Graduation = New Beginning

Usually as you close one chapter in a book and move to another, the first few sentences begin with material from the previous chapter. I see graduations much the same way. Travis and I were gladly forced to reminisce over the last chapter in our lives and I guess the first chapter of our married lives, medical school, as we launched into the next chapter, residency.

There were three dimensions to the medical school chapter. Those dimensions included my memories, Travis' recollections, and the memories me made together. Now some may say all of these dimensions should have their own chapter because he was the only one who truly went through medical school. I and I'm sure all medical school spouses and significant others would beg to differ. I really think this experience is one you have to live through yourself before you can get a true understanding of what these individuals/couples go through.

When I look back at the memories I made the first thing that comes to mind is Friendship. I have had close friends in all stages of my life, however during this stage, I developed some of the strongest, deepest friendships I have ever had. Many of these friendships began with my involvement in SAA and others stemmed from relationships created at work. In order to explain how some of my friendships developed through SAA, I must explain how I got involved with SAA because that too was a huge part of the last four years. Upon moving to Fort Worth, I was rather lonely because I didn't know anyone in the area and Travis was an intense studier so he was at the library numerous hours of the day and night. In order to meet people I started attending SAA meetings and socials. The first meeting I went to I volunteered to help make breakfast burritos after the meeting. That night after everyone had left, Mike, Chesca, and I sat in the living room talking about SAA and what it meant to each of them and what I could do to get more involved. I was hooked on SAA that night! Those of you who know me know that once I'm hooked, I put all my heart into it. The next year, I was an officer with Jen, Andrew, Melissa, Claire, and Kendi. As officers, Claire, Kendi, Andrew, and I went to the AAOA National Convention in San Diego, CA with Mike, Lauren, and Chesca. All the girls were in one room, and this is were my friendship began with Kendi and Claire. We had occasionally hung out a few times before convention, but for some reason our friendship just clicked into place in San Diego. Once we returned from convention, we began spending more time together going to movies, having girls night, stopping for a late night dessert, and taking a girls trip. We created many memories together and had lots of laughs and some tears in the process.
Aside from Kendi and Claire, Melissa and I also developed a special relationship. She and I met at the Flying Saucer where she came up to me and said, "Can I see your ring"(Travis and I had just gotten engaged) and then she introduced herself. She and I definitely strengthed our friendship through our involvement in SAA, but we also made many memories hanging out in her apartment by the school. Many of those memories include sewing, cleaning hardwood floors with Pledge, and watching movies(actually, we never could shut-up long enough to watch a movie).
These three girls are only a few of the people who truly touched my life over the past few years. The relationships created between Mindy, Chelsey, Lauren, Jen, Chesca, and I all have various meanings and dimensions, and I will never forget these girls!
Everyone needs some balance in their life, and I had work to level out the medical aspect of mine. I was so blessed to have the co-workers I had. My very first day of work, the principal and assistant principal took me to lunch. They jumped right in with all kinds of "Get to Know You" questions. I am so glad they did! The relationships I developed at work are all very different, but all unforgettable. I can't tell you how many hours we spent sitting in the office after school praising and complaining. We were like a family, at times we needed our space, but mostly we needed one another. Our annual summer trips will always be special.
As you can see friendship was the foundation to my dimension of the medical school chapter, however there are many memories that formed from that foundation.

Travis' recollections mainly include school. He developed some lasting friendships, but they were formed through all the time he spent at school and the hospital. It is amazing for him to look back at the process and see how he and his classmates went from being nervous before their first day and first test to second year when they had the studying process mastered. Then to third and fourth year where they were thrown into rotations and challenged to learn procedures on the spot. He looks back and laughs at how Dr. Dubin tried to scare everyone and how Dr. Hahn gave the same speech everytime he had the floor, and then there are the classmates who made school and rotations interesting and dramatic. He will forever be thankful for the professors and physicians who were on the clock to teach and the staff who helped him through the match.

Together as we look back at this chapter, we look at how much we have grown as a couple and what events lend themselves to this growth. We began the medical school chapter as a couple, but mentally we were not thinking as a couple. Each of us were a little selfish in the beginning. I was concerned with making friends, occupying my time, and getting a job. He was focused on studying and making sure he knew OMM techniques. Gradually, we learned to balance our lives by talking about things before making a decision and spending quality time together. Many exciting things happened over the course of this chapter, we became an aunt and uncle, hosted our first Thanksgiving, Travis became a Godfather/sponser, took a ski trip with medical school friends, got to travel together to Michigan and explore a large part of the state, and networked with many physicians and their spouses whom we will always value advice from.

Coming from me, I am very proud of Travis and his efforts to accomplish everything he set out to do. I could not ask for a better man to stand beside me over the course of my life. I know he is going to make an amazing physician. Medical school was a great challenge for both of us, and I am so happy to see we made it through as a stronger and happier couple with many wonderful memories to cherish. Many thanks go to our friends and family for your support and guidance because without you it would not have been a success.

SAA Senior Dinner

Class of 2010 Awards Banquet

Class of 2010 Awards Banquet

Claire, me, Melissa, & Kendi at SAA Senior Dinner "Famous Couples"

Travis & I at graduation