This Residency Thing

It is so tiring, this residency thing: lectures to attend, grand rounds to prepare, questions to answer, orals to complete.

It is so scary, this residency thing: crying babies, dying people, dropping blood pressures, rising heart rates.

It is so humbling, this residency thing: one day I am dynamite, the next I explode. One day a super star, one day just stupid.

It is thrilling, this residency thing: I did that arterial line, central line, epidural, induction, bronchoscopy.

It is social, this residency thing: I have met nurses, surgeons, anesthetists, internists, students, and colleagues.

It is immense, this residency thing: Probably the longest, hardest, most important thing I will ever complete.

It is almost over, this residency thing: Only 12 months and 17 days left to go!