In PA school, sometimes it feels like we are stuck in this bubble of constantly studying, eating, taking exams, doing check offs, reading, maybe catching a few hours of sleep and repeat…And repeat… And repeat. Our lives seem so consumed in our studies that sometimes we forget that the rest of the world exists. We get set in our routine and have plans for how we are going to try to spend our day or how we are going to time manage for the weekend. We try to plan out naps and we try and plan out dinner with friends if we can swing it. What we don’t plan on, though, is when something terrible happens and we have to drop everything and drive 600 miles (about an 8 hour car ride) home for a funeral.
As someone who works in medicine I am very aware that death occurs. I did a lot of work with hospice patients and was very active as a caregiver with end of life care. No matter how many times I have experienced death, it does not make it any easier when someone you love passes away. It doesn’t make it any easier watching the people you love lose a pivotal part of their family. It doesn’t make it any easier when you have to meet people under these circumstances. The reality is, though, that life happens.
As a student, it is so easy to get caught up in the school routine, but we must not forget about our families. We are daughters/sons/sisters/brothers/grandkids/mother/father/etc and THEN we are a student. Family always comes first. Our families are with us for an unidentified amount of time, our books, however, those will always be there on the shelf indefinitely. We can stray away from studying and books will still be there for us when we decide we have time for them. The same does not go for family members (unfortunately). We may travel far and wide, and do amazing things in school, and make awesome strides as a future clinician, but if we neglect our family, they may not be there when we decide we “have time” for them.
Call your mom. Go out to lunch with your sister. Grab dinner with your grandparents. Send a text. Face-time your dad. Skype your best friend. YOU NEED TO DO THIS Y’ALL. Seriously, your books can wait. Is it possible you don’t do as well as you wanted to on a test? Yep. Is it possible you might lose some sleep because you need to study a little longer? Yep. Does it throw your whole schedule off? Possibly. We have to learn to be flexible. We have to adapt to our situations. I am the most type A person you will ever meet and I have to remind myself over and over that no matter how many “to-do lists” or color-coded schedules or things in my head that need to get done, that sometimes life just happens and I don’t get to do everything as planned.
Sometimes you have to unexpectedly drive 600 miles to mourn with your family, hug and cry with one another, and listen to inspiring stories about the ones you love. Sometimes you have to forego studying and go fishing to help get your mind off of things. Sometimes you have to delay your travels because you need to get breakfast with others in your family. Sometimes you have to call for help when your car makes funny noises. At some point you have to realize that there is so much more to our lives than being a student. My hope is that you find that out before you find yourself in a situation where you regret not being present in your life outside of PA school.
Don’t get me wrong, school is tough, and demanding of our time, and a huge commitment to service in the healthcare industry, but we are nothing without our support systems. If we neglect our families, then we are failing the ones who have supported us along the way. Take the time to tell your family that you love them, and appreciate them, and care about them. There is no aspect of school that you could argue with me is more important than my family.
In that aspect, I am not sorry that I missed putting up a blog post last week because I was busy spending time with my boyfriend and his friend. I am not sorry that I didn’t get as much studying done this weekend because I had to go home unexpectedly. I am not sorry that I opted to write this post instead of using the time to study, because this is so important for you all to understand this. Be present in your family. Be more than just a student. Now, go call your family members and tell them you love them.
“Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” – Brad Henry
Grandpa Teed, although I was not blessed with your blood, you blessed me with your love. Thank you for always treating me like one of your own. xoxo
Please pray for peace and clarity for my boyfriend, Jake, and his entire family as they mourn the loss of the most wonderful man.
– Paige
Paige the PA 