pragmatism-curiosity :)

First of April already!! Ever since my last post I've been meaning to write a least one or two more for the month of March, but I find myself taken by surprise by the start of a new month once again. How fleeting are the moments, how quickly it all seems to pass you by.

The past couple of weeks have been a blur of working at my General Practice (GP) placement, and doing NZ Med Students Association (NZMSA) stuff seemingly every other waking moment. I seem to be glued to my email whether at home or in my office at work, receiving/replying to correspondence constantly, almost in real-time. If it wasn't so "socially" acceptable, I might be on the verge of needing an intervention, LoL. Oh man. The reason why I'm so busy on the NZMSA front is because I'm currently organising one of our cornerstone annual events taking place in a few weeks time up in Wellington, a leadership development seminar where we invite the leaders of each of the medical student groups from across the country. Everything is coming together really well: we've secured a significant proportion of funding, a really good response from keen students, and a great line-up of speakers to run workshops... but at what cost? Well, I feel like the Energiser Bunny with a very sore neck. It's getting to the point where LIFE -- and the world around me -- is a bit of a blur, really.

... I feel like a robot.

LoL.

No jokes.

Oh man. But at least it's gonna all come together soon enough, and then one of my main tasks for the year as Vice President(Internal) will be over! It's not just the work itself in organising such an event, but the perfectionist aka overachiever's drive to make sure people will find the day worthwhile, you know? Cos otherwise, well, what's the point?

But it's all good. This year has definitely stepped up a notch in the sense that I'm meeting so many new people, and some relatively higher-ups, what some might call "networking." It's been great, really. I seem to have little time in my life right now for outside-of-medicine (other than running), but within that bubble I'm getting to know so many awesome people and enjoying it very much.

It helps that my GP placement has been the perfect combination of busy and interesting but completely stress-free! I love that place, one of my favourite placements during all of med school I must admit -- I can't seem to stop raving about everyone there! The two doctors I've been mainly working with have been so incredible in their respective ways, and I have so appreciated getting to know them these past few weeks. Neither of them will be here next week so I was getting my evaluation forms signed off, and they individually gave me such encouraging, honest, genuine feedback! Not just about this placement, but life in general.

One said to me, "Anna, you have this mix of pragmatism and... curiosity. You're not afraid to try things on your own, but you also know when to stop and ask; that's what makes you a good doctor, and it's something that will take you far in life in general." A blend of pragmatism and curiosity... it's amazing how just after three weeks, what an incredibly accurate observation that was, yet something that had never registered before. And, well, to be quite frank, the most awesome compliment anyone has ever given me.

You know what? It kind of actually made my day. :)

[Next time, on "Sleep and the middle ground": Why treating your friends or people you know *really* isn't a good idea -- lessons learnt the hard way!]