Saturday, March 08, 2008

A Good Year

In medical school, we are tyrannized by our surnames. Our names dictate who we work with, who we grow with, who we learn with for the duration of our stay there.

Just like family, medical students cannot choose their groupmates or their blockmates. We are forced to get along despite the crazy mix of personalities often thrown together haphazardly in order to survive the challenges of becoming a doctor. And, just like in any family, while we grow to love these people, we don't always necessarily have to like them.

Sometimes, though, some people hit the jackpot - and they find themselves with a group of people they couldn't have chosen better themselves.

We were among the lucky ones.

It's been three years since we've gone our separate ways. We've kept in touch sporadically at best and have been scattered across two continents, immersed in lives that are very different from one another. But we always look back on our last year as medical students with fondness because of what we brought to each other.

It was, without a doubt, a great year.

2 comments:

docemdy said...

Some even end up as couples. Proximity, perhaps. Constant togetherness is another. But that can have a downside too. In the crazy world of medical training, it's hard to be at your best all the time. Someone you're interested in may actually see you grumpy, snoring, in need of a long bath, etc. Loving despite seeing the not too desirable traits spice up the relationship.

dr_clairebear said...

No couples in my block. :))

We used to joke that if no couples have formed by the time hospital duties start (third year in our case), they are not going to form at all - precisely because of those reasons you mentioned. :)

Sometimes I think the camaraderie that develops between med school classmates/blockmates is only surpassed by that of soldiers at war. ;P