As promised in my prior blog post, I’ve been trying to focus on the good in my life.  This month of ambulatory rotation has been a much-needed breath of fresh air.  I’ve caught up on my sleep.  I’ve been cooking and baking.  I’ve cleaned my house.  My Christmas letters will go out in the mail tomorrow.  And I’ve had time to regroup.  I feel a little more like my normal self and a little less like an “intern.”  In short – working forty hours a week agrees with me.

So as I near the half way point of my Intern year, I wanted to share a few of my favorite things about being an intern.

1. Being Dr. Howard

Now I’m not saying this in a snooty, please-call-me-doctor way, but being Dr. Howard instead of “justthemedicalstudent” is definitely a step in a positive direction.  At least it means the nurses take you seriously.  Well, maybe not seriously, but they sure seem like they listen.

2. Increased medical knowledge

I have learned so much in the past 6 months.  And in such a different way than I did during medical school.  Every day I learn more and more, and it’s exciting to go to work and never feel bored.

3. Friendships

I love my fellow interns and residents.  My favorite part of the day is hanging out with them.  Getting along with the people I work with makes work so much more enjoyable.  I can’t imagine spending 80 hours a week with people I hate.

4. Level of Responsibility

So this might seem counterintuitive, but I enjoy being low on the totem pole.  It’s nice to know that I have a senior resident and an attending above me to make sure I don’t mess up.  From this point on my level of responsibility is only going to increase to a point where I am solely responsible for my patients and my patients’ lives.  For now I’m going to enjoy the fact that I have help.

5. Support

One of my favorite things about being an intern is how much support I have.  Not just from my family and friends, but from all of the people I work with.  I’m so blessed to work at a place where people encourage me and inspire me every day to work hard and be better.

Being an intern is hard.  But I’m half way done.  And in 6 months I will be a senior resident.  Which, honestly, sounds even harder.  I hope I’m ready.  For now I’m going to count my blessings that I’m an intern.  Because it isn’t all bad.

Just a sample of some of my baking this month