Pediatric Neurosurgery

My first interview as this past Friday and I feel like my motivation to get back into the swing of things is increasing exponentially. Because of last year, I knew in my head what interviews were like - ask questions, get answers, takes notes, write an assessment. To some extent, it was a pretty redundant and repetitive thing. But, what I had forgotten was the fun that came along with that. There is something about having a conversation with a professional about something that you're truly passionate about that is engaging and intriguing and exciting, all at the same time. I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Shah, who is a pediatric otolaryngologist. It is always interesting to me to make comparisons across subspecialties, to make note of those similarities and differences. I have a few more interviews lined up in the following weeks and I have a feeling that once I get started, I will find myself enjoying the whole process more.

This is  a big week in ISM in that Business Symposium is this Friday. Everything we have learned thus far from how to shake a hand to carrying conversations to dressing professionally has been in preparation for this event. I remember that this was a time in which I actually forced myself to go and talk to professionals and other adults who I did not know whatsoever. It is crazy for me to think that I ever did something like this, especially considering that I am typically not a very outgoing or social person (not to say I can't carry a conversation; I'm just not the type that will go out of my way to strike up a conversation with someone I don't know). As a personal goal/challenge, I want to push myself to interact with twice as many people as I did last time. I do not think that I took advantage of the networking opportunity this provided me last year and I want to make it a point that I do not make the same mistake again. Though I am a little bit nervous, I am also very excited and I cannot wait to see how the event unfolds.

Now that we have gone through the first few weeks of school, we have been given the go ahead to start calling and emailing to schedule interviews. Not to sound like I was bored with what we were doing before, but for me, interviews are one of the most exciting parts about ISM. Sending professional emails or reaching out to clinics through phone call or leaving voicemails -- all of it is part of the whole experience. It is a little less stressful than last year in that I am somewhat familiar with the process and know what to expect and how it works but at the same time, every single interview is unique. I have about 3 interviews in the works right now and I cannot wait to see what I learn. Last year, I focused on neurosurgery when it came to interviews but this year I have reached out to a wide variety of professionals in pediatric subspecialties which makes it all the more exciting. I know that I am going to learn quite a bit through these interviews and I am excited to finally get the ball rolling.

Getting caught up in the routine of ISM and simply going with the flow is a very common predicament. I'm not going to lie -- it's hard to stay committed to something (even if you're incredibly passionate about it) if you see no true purpose in it. Of course, ISM is an incredible experience. Of course, ISM teaches you many things. But at the same time, when you realize that majority of studenfs in ISM won't actually end up pursuing their topic of study as a career, it's a little hard to find motivation to push on.

As I mentioned in my previous post, there are so many specialties within pediatrics. But, what exactly is the difference between these? To read my analysis about the difference between neurosurgery and neurology, click here.

As we began assembling our list of potential contacts to interview this year, I quickly ran into an issue. I had intended on continuing with pediatric neurosurgery as my field this year and staying with my same mentor. However, if that was the case, who was I supposed to interview? The purpose of these interviews was to learn but also to serve as a screening process for potential mentors but if I already had a mentor, what was the point?
After thinking it through, I decided that I wanted to utilize my interviews as a way to get an overview of all the various sub-specialties of pediatrics. I had focused so intently on one specific niche last year, not really recognizing that there were so many other specialties within pediatrics as well. I compiled a list of various professionals from pediatric otolaryngologists to endocrine specialists. I am really looking forward to setting up and going on these interviews because I am curious as to the differences between them.
This week we are focusing on writing our research assessments and polishing up our resume.

It is crazy to think that it about a year has passed since I first began my journey in ISM last year. I've not only learned so much about the field of pediatric neurosurgery, but also about myself. As I begin again this year, there are so many questions running through my head. How will this year compare to last year? Will it not live up to the experience I had and leave me disappointed? Or will it surpass any expectation I may have had and absolutely amaze me? What will I do for Original Work? Or, Final Product? Because I am going through this entire journey once again, it's slightly different -- I know, or at least have a small idea, of what the end will look or feel like. And because of that, some might argue that there really isn't a point in going through it all again. But, I can't help but remember my quote from last year. "It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end" How true these words are. ISM is about the experience, the growth, the lessons, the friendships and the memories. So much more than just a class or a project, it's about discovering who you are and what you're passionate about. So yes, I'm worried and scared and completely unsure about how this year will turn out. But, I am confident of one thing -- at the end of this we will all look back and once again be amazed with how far we have come.