Last day of school

Last day of school at 36 years old :)

It feels like I’ve been in school for a long time: an undergrad in biomedical sciences, a master’s of physical therapy, medical school, and residency. I almost can’t believe that it was my last day of residency yesterday.

I wrote about graduation and the arrival fallacy last year when my husband and co-residents graduated. Now, I need to heed my own advice and savour this gigantic milestone.

What does this look like for me? My main aim is to get bored over the next few weeks that I have off. I start in the emergency department (!) in precisely three weeks, and I want to be raring to go.

But I also want to celebrate my last day of school ever. I’ve planned a couple of trips and get-togethers with friends and family, lined up some novels I’ve been itching to read, and am going to go out for multiple celebratory dinners.

Other than that, I also want to take some time and reflect on what I’ve accomplished. I’ve been steeped in imposter syndrome recently. I want to put that aside for a few days to weeks. Now is the time to simply be grateful for this part of my learning journey.

Let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions for celebrating big wins!

Stay well friends,

Alexi

Dr. Kuhnow is a family medicine resident physician and former physiotherapist in Ontario, Canada. She writes about healthy habits for healthcare providers on her blog no trophies for perfect. To get healthy habits and practical tips directly to your inbox, sign up for her weekly newsletter.  

This post is meant for educational purposes only, and doesn’t replace advice from your qualified healthcare professional.