Comments on: Belated update: No longer a med student http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659 Every journey has a pitstop. Welcome to mine. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:12:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wana Be http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-65229 Wana Be Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:34:20 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-65229 Hey Enrico, Just found your blog on 9/24/07 and have read today's plus a few earlier posts. Keep your head up. Got a question for you, for someone like myself who was only recently pointed in the direction of Mexico for my own med school, can you tell me how to find scholarships / loans etc? I'll keep reading the earlier stuff to see what you've got up. Many thanks! Deb - a wanna be Doc Hey Enrico,
Just found your blog on 9/24/07 and have read today’s plus a few earlier posts. Keep your head up.

Got a question for you, for someone like myself who was only recently pointed in the direction of Mexico for my own med school, can you tell me how to find scholarships / loans etc?

I’ll keep reading the earlier stuff to see what you’ve got up.

Many thanks!
Deb – a wanna be Doc

]]> By: Tiny Shrink http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-63757 Tiny Shrink Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:35:53 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-63757 If you need the time off, I'd hope that no one in your future holds this against you. I'd rather see someone take the time to deal with what they need to instead of dropping out later. Best of luck to you! If you need the time off, I’d hope that no one in your future holds this against you. I’d rather see someone take the time to deal with what they need to instead of dropping out later. Best of luck to you!

]]> By: er doctor http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-62462 er doctor Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:27:22 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-62462 catastrophic it is not.... catastrophic it is not….

]]> By: enrico http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-62451 enrico Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:15:12 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-62451 Thanks for all the comments. The next 5-6 months will be challenging as always, but I hope the "difficult situations" decrease for a bit. :P The idea is that I put my house in order, literally and figuratively. I appreciate "er doctor's" comment that it seems so <b>catastrophic</b> right now, but like many things one looks back on, is nothing more than a period in time. I hope I have good stories to tell, too. Thanks for all the comments. The next 5-6 months will be challenging as always, but I hope the “difficult situations” decrease for a bit. :P The idea is that I put my house in order, literally and figuratively. I appreciate “er doctor’s” comment that it seems so catastrophic right now, but like many things one looks back on, is nothing more than a period in time. I hope I have good stories to tell, too.

]]> By: er doctor http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-62419 er doctor Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:51:15 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-62419 Taking time off seems like such a final decision...at the time. When I decided to switch from anesthesia to emergency medicine....I actually quit the anesthesia program as a PGY-2. Just decided one day that "these assholes are crazy...and I'm so done!!" And I quit. I didn't just walk out one day...I mean, it was calculated, and discussed with the program director, etc. But, my mind was made up. I hated anesthesia...my program was ass-backwards...and I was tired of waking up at frikin 5am!! Anyway, at the time, people discouraged me from leaving mid-year. What will the program do? How will that look on your CV? You'll have to explain why you quit for the rest of your career!! To that I say...fuck the program...I'll get a job to keep gaps off the CV....and I'll *very gladly* explain why anesthesia sucks to a bunch of non-anesthesiologist for the rest of my career. Gives us something to discuss on interviews.... Enough about me... My point is/was....at the time, it seems like such a *big deal* to take a break. But, honestly, it's so not. After you graduate from medical school....it'll be just a story you tell....like I tell you mine. No worries!! You've made the right decision!! Taking time off seems like such a final decision…at the time.

When I decided to switch from anesthesia to emergency medicine….I actually quit the anesthesia program as a PGY-2. Just decided one day that “these assholes are crazy…and I’m so done!!” And I quit. I didn’t just walk out one day…I mean, it was calculated, and discussed with the program director, etc. But, my mind was made up. I hated anesthesia…my program was ass-backwards…and I was tired of waking up at frikin 5am!!

Anyway, at the time, people discouraged me from leaving mid-year. What will the program do? How will that look on your CV? You’ll have to explain why you quit for the rest of your career!!

To that I say…fuck the program…I’ll get a job to keep gaps off the CV….and I’ll *very gladly* explain why anesthesia sucks to a bunch of non-anesthesiologist for the rest of my career. Gives us something to discuss on interviews….

Enough about me…
My point is/was….at the time, it seems like such a *big deal* to take a break. But, honestly, it’s so not. After you graduate from medical school….it’ll be just a story you tell….like I tell you mine.

No worries!! You’ve made the right decision!!

]]> By: Sid Schwab http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-62119 Sid Schwab Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:05:02 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-62119 Once again, I admire your struggles and your ability to find ways to deal with them. "Admire" may not be exactly the right word. I'm sorry for the struggles, but admire you for facing them as you do. Keep writing, and keep on keepin' on. Once again, I admire your struggles and your ability to find ways to deal with them. “Admire” may not be exactly the right word. I’m sorry for the struggles, but admire you for facing them as you do. Keep writing, and keep on keepin’ on.

]]> By: punchberry http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-61984 punchberry Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:47:36 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-61984 You have made a courageous decision, and it sounds like you were able to do that because you have a strong sense of your priorities. As always, I admire the way you handle difficult situations. And of course, I will keep reading! You have made a courageous decision, and it sounds like you were able to do that because you have a strong sense of your priorities. As always, I admire the way you handle difficult situations. And of course, I will keep reading!

]]> By: Sam http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-61934 Sam Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:18:34 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-61934 I look forward to seeing you at the hospital next semester. You are not the only person that stayed out a semester to rest. You also will have the experience and advice from us guinea pigs that are over there now learning our way around the mazes of our new school. I look forward to seeing you at the hospital next semester. You are not the only person that stayed out a semester to rest. You also will have the experience and advice from us guinea pigs that are over there now learning our way around the mazes of our new school.

]]> By: Tiffany G http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-61933 Tiffany G Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:18:24 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-61933 Actually, I had not heard any rumors or anything because I tend to keep to myself in those regards. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew things were a bit rocky within your family at the closure of last semester. I have to admit I have been worried that you put your career on permanent hold, but so goes it when you have a family. I support your decision to take some time off without a doubt, as long as you continue and give you and your family an opportunity to better your future. To be here is an opportunity of a lifetime, eventhough things are clearly not up to par here. However, being in Mexico has taught us a plethora of lessons that will serve in our careers as physicians. I tip my Texas 10-gallon hat to you (I am not originally from Texas, nor do I have a 10-gallon hat). We greatly anticipate your return, Enrico! Actually, I had not heard any rumors or anything because I tend to keep to myself in those regards. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew things were a bit rocky within your family at the closure of last semester. I have to admit I have been worried that you put your career on permanent hold, but so goes it when you have a family. I support your decision to take some time off without a doubt, as long as you continue and give you and your family an opportunity to better your future. To be here is an opportunity of a lifetime, eventhough things are clearly not up to par here. However, being in Mexico has taught us a plethora of lessons that will serve in our careers as physicians. I tip my Texas 10-gallon hat to you (I am not originally from Texas, nor do I have a 10-gallon hat). We greatly anticipate your return, Enrico!

]]> By: Celeste http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659/comment-page-1#comment-61921 Celeste Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:46:23 +0000 http://www.mexicomedstudent.com/2007/08/659#comment-61921 Count me in to keep on reading! I You have to do what works for your family. Before we couple up and have kids, we have all of these ideas about how it'll be. Then real life happens, and you find that the script goes out the window. Whatever works is what is BEST. What is the point of getting your degree by a certain time if you kill off everything that makes life worthwhile in the process? I know there is a lot you can do to keep your place with your studies. You are motivated, and you can make it happen. What job will you do in the interim? Count me in to keep on reading! I

You have to do what works for your family. Before we couple up and have kids, we have all of these ideas about how it’ll be. Then real life happens, and you find that the script goes out the window. Whatever works is what is BEST. What is the point of getting your degree by a certain time if you kill off everything that makes life worthwhile in the process?

I know there is a lot you can do to keep your place with your studies. You are motivated, and you can make it happen. What job will you do in the interim?

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