1st Year Residency

I have to throw in a bit about my residency last week. What an incredible educational experience. That was a five day boot camp unlike anything I have ever experienced. I think I went into the residency very intimidated by the whole situation and I really did not know what to expect. There were nearly 100 people down in Phoenix for their residency at the same time I was there, which meant I was in a class of 16 students, only one of which I actually had attended a class with previously. After the first 15 minutes or so, I realized that the only way I was going to get my money's worth required me to raise my hand a lot, participate, and really throw out my thoughts, as outlandish as they may seem. I really enjoyed my facilitator, Dr. Deb Williams. She was certainly a feminist, but she and I had some great discussions. Overall, this class opened up a realm of thinking and analyzing that I never knew I had. During the class, there were flashes of me from the past, way in the past. Even though I was the second youngest person in the room, these adults with far more experience than myself, looked to me as a leader. When we were in our group projects, I never really stuck my neck out, but if I did not say anything for a while, my teammates would actually ask me for my opinion and I would actually provide some good ones. I enjoyed being the leader. What I wouldn't give to be able to start from scratch at work and apply these leadership skills I have developed into practice.
Words like situatedness, synthesis, creative thinking, and critical thinking were used extensively and took on a completely different meaning. If I discipline myself enough to actually apply these things in my upcoming courses and for my dissertation, I will be in great shape. While I was down in Phoenix, I stayed with Molly and Andy and co. That was actually really nice. It saved us the cost of a hotel room, plus, I did not have to stay with the other students and I think that made a big difference. Mike was kind enough to let me borrow a car, so I was able to celebrate at the Hard Rock Cafe on Monday night after everything was all over. I ordered something a little off-menu. Salmon fajitas! They are actually really good. I would order them more often here except they want to charge me a small fortune. I missed my girls a great deal while I was gone, and I know my wonderful wife was probably stressed and struggling more than she let on, but we made it through just fine and I have already started my next class. Man, time flies when you are trying to turn into a doctor.