Hey Everyone.
Just wanted to take a second to introduce myself. I'm Callie and my boyfriend Robert is an M1 here in Atlanta. We aren't engaged (yet!) but we've been together for over 2 years and are really excited for the future.
A little background- we went to high school together but didn't know each other. We met randomly in Mexico when he randomly got stuck there and I happened to be there with some girlfriends. So many circumstances had to fall perfectly into place for us to meet. :)
We spent a year long-distance, I graduated from college and spent a year with him in Virginia while he finished school and then we both moved back to Atlanta (we're both from here) in May for him to go to med school. My hope is that this roller coaster will be a little bit less lonely with both our families here.
I've heard nightmare stories about Med school since we started dating BUT we keep telling ourselves that people do it everyday and we are so lucky to have found each other.
I have some questions for the veterans:
1. Do you all have family near? Is that a source of strength at all?
2. What do you wish someone would have told you on day 1?
I've been reading your posts all summer. Thanks for being such inspiration to me! :)
Callie
![[med school tagalongs]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE5W2tX6JAEwIH9To2zuyPafy6g0Q7Pr2tBqCajEk7LH63wxYKsSLFseRkwAKD2AEWnePOS8H-HKSapPKB6NMdvYgKhO7kEySpioyiNpFakmael8fOzzkRawPXedxcjgHlfb-Mk0Ky91J/s1600/med+school+head.jpg)
7 comments:
My husband and I met in high school. We dated through college...he was in NYC and I was in Boston. We also spent time with him in Europe and me in China. Then he went to get a Masters in medicine. We got married then he started Med school...and I got pregnant in his first year. We have his parents nearby, but my family is in Florida (he is at BUSM.) Having his family near helps with our son, but makes it really frustrating when they don't understand his schedule.
We are in third year now...he just finished internal medicine and is starting surgery rotation. Med school has been hard, but real life has forced us to keep it in perspective. On day 1 I think it would have been nice to have someone give me the reassurance that it is ok that life continues on while he is in Med school. I cried for a week straight when I got pregnant because I didn't know how we could do this AND med school...but life happens. And that is a good thing.
Good luck! Remember that you keep him grounded. You will be his constant.
I wish I would have known that I/we would have very little control over the future. It does depend on the specialty, but many of them are so competitive that you just hope to match (let alone match where you really want to be). My family is currently 3.5-4 hours away and my husbands family is 2 hours. They have been a great help but I am getting tired of making the long drive to see them monthly. I also wish people would have told me that med school will be considered easy compared to residency! Overall medical school has not been that difficult it has actually been an exciting ride. Some weeks are more difficult than others but your OUTLOOK and your ATTITUDE really make all the difference. Having faith has been a gift, I am learning to let go and let God... and so far that seems to be working for us. Although I must admit I am struggling with the whole match process and am terrified of ending up states and hundreds of miles away from family and friends, but I am praying every day that I can trust God and I know it will all work out!
I don't have family near- our families live in Texas/Louisiana and we are up here in Pennsylvania! BUT, we have made our family up here and that would be my #1 advice- build a strong network of girlfriends. We (that started this blog) are all wives/fiances/girlfriends of med students at the same school and it has been an amazing source of community and encouragement. It just helps to walk with people that know what this season is like and can give you wise counsel and laugh with you too when your husband has his first pelvic exam.
its SO nice that you have each other! I hope we'll start to make some friends that I feel a little more part of everything. Right now it's still SUCH a foreign world. He kind of knows what's going on and I have no clue.
I would love to have good relationships with his classmates so I can feel more a part of his world. It's all still a mystery to me, I'm just trying to be as positive as possible.
We have our first M1 event tomorrow night so I hope it goes well.
Thanks for the tips!
(Sorry this is a later post)
At the school my husband goes to they have a support group only for the significant other's in the student's life. Find out if your school has one of those. that way when your student is studying and not around very often you can build relationships and other friendships with people that are going through (or have gone through) the same things you are going through. It's a way to be a part of the medical school!
Enjoy this crazy adventure...
I am thankful for this group. I just moved with my boyfriend of over two and a half years while he begins med school. People think I'm crazy. We've had so many people tell us we're in for a long haul, and it's going to be the hardest time in our life... he'll never be able to spend time with me, blah blah... I'm not naive. He's almost a month in and has made time to spend with me, all while getting an A on his first exam! I know it's not always going to be easy, but I know we'll also have fun times along the way.
We are playing with the idea of getting married next summer (2010), in between his first and second year. Apparently he will have the summer off. Anyone have any suggestions as to whether or not this is a good/bad idea?
Thank you all.
Callie, does your man go to Emory? If so, my hubby is an M1 there too!!!!
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