2009
Every year I look back, and most years i marvel how far I have come; yet i think no year in recent memory can really compare to this one. Not because it was the most enjoyable, or even the most memorable; that honour will still belong to earlier years, but because this was the year that marked the end of so much, the beginning of so much, and the end result of so much.
It began with a posting I think will come to play a much more massive part in my life than i could have imagined; with TTSH GS as an M5. Here i was fully submerged in the wonderful world of surgery, a world i hope to inhabit one day. That posting in nuh in m3 may have been the start, but this is where i really learnt enough to pass the mbbs. THis is where i saw enough cases to get an idea of what's essential, and this is where i would eventually return as a HO, which itself has shed light on the future ahead.
next up were a couple of minor postings; memorable only because by that point everyone was so frantic with worry and angst. Geriatrics at TTSH, with a wonderful tutor who managed to put some knowledge into my skull despite painfully long ward rounds. And ortho revisited, tho this second posting was really just an excuse to punish ourselves further.
The endless hours chionging short cases, feeling like dirt as i approached a weary patient yet again to let me examine. Where we asked the same qns thousands of others had asked, and where we poked and prodded where many fingers had gone before. Where we grilled each other (and I got repeatedly owned by my cg mate hahaha). Worst of all, to me, were the days we went to KK and did this to the poor little kids there; i never felt lower that those times.
That special dinner that marked the end of our clinical student days, at the nondescript pasta cafe with a handful of you; which marked the end of the torture and the start of an entirely different sort of torture. The 3 weeks we spent in school day and night, studying sometimes but also doing a million other things (MH, dota, betrayal, gossip, wrestling, MJ concert watching/moonwalking, spot the difference, rewatching 300 one night) An incredibly precious time to me, one which will never come back again sigh.
Thoes 3 weeks of battle, where we were bloodied again and again, but unbowed. Endless hours of writing, and then the nerve wracking clinicals. WHere we exchanged horror stories and exaggerated our successes and failures. Where we faced our greatest terrors (one of whom would shortly become my boss haha) and defied them. Where we finally took those 5 yrs of blood and sweat, and turned it into something tangible.
And that shining shining moment when it all came to an end, when we met up in the dental auditorium and whooped and screamed, and hugged each other madly. When the burden was finally removed from our shoulders haha. Until now i still get goosebumps thinking of that day.
The one image I think should represent this year:
check out those grins! haha
Spain trip; with 2 of my oldest and dearest friends. Exotic location, lovely companions (most of the time anyways :P) and some truly mind blowing sights. This holiday was made extra special by the knowledge that it was our GRAD trip; it was our time to explore and see the sights of the world one last time as young carefree minds, before we returned and threw ourselves into work.
Starting housemanship, and the delight of returning to a posting I love at a hospital I came to love immensely. The joy of discovering good friends in the same dept and 1 in the same ward. All the trials and tribulations of work and night calls (goodness I think we've harped on this enough haha). And yes, cheesy but true; the delight at being called Dr Sunder (which did wear off rapidly, trust me.
NUH Ortho actually gave me a fairly gd start, for it made me quite independent and develop some good habits. But most of all, it introduced me to the joy of the OT, one that remains with me till today. Working with a very close knit bunch of nurses whom i knew all by name (something which has yet to happen since i left NUH) and with a fantastic bunch of fellow HOs. Sure we had sluts and selfish ppl, but i will remember instead those who really shone, and made the "tough times" so enjoyable.
Onwards to TTSH GS, a character building posting if ever there was one. Doing something i love, having a fabulous team spirit, but also worked almost out of my mind. Doing calls that were beyond human imagination (though not endurance haha). Where i really learned tat sleep is not a necessity, it is a luxury haha. And getting one career guidance talk; it may have been just 15 min for you sir, but for me it was priceless.
And finally to GM; character building in a different way. Where the hours are much much better; but the work and attitude of people in general vastly different. Where I am now, slogging through fervently waiting for the end haha. I have learned a lot here; but I really think 4 months of this is more than enough, and 6 months an eternity.
This of course, is just the events; it does not do the people in my life justice. But i think we are past the stage where that can be put into words haha. Rest assured that for those of you by my side for all this time; you are remembered (some fondly and some not heh)
Onward to a new year, with more challenges and more life shaking decisions. Bring it on!
"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."
It began with a posting I think will come to play a much more massive part in my life than i could have imagined; with TTSH GS as an M5. Here i was fully submerged in the wonderful world of surgery, a world i hope to inhabit one day. That posting in nuh in m3 may have been the start, but this is where i really learnt enough to pass the mbbs. THis is where i saw enough cases to get an idea of what's essential, and this is where i would eventually return as a HO, which itself has shed light on the future ahead.
next up were a couple of minor postings; memorable only because by that point everyone was so frantic with worry and angst. Geriatrics at TTSH, with a wonderful tutor who managed to put some knowledge into my skull despite painfully long ward rounds. And ortho revisited, tho this second posting was really just an excuse to punish ourselves further.
The endless hours chionging short cases, feeling like dirt as i approached a weary patient yet again to let me examine. Where we asked the same qns thousands of others had asked, and where we poked and prodded where many fingers had gone before. Where we grilled each other (and I got repeatedly owned by my cg mate hahaha). Worst of all, to me, were the days we went to KK and did this to the poor little kids there; i never felt lower that those times.
That special dinner that marked the end of our clinical student days, at the nondescript pasta cafe with a handful of you; which marked the end of the torture and the start of an entirely different sort of torture. The 3 weeks we spent in school day and night, studying sometimes but also doing a million other things (MH, dota, betrayal, gossip, wrestling, MJ concert watching/moonwalking, spot the difference, rewatching 300 one night) An incredibly precious time to me, one which will never come back again sigh.
Thoes 3 weeks of battle, where we were bloodied again and again, but unbowed. Endless hours of writing, and then the nerve wracking clinicals. WHere we exchanged horror stories and exaggerated our successes and failures. Where we faced our greatest terrors (one of whom would shortly become my boss haha) and defied them. Where we finally took those 5 yrs of blood and sweat, and turned it into something tangible.
And that shining shining moment when it all came to an end, when we met up in the dental auditorium and whooped and screamed, and hugged each other madly. When the burden was finally removed from our shoulders haha. Until now i still get goosebumps thinking of that day.
The one image I think should represent this year:
check out those grins! haha
Spain trip; with 2 of my oldest and dearest friends. Exotic location, lovely companions (most of the time anyways :P) and some truly mind blowing sights. This holiday was made extra special by the knowledge that it was our GRAD trip; it was our time to explore and see the sights of the world one last time as young carefree minds, before we returned and threw ourselves into work.Starting housemanship, and the delight of returning to a posting I love at a hospital I came to love immensely. The joy of discovering good friends in the same dept and 1 in the same ward. All the trials and tribulations of work and night calls (goodness I think we've harped on this enough haha). And yes, cheesy but true; the delight at being called Dr Sunder (which did wear off rapidly, trust me.
NUH Ortho actually gave me a fairly gd start, for it made me quite independent and develop some good habits. But most of all, it introduced me to the joy of the OT, one that remains with me till today. Working with a very close knit bunch of nurses whom i knew all by name (something which has yet to happen since i left NUH) and with a fantastic bunch of fellow HOs. Sure we had sluts and selfish ppl, but i will remember instead those who really shone, and made the "tough times" so enjoyable.
Onwards to TTSH GS, a character building posting if ever there was one. Doing something i love, having a fabulous team spirit, but also worked almost out of my mind. Doing calls that were beyond human imagination (though not endurance haha). Where i really learned tat sleep is not a necessity, it is a luxury haha. And getting one career guidance talk; it may have been just 15 min for you sir, but for me it was priceless.
And finally to GM; character building in a different way. Where the hours are much much better; but the work and attitude of people in general vastly different. Where I am now, slogging through fervently waiting for the end haha. I have learned a lot here; but I really think 4 months of this is more than enough, and 6 months an eternity.
This of course, is just the events; it does not do the people in my life justice. But i think we are past the stage where that can be put into words haha. Rest assured that for those of you by my side for all this time; you are remembered (some fondly and some not heh)
Onward to a new year, with more challenges and more life shaking decisions. Bring it on!
"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."
- Bill Vaughn
posted by SunderB @ 10:55 pm
1 Comments:
At 9:48 pm,
kailyn said…
wao lao eh where got own.. i dont remember anything haha
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