People know I went to nursing school. They're always surprised to hear I'm back in school again. What are you taking? They want to know every last detail of why I need to take more school, now that I'm a nurse. It makes me feel pretentious. Pompous. Telling people my plans generally makes me uncomfortable. But when you try to skirt around the issue as they insist upon knowing, it makes them suspicious. So you try to tell them, without making it seem like a big deal. Because really, it's not. You haven't accomplished anything by being pre-med, yet people give you premature congratulations. It has happened time and time again. Oh, you're going to med school?! They want to shake my hand, like I've done something for the world. Ummmm, no, I'm not going to med school. I'm going to apply. That's all. I try to omit this information as much as possible, I don't volunteer it, but people are so nosy, and brushing them off doesn't feel good either.
I went to go take a midterm for one of my classes today and I ran into someone - someone who I find particularly dense and obnoxious and whose existence I don't really enjoy but anyway - I hadn't seen her in 3 years and she knew that I was going to nursing school in the past.
her: so are you done with nursing school? why are you taking more classes?
me: yes, I'm a nurse. I'm just taking some science classes.
her: for what?
me: ....I'm going to apply to med school
her: Oh my God, so you're gonna be a doctor?!!?!?
me: No. pauses. I mean hopefully. Its not like its guaranteed.
her: oh I know, but you're smart!
me: we'll see.
then I scratched my itchy stomach without thinking much about it, and she said,
"Oh and you're pregnant too?!" (I told you she was dense).
me: uh... no.
her: oh, okay, I didn't... I mean you know how pregnant ladies sometimes they do that thing where they touch their stomach and oh my God okay I..I'm sorry I just...
me: yea, it's okay.
her: I'm sorry I just thought that because you touched your stomach, you know, I didn't mean anything by it and...
me: okay, I dont care, its okay.
snarl.
The first step to getting into medical school is understanding how difficult the process is, and it looks to me like you've done that. Unfortunately, many do not.
ReplyDelete