heavily -- it would most likely mean I would not pursue medicine, ever. It just wouldn't make sense. I'd be working at my dream job, but perhaps not doing exactly what I want to do. But can anyone really have it all, anyway? I don't know.
I'm missing NY a little.....just remembering last summer. Muggy summer evenings on the Upper East Side, walking home eating Pinkberry, Starbucks runs, loving my work, still not quite believing I was interning at MSK. It's so hard to reconcile my love for NY and my love for Chapel Hill. Both places feel like home, in a way that no other places have.
6 comments:
Yay!!! I am so excited for you! I know what a great feeling it is to make a decision, any decision, but it's especially great to make a decision that makes you feel better. You will be awesome - I have no doubt!
Hi, Jaime.
I discovered your blog through some series of links upon links and have followed your story as it somewhat reversely relates to mine. I am a Northerner as well who is returning to Chapel Hill. You speak so highly of your neighborhood--is there any way I can ask you about it? Best wishes and congrats on your acceptance--I think you will enjoy the work immensely--you sound so committed to what you want to do.
Thanks, Amy!
And to Anonymous - sure, you can ask me about my neighborhood...I think there's a link to email me on my blog...if not, let me know. Southern Village is a wonderful place to live - people either love it or hate it. My friend calls it "stepford village". It's pretty much like living in PLeasantville. There's apartments, townhouses and condos, and houses. I feel incredibly safe here, and people are so friendly, the kids are mannerly, there's green space and running/bike paths, movies and music on the village green....It's not cheap (by NC standards), but I'm willing to sacrifice and pay a little extra for the security I feel here and how much I absolutely love it here!
I'd be interested in hearing how my story reversely relates to yours, as well!
Jaime--It's me, anonymous from before--I don't have a blogger account and I didn't see an email address on your blog, so I decided to just ask via a comment. Thanks for all the info--I remembering seeing Southern Village once (and I remember it as expensive), but maybe I will check it out again. I am not sure my story is that terribly interesting--but it would hardly fit in this comment space!
Thanks again,
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
I just added a link so you can click on it and email me with any questions! Southern Village can be expensive, but they also have apartments, and if you're willing to have roommates, there are always tons of people looking to rent a townhouse with someone. :)
Good for you Jaime. I think we need to be a little crazy to love medicine the way we do, but it's a good crazy ;) And oncology especially, takes a special person. I'm happy you are doing what you love. I know every time I wear my stethoscope around my neck it's like wow this fits, this feels like what I should be doing. As for Bio, email me any time you need some help haha those science courses are the story of my life it feels like. Except I hate physics. Well talk to you soon!
Linds
Post a Comment