Today was Hospital Day at my school.  It isn’t a big deal or anything, but a bunch of representatives from different sites set up booths.  It gives us a chance to ask questions about rotation sites for the next two years or about possible residency slots around the country.  But the best part about hospital day is the free stuff.  I think I got at least twelve new pens, a few highlighters, and some other sweet knickknacks.

I feel bad that I am only excited about the free pens, but really I am just not ready to think about residency.  I am not even really that concerned about rotations (which I should be because the match is in a month).  I have learned in med school to just think one day at a time.  Right now I am only concerned about my classes.  Anything more than a week in advance is just not on my radar.

It isn’t a bad thing, really.  I used to be such a worry-wart.  I would stress out so much about things that weren’t going to happen for a long time and that I had no control over.  And, believe it or not, med school has helped mellow me out.  It isn’t that I don’t care anymore, I just don’t have time to worry.

If I stop and try to figure out how everything is going to work out, I will just stress out to no end.  My friends and I always joke about it is a bad idea to ever look ahead at the calendar because if you do you will freak out.  Some weeks look impossible on our schedule – tons of classes, exams, and practicals.  But they never end up being that bad.  You just have to power through it, and when you look back you are like, “Huh…I don’t know how I did it, but I did!”

If I do start stressing out, I just try to remind myself that everything always works out in the end.  I know that I am supposed to be a doctor, and nothing is going to stop me now (knock on wood).  I guess that is why my friends call me the “cool cucumber” of our group.  If I start freaking out…you know things are bad.