Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Comfort in conversations

WITH BARELY 50 days to go before Internship ends, the question we keep asking these days is, "What next?"

Five years of med school does seem like a short time. There were periods, though, when it felt like forever. With all the exams, 24-hour shifts, round-the-clock monitoring of intubated patients, incessant pushing of heavy, metallic stretchers; we counted the days, like newly-incarcerated prisoners, hoping for the moment when we'd get out of our cells. We were too bogged down that we hardly had any time to ruminate on what our paths will be. Should we go straight to residency training? Pursue careers in Public Health or Policy? Get married and have children? And now we have to find answers to those questions.

After clinics I had coffee with Leeca Caro and Matt Chang. I was a third wheeler—and a happy one. There's nothing quite like a stimulating conversation with like-minded friends.

"Are you sure I'm not interrupting anything?" I asked Leeca, who gets uncomfortable at allusions to romantic corniness.

"Ano ka ba? We're not that kind of couple."

Leeca is one of my dearest friends from med school. We were seatmates for most of our second year and groupmates on our third. We kept each other awake by talking to each other, having mastered the art of chitchatting without getting noticed. I got high grades when I crammed at the library with her—she had a way of helping me understand concepts that were hard to grasp.

matt and leeca

This afternoon we talked about many things, mostly about what we want to do with our lives. The truth is: the world is our oyster. The possibilities are endless. But what are we truly passionate about? How do we see ourselves five or ten years from now? The conversation was just what I needed, and I praise God for the privilege of talking to them. It felt liberating to share my feelings of uncertainties, and I learned a lot from them.

I am in that state when I do not know the answers yet. What I do know is that God is in control of my life, and He knows what is best for me. That is comfort enough.

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4 Comments:

Blogger Schubert said...

go where your heart leads you! :) your blog background is argyle diamonds, my favorite cloth pattern. teehee

Tue Mar 11, 07:40:00 PM GMT+8  
Blogger Lance said...

Tama, Schubs! Argyle diamonds?! Saan mo natutunan 'yan? Ang galing mo talaga.

Tue Mar 11, 09:01:00 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Kuya Lance! It's really nice to read your blog. I became an instant follower and regular reader when I stumbled upon it last year. I'm also a Christian and I found most, if not all, of your posts encouraging. I'm MD wannabe, too, and I really consider your blog as a blessing. Keep it up! I hope that you be enlightened about your future. You know exactly who holds it and I know in time He'll reveal His plans for you. God bless! :)

Sana makapasa rin ako sa UP! :)

Thu Mar 13, 09:58:00 PM GMT+8  
Blogger Lance said...

Thanks for visiting, carisajade. I'm encouraged. If you do get in to UP, balitaan mo ako. :) I might still be there. Hehe.

Fri Mar 14, 04:01:00 PM GMT+8  

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