Ok, Ok
So, I've had some "requests" to explain what "life-changing" means in the context of a U2 concert. I'll admit, I didn't really talk about the specifics, in part because I didn't think you guys would find them that interesting. So, now you can't blame me if I bore you. :P
And, perhaps "life-changing" isn't the most accurate term...perhaps it would better to say that I have been reminded of why I'm doing what I'm doing. Ok, still pretty vague...to put it simply, as many of you know, the focus of all this work (college, internships, research, medical school...and eventually MPH and residency training) is to influence public health policy. As a future public servant, there isn't a lot of glory (it def. isn't considered a "prestigious" use of your medical degree) and there is a lot of hard work. So far I've only been working during the summers, but even then you become very aware of the scut-work of policy. And, it's easy to get bogged down in the details, to become so focused that you miss the forest for the trees. And, even more so, to miss out of the reasons you're here in the first place.
I was told before I started school to write down why you want to go to medical school because during its course, you'll forget. I thought that was ridiculous, how could I forget? And, sure enough, there have been many times I couldn't help but wonder why I was here (and my own name...but that's an issue of being overworked ;)).
Seeing U2 in concert and listening to Bono talk about poverty and AIDS and our ability to influence what happens and what has already happened reminded me of the human side of what I'm doing. I've never really forgotten per se, but it is very rarely that one is inspired to keep doing what you're doing and to try even harder.
In short, I guess that was the message I left with. You can't ignore problems such as AIDS and poverty because they're too big to handle. You have to keep trying...or specifically, I have to keep trying and I can be encouraged by the fact that others are trying, and are making a difference.
And, perhaps "life-changing" isn't the most accurate term...perhaps it would better to say that I have been reminded of why I'm doing what I'm doing. Ok, still pretty vague...to put it simply, as many of you know, the focus of all this work (college, internships, research, medical school...and eventually MPH and residency training) is to influence public health policy. As a future public servant, there isn't a lot of glory (it def. isn't considered a "prestigious" use of your medical degree) and there is a lot of hard work. So far I've only been working during the summers, but even then you become very aware of the scut-work of policy. And, it's easy to get bogged down in the details, to become so focused that you miss the forest for the trees. And, even more so, to miss out of the reasons you're here in the first place.
I was told before I started school to write down why you want to go to medical school because during its course, you'll forget. I thought that was ridiculous, how could I forget? And, sure enough, there have been many times I couldn't help but wonder why I was here (and my own name...but that's an issue of being overworked ;)).
Seeing U2 in concert and listening to Bono talk about poverty and AIDS and our ability to influence what happens and what has already happened reminded me of the human side of what I'm doing. I've never really forgotten per se, but it is very rarely that one is inspired to keep doing what you're doing and to try even harder.
In short, I guess that was the message I left with. You can't ignore problems such as AIDS and poverty because they're too big to handle. You have to keep trying...or specifically, I have to keep trying and I can be encouraged by the fact that others are trying, and are making a difference.
posted by Cuteasaurus @ 10:46 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home