I know that people are tired of hearing about and talking about coronavirus. However, this is our reality. The coronavirus hasn’t gone away. This is our new normal. Trust me, I know it’s not an easy “new normal” to navigate.
I do want to vent for just a second. I see people all the time not wearing masks or not sanitizing their hands in public places or maintaining distance from strangers. I struggle with how people can be so nonchalant about it. It’s as if because they are tired of the virus and playing along with the rules, that the coronavirus no longer exists. We must wear masks and remain vigilant about hygiene during these times of uncertainty. The coronavirus is still here.
Who knew that one virus could cause such global unrest? Who knew that we would experience loss in many ways? Who knew that I would have my match and graduation canceled? Who knew that I would be starting residency in the middle of a pandemic? Who knew?
I have waited for this moment. And now, it’s here. I’m about to embark on a journey in a profession that is a privilege but also equally as exhausting. Physicians are held to a high standard (and rightfully so as we are talking about lives).
I worry about being a good resident. I worry about making a serious mistake. I worry about not being able to keep up. I worry about a lot of things. Taking care of patients is what I’ve always dreamed of doing, and here I am. It’s my time.
The first year of residency is always intense, and that’s even truer now in the midst of a pandemic. But I am reminding myself that I have experienced thousands of hours of education already, sacrificing much in the process. I am ready, and I can do this! Cheers to beginning a new chapter!
Signed with well wishes,
Dr. AKP
