It's Been a While

Ah, summer. There's nothing to do here, but I'll be damned if I don't busy myself with something. Last summer: property office and EMT school. This time around: Chemistry, TAing EMT school, and actually seeing people. And the endless, fruitless, search for work.

Chemistry! I've decided to be a Physician Assistant. I don't want to do the full-out med school thing. I want to work closely with patients. I want to work--in the Navy? I keep surprising myself with these things. But I'm taking my prerequisites and checking off the boxes for applications. It's like being in high school again, except it's for real this time. Applying to and attending a masters program means making a choice about what I want to do. There's no "undecided" major in PA school.

TAing! Like at Brandeis, but with money. I love it. I led my group in CPR on Sunday, becuase I had a wonderful lead instructor who was willing to let me take charge. It felt really good--everything came together. Considering going for I/C at some point.

Seeing people! Last summer, I would work, school, sleep, repeat. I saw Matt every two weeks if I was lucky. I went for a walk with my best friend the other night, had a few bonfires with the hometown crew (accompanied by a lovely phone call to my parents from the police--but nothing happened), late night meanderings around town, seeing that nothing really changed.

Job search! Blurgh. Harassing HR people at a few places. Trying to find somewhere that will take me per diem that I can access form Brandeis. Without a car. Options are severely limited. Also, the fact that PA programs require EMT work to be "more than just patient transfer" means that what I can do as a basic in the Boston area might not count. Looking at places that will train me as a CNA while I work for them, but it feels like a step back. Making beds and wheeling patients around and monitoring bedpans--they're important tasks, I know, but I'm already trained for so much more. The fact that CNA work counts but patient transfer doesn't bothers me. I can't change the system though, so all I can do is roll with it.

So that's my life. Matt and I are coming up on our 1.75 year anniversary and yes I still count the months. When I look at my life as of two years ago and how it is now, I can't help but be happy when each month rolls around.

PA people! Military medical professionals! CNAs! I'd especially love to hear what you have to say about all this. Leave a comment, if you're so inclined!