It’s Gonna Be Okay.
This week…
I was reminded how hard Medic school is. Yet again.
Everyone suffers. The kids, the spouse, the paycheck, your sleep, your social life, sometimes, your sanity.
There are just not enough hours in the day to keep everyone happy. It’s not going to happen. Trying to make it happen is just going to result in you ending up totally fried.
You see things you haven’t been exposed to in the past. Some of them shake you to your core. Some of them fascinate you. There are victories and defeats. Wins and losses. Skills you attempt and succeed, and skills you attempt and are unsuccessful at. As time goes on it might seem like your life has been reduced to a list of tallies.
Holidays you spend with the kids, holidays you miss.
Tubes and IV’s you get, tubes and IV’s you miss.
Tests you pass and tests that… Well, you didn’t do so well on them, but you’ll do better next time.
Labs that you rock, labs that you fail twice.
If you find yourself where I am, know that we’re all there at one point or another. Know that it’s not going to last forever. Know that you’ll get through it if you want it enough.
Just do what you can, when you can. Make the moments you do have when you’re not studying, working, at class or in clinicals count.
It’s all worth it in the end. You know it now, but your people might not.
Cut them a little slack. And at the same time, go easy on yourself.
We can do it.
We can. And we WILL.
Comments
Keep on keepin’ on, Epi. I know where you’re coming from – taking 12 credit hours this semester on top of working full time and pretending to help in planning a wedding. It certainly isn’t fair to my fiancee. Lucky for me she went through the a similar ritual while getting her PhD, so she doesn’t complain. But it sort of sucks – she stays in Tiffin half the week teaching, and when she’s home I’m studying.
That said, it’s a price to pay in the short-term for long-term advancement, knowledge, and (hopefully) happiness in doing something that you love. I’m sure deep down your people know that and are rooting for you. Keep fighting, Epi… there’s a lot of folks who know you’re going to succeed.
Well said Epi.
I’ve done a lot of difficult things in my life, but returning to school at 39 to become a paramedic is the most difficult.
Every medic I talked to has been at this place. The spot I think we’re both at right now. The “Wow, this is killing my family life and it’s kicking my ass…” spot.
I guess the only solution is “stay strong”. We’ll all be there in a few short (okay, who am I kidding- they’re freakin’ long) months.
The balance of family, class, and work is a tough one to achieve. Just know that you can do it, your family and friends support you.
I knew I was stressed while in class over the past year and then precepting but now that it’s over with I look back and think “WOW…what the heck did I do.” But knowing you survived it and have bettered yourself is a priceless kind of moment.
I’m with you. Literally. In medic school too. I have the days marked in a count-down on my calender with the end goal (which used to seem impossibly far away) getting closer every week.
We will share a virtual toast to one another when we’re finished. Because we WILL finish
I don’t envy you, Epi, but I certainly admire you for sticking with everything you have to do right now. It’s never easy to go back to school and I have seen this in my EMT students-the juggling act leads to stress and heartache and all sorts of problems. But you what? Ultimately it will be over and the stress of school will be replaced my something else that makes school look like a cake walk.
Keep your spirits up. If you weren’t committed to school, it wouldn’t stress you out like it is. I promise, the kids will love you no less once you are through this and you’ll eventually be able to look back and be grateful for those that were patient and supportive of your hard work.
As the husband of a wife who spent 2.5 years going back to anesthesia school, I understand the pressures and sacrifices it takes to get a spouse back into school. It’s hard, but that makes it worth the effort.
God bless.
Hang in their Epi! It doesn’t get easier, but it DOES GET BETTER! Coping is all part of the job, as you know from being an EMT, this just takes a bit longer…
Keep it up, its hard now but the rewards will be worth it. First time through school too, I came close on the lab skills but got lucky on my second round of the mega-code, would have been a third attempt but my inaction actually helped (go figure). Now I am more confident and can do these skills in my sleep.
Hang in there girl! WE are going to make it! I’ve been telling myself this all day as school has kicked my a– too today!
Medic 22- I don’t feel so bad now- I’m 41 starting this odyssey of insanity! Tell me it gets better!
Lizard, it doesn’t get easier, but it does get better.
Boy did I need to hear this right now! Full time work, 20 credit hours school (I will be an RN, I will be an RN, I will be an RN), plus life in general. (I don’t know how you are doing it with kids and spouse, it’s hard enough without a family)
That said it sure seems like you have things figured out. keep on keepin on! the world will be a better place the more knowledge you have!
good luck!
and Happy Studying!!!!!!!!
Thanks Medic 22 for the words of encouragement! and to littlepretendnurse- it ain’t easy with spouse and kids- and working 32 hrs a week and 74 hrs of clinicals, 18 hrs credit load- its enough to kill you but like Epi and I keep telling one another- we will get through this and we will survive! Hang in there!
Well put, my friend.
School isn’t easy, that’s for sure, and life circumstances can just make it that much harder. Just remember the end result.
And yes, all of you will make it. But especially you in particular.