A two-year itch.
Employee One, let me know when you want to finish that wine, I’m always ready.
Moving to New York took a lot of time — a lot. So much time, in fact, that days were full and still I had yet to have an interview for any job, but then, suddenly I was in demand. And I felt good, no, great. This is what is supposed to happen when you graduate an expensive college, and did well, and did interesting things with interesting people.
I had interviews, some great ones in fact. I spoke to the New York Firefighter’s Skin Bank, I would essentially be a plastic surgeon on dead people. Cutting off skin tissue and brining it in a cooler to whichever hospital needed it. I would check the charts of patients to make sure they were compatible, and check the cadavers for signs of infection. It was exactly what I wanted.
I had another interview to do research for Sloan Kettering, an amazing center focusing on cancer.
I had one day, a twofer, to be:
a) A medical assistant doing blood draws, EKGs and a number of other cool things for a colorectal surgeon. Butts don’t gross me out, I am going to be a surgeon.
b) A health insurance claims investigator. I would actually understand how HMOs work, and in working for one, try and force it to do good from the inside out.
Sitting pretty behind my desk responding to emails, drinking cheap coffee and wearing my headset and a pair of boxers (it was still very, very hot), I had taken New York City by storm.
But then honesty got in the way.
Toward the end of each interview after bushels of good vibrations, they would pop the question:
“When are you going to medical school?”
This question is awkward. It’s like the STD question to a prospective partner.
If everything goes right, I’ll go to medical school next fall. That leaves less than a year for jobs that all have a substantial training investment.
“I’m a quick train,” I’d throw in, or something like that, but always to no avail.
“You sound great, BUT …
We’re looking for a two-year commitment.”
Click. Goodbye. Don’t pass go.
Suddenly I was Charlie Brown.