It had been 8 days since June 24th. Usually, I don't center my life around the events of a certain date. I can't, for example, say how many days it's been since October 22 or even how many days it is until August 4th (that date being important because it is my anniversary.) June 24th itself usually carries nothing special. True, it is a date near the end of June. My mom always said that summer break was over once it was July, despite the fact we didn't go back to school until around August 27th usually. I guess it is sort of true... all of a sudden it's July, then suddenly it's September, and school is in session with 90 degree heat and the whir of those giant fans sitting in the big school windows. I never understood what took air conditioning so long to catch on.
This June 24th was different for me, though. This was the date of the match.
My guess is you aren't familiar with the match. Most people aren't. Not even 1st and 2nd year medical students really understand. The match is a process where medical trainees are given spots for future training. Medical students get residency spots. Residents gets spots for fellowship. I'm in the latter category. I'll be a urologist in 364 days (ok, I'm counting that one). But I don't want to be just a general urologist. I want to be a pediatric urologist. And that requires further training in America. Two years. Two years more on top of the five I've put in to be a urologist, on top of the four for medical school on top of the four for college. It all is confusing, but basically, there are interviews, then the programs rank the applicants and the applicants rank the programs, and the computer figures it out. I liked several of the programs and was told I was in the top few applicants by many programs.
I didn't match.
I managed to find a spot. At the children's hospital in Columbus Ohio. There were four unmatched spots, and at least four people looking for those spots. I flew into Columbus on Sunday, flew out 28 hours later, and got the offer today, and took it.
I didn't want to be stuck without a spot.
I had called an institution from my home state several times last week asking about their potential spot. They were applying to start a fellowship but had no done deal yet. No matter, I got no real response except that they were still thinking over their options (this after they basically told me in April that they'd take me. Should've gotten it in writing... HAVE I LEARNED NOTHING FROM JUDGE JUDY?!)
Then I got this fortune tonight:
And I got excited, and felt good. But then driving home tonight, I couldn't help but feel like it was all a rush, rush, rush, without stopping and thinking. And then I felt like that last part in the Graduate.
Bono, do you ever feel that way? Sincerely,
JP
p.s. You'll have to let me know if there's anything great to do in Columbus. Looks like you've been there more than I have. http://www.u2gigs.com/city-Columbus-Ohio.html
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