A Reminder to Look Up

In the middle of a Michigan winter, I find myself moving fast. Maybe it's walking a little faster with my head down between classes to get out of the cold, or jumping from assignment to assignment, because somehow the short days make every to-do list just a little more daunting. Maybe it's the foreshadowing of an unplanned summer, and feeling behind on everything– internships, jobs, a clear plan. Regardless of the why behind this speed, and this need to go, go go, here is both you and I’s reminder to slow down.

For me, healthcare is all about community. It is about empathy, it’s about connection, and it’s the idea that we as humans have a desire to help each other, to uplift one another. Despite this, it can feel as though these essential components are easily lost in a pre-health track that glamorizes the grind. Empathy is replaced by achievements, and compassion by higher exam scores. We rush to class, fill our schedules with more and more until community is the last thing on our minds.

Every Tuesday at 10am, a 3 year old patient comes running to the Mott’s playroom which I volunteer in. Although by noon he’s ready for a nap, his weekly consistency to find the same toy toolbox is admirable. Each day, he finds a new chair to be fixed, or another car with loose screws. Routine, despite months in the same oncology unit, does not dim his joy. Stronger than I can ever imagine being, whether as a child or now, he is a profound reminder of finding joy and connection in all circumstances. I’m sure every healthcare worker could attest to similar anecdotes, stories that show how joyful hospital wings can be, despite the circumstances. How when test-results feel discouraging, the importance of connection and empathy becomes evident. And these stories remind me of the real purpose of healthcare, the one which I fell in love with– not the packed Google Calendar, but the one that's filled with love for the community around us, and every human.

So when we walk to class, despite the freezing temperatures, it could be nice to look up and appreciate the context around you. Don’t rush your weeks in a way that you forget the importance of community, joy and empathy which are pivotal to whatever healthcare path you chose.