It was 1987. I was all of five years old and was spending a week in Salt Lake City with my father, mother and brother to visit some relatives. While trekking around the great Mormon metropolis, I managed to score a pair of cowboy boots (what little kid doesn’t like new shoes?) as well as another childish pleasure: a trip to Wendy’s.
For one reason or another, that evening’s dining experience (or a really awesome kid’s meal toy) pushed me to share a thought with my parents. I informed them that when I grew up, I wanted to either be a doctor, or work at the SLC Wendy’s.
Years later, I have entirely lost any desire to operate a deep fryer but the idea of becoming a physician remains. I go to school, practice standardized exams, read countless biology textbooks, attempt to avoid (and eventually succumb to) visiting studentdoctor.net, update family/friends/professors/advisors/that guy at the grocery store on my progress and a million other small and not-so-small tasks that it takes to arrive at my stated destination.
A number of my friends are either in medical school or attempting to join the ranks of the short white coats, which is nice because someone I know is either experiencing the same triumphs and tribulations, or has in the past. Recently I discovered that there are a considerable number of blogs written by medical students, interns, residents and physicians, making my habit of “taking study break” (read: procrastination) that much easier. My favorite so far: The Underwear Drawer (named for the author’s hiding place for her childhood diary, so stop thinking dirty thoughts). A good example of her fine work is “The 12 Medical Specialty Stereotypes” and to save you some time (always an important aim for those of us who should be studying 25 hours a day), a YouTube clip that discusses the role of anesthesiologists.
One day I hope to be running around the hospital with a white coat of one variety or another, helping people feel better and maybe even having the time to write a blog entry or two. Until then, it’s back to the books…
