Don't Close Your Eyes

		Hello, World. ♥; JANICE Ahbai/Lab/Abaky(tard) & Living life on the edge Facebook

Wishlist #1 Be adventurous #2 Be of value to those around me #3 Find a spur in life tagboard Widgets Affiliates CKPS 6A`o7 Aaron Aisyah Ariel Calvin Camilia Chee Yong Clarice Darren Ee Zhen Eng Xuan Jacky Jean Joo Yoon Katherine Lisa Mei Yee MC Mo Munir Peng Ker Qian Joo Qi Hui Sam Seo Jung Vanessa Wei Ling Winky Yong Lun Zhe Shen CCHMS CCHMSCO Florence Jacinda Ka Wing Mabel 2DL'09 CLASS BLOG! Aileen Beatrice Cherylmine Clara Gillian Hui Ping Hui Zhen Jia Yan Jocelyn Lynn Pei Xuan Po Chun Rochelle Rosamund Sherrie Si Min Sudarno Sze Ning Tian Lerk Tze Fung Wen Hao Xing Hwee Xin Hui Others Brian Cousin Kelvin Daryl 1DL Facilitators Blossom Ginny Jessica Ee Lin Joey archives January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 July 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 January 2012 July 2012 December 2012 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 May 2014 July 2014 October 2014 December 2014 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 December 2015 January 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 October 2016 April 2017 June 2017 July 2017 October 2017 September 2018 March 2021 April 2025 credits Design: doughnutcrazy Icon: morphine_kissed		Saturday, July 23, 2016 @ 1:44 am It's an understatement when I say I'm lucky all my life. I've been more than blessed all this while -- born into a loving, complete environment with fantastic people, born able-bodied and able-minded, being able to lead a life thus far without having to worry about a lot of matters that would otherwise be constantly on some people's minds. Probably wayyyyyyy better off than so many others, yet it's so difficult to show appreciation daily whilst being tied down by work and other priorities. Today serves as a respite, when I can finally pause, take a step back, reflect and just be thankful for the many deserving things that have happened over the past 6 weeks (before I start slogging away to complete my second reflective journal). 6 weeks into my first ever clinical posting with Internal Medicine at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and it's been more than just an eye-opener to me. I still recall my first time being at TTSH as a greenhorn -- J2, unsure and enthusiastic about witnessing first-hand how a hospital is on the inside. I vaguely remember the gratifying first experience which is pretty similar to what I've been doing at IM so far -- visit to a ward (looks and feels the same as before), visit to the lab, free coffee and milo at Annex, attachments at the podiatry and physiotherapy department, etc.. At that point in time, I was already vying for a healthcare career, thinking of doing Medicine but wondered if my grades could make the cut, and I was hoping to be able to come back to TTSH for various reasons. Guess it was somehow meant to be that I started my first clinical year back at TTSH again, with a familiar and comfortable environment. This time, though, I'm still a greenhorn, with a lot more uncertainty and short-lasting grit that accompanied the unfaltering heart of a yet-to-be-jaded third-year medical student. I remember setting goals for myself right at the beginning of the posting -- to clerk and perform a certain number of long and short cases per day -- but this has come almost to naught with other preoccupations and distractions. I don't dare say that I've seen a lot, and I hate to admit it but I felt that I was losing patience and some empathy somewhere along the way (esp. for difficult patients). There's one week when I had zero motivation to clerk patients and kept giving myself excuses to not do so. Thankfully, a week's worth of Rehab Medicine got me rejuvenated thinking of why I wanted to do what I'm currently doing. Dr Loh's funny reminders to not just be "Mouth Big Brain Small" after graduating with an MBBS, to always remember to treat the patient by finding out what they desire and not just treat their medical conditions, what it means to 'help' patients because intervention isn't necessarily always beneficial. The rehab physicians were full of love and respect for their patients (and probably know more about their conditions and names off-hand). Probably need to try and get that back. Apart from the mentors themselves, I'm also very lucky to have befriended an SIP M5 and overseas elective student. There were a "humble source of unending knowledge and skill", and were extremely willing to teach, share and supervise me. We had lots of fun as well, just talking about related or unrelated issues and making fun of each other, even extending all that talk to beyond just the two weeks we were all together. Each time I think of starting the next two weeks without them, life sounds a lot less interesting and definitely more stressful as I'd be the only one under the direct scrutiny of Prof. Today at Chee's 21st birthday celebration, I was suddenly reminded of how our friendship was so remarkable and that we've witnessed each others' highs and lows, all the milestones and all. I've been blessed with such great friends who've stayed with me all this while and lent me a listening ear whenever I need one. My path crossed with those of so many fantastic people; they've helped me so much along the way to avert potential crises and struggles that I would have to otherwise face alone. Today is the day I give thanks. Super tired though. Probably deserve a good night's sleep. :)