A Year Later
At times I can not believe it has been a year already. At other times it is hard to believe it has only been a year.
I remember a couple of the speakers at my medic school graduation telling us that the easy part was over, now we had to spend the next year learning how to be Paramedics.
They can only teach you so much in a classroom or clinical setting. I was blessed to have attended one of the best programs in the State. The academic and clinical requirements went far above and beyond what is mandated by the State. When I left I had the medicine down.
After graduation I spent a couple of months deciding what kind of Paramedic I was going to be. I drew on my past experiences working with some incredible and some not so incredible paramedics. I kept my eyes open. I took some of the best qualities I saw and incorporated them into the medic I wanted to be.
I learned to trust my instinct. As much as I hate the phrase I learned to “think out side the box”. I also learned that even with our big bag of tricks sometimes it is better to do nothing.
A year ago The State of Ohio and the National Registry of EMT’s said I was a Paramedic. Now I can say I am a PARAMEDIC.
The last year has also brought some huge changes in my personal life. I am engaged to a beautiful, intelligent,witty and sometimes stubborn woman. On the 14th we are moving into our own place in NE Ohio.
I gave up a job with Mobile Care that I loved to move here. I had one of te best partners a person could ask for in AJ and he helped me become a better medic. I left behind my friends and family and started over here.
I will admit I am struggling a little bit here. I do miss my friends. I have not made many friends here yet. I am happy being here starting a life with Erin but I need to start rebuilding a life for myself also.
I have a great job here. I am doing alot more critical care transports and ALOT less 911 and emergency responses. This is a huge change for me and a learning process but I am figuring out quickly I am damn good at this too.
Did I mention I am about to have a step daughter? An 11 year smart, funny and independent girl. I see a lot of her mom in her.
It is 2132 hours. I have been on shift since 0600 and have a total of 1 run so far. I am pretty confident that this means sleeping will not be an option tonight but I am good with that. It could be a hell of a lot worse. I could be spending my days asking “Would you like fries with that?” or “Would you care to supersize your order for only 69 more cents?”
I have been blessed both personally and professionally and I thank god every day for the work he has done in my life. And remember I am still a work in progress. Who knows what the future holds.
