What a year...
I checked my timehop app today and for the last two years I've been ready for the year to end and hoping for better things in the year to come. Bye 2012, 2013 is my year! Bye 2013, 2014 is my year! Now I guess it's time for bye 2014, 2015 will be my year!
Let's look back on 2014.
I started the year with my first extern rotation away from the school. I moved to Montgomery, AL to work at the VA. I did a two month rotation where I ended up not doing much of anything, no friends to hang out with and nothing to do. We felt some of the winter storm that created a disaster in Birmingham and Atlanta. I was safe in my room at the VA hospital. I enjoyed my rotation there. Met some cool veterans and gained confidence in my ability to be a great doctor.
In March I moved to Savannah, GA. I finished up my second extern rotation and my last semester of optometry school at a private practice that I had worked at during undergrad. During my time there, I traveled to Memphis to retake Part 1 boards (again), found I passed Part 3 boards, and found out that I failed Part 1 boards (again)! I made some new friends in the other externs I worked with there. Explored Savannah, there's always something new to experience there. Had an amazing evening out with a tandem bike pub crawl, karaoke, and bad decisions.
In May I walked in my graduation from optometry school. Got to spend time with my mom and my dad. I hope I make them proud. At the end of the month, I was unable to get out my lease at my apartment in Savannah and ended up staying another month. Because I had failed Part 1 boards, I was unable to apply for my state license to practice optometry, but luckily the doctor I worked for allowed me to continue to work for her as a glorified tech (I did everything like I would as a doctor, but she followed up behind and saw every pt). We agreed to part ways even though we had talked about me staying on as an associate. I needed to move back home and focus on studying for the board that I would take again in August.
So the end of June came around and I moved home to Atlanta. July came and I studied. August came and I took the boards again and went to Pensacola. September came and we went to Gulf Shores while I was waiting; the end of September came and I found out that I passed the boards!!! Glory hallelujah! October found me applying for my state license and getting my CPR certification. November saw me sending out my resume for jobs in the area and getting an interview with a practice. December saw me finally receiving my state license (fully fledged doctor!) and starting a new job.
It was a roller coaster year; emotions went up and went down and up and down and spun around. I guess I can't complain too much. I finished school, am licensed in my field of study, and got a job that I enjoy.
What can I hope for in 2015? I can hope that I save enough money to buy myself a new car. That I can make enough money to start paying back my loans. I would love to buy a kayak and do some camping now that I am bringing in money and not just spending it and now that I have the time to invest in activities rather than studying. I would like to find a person that I enjoy spending time with and that can love me for me. I would like to move into my own place and stop depending on my parents (my dad can now stop sending me money, but I am living with my mom now). I would like to be independent. I'll be 28 this year and would like to know that I can stand on my own two feet.
Here's to hoping that 2015 will at least not be a bad year.
