working with people, allied health

[Guest guest]

Hi folks - I suppose we all have our foci; almost all my life, my

major focus (other than creating science fiction universes) has been

medical stuff and biology.

Years ago, convinced that I couldn't work with people (due to people

telling me that I was rude, et cetera), I entered the computer

industry. I was totally miserable in this field, though, and couldn't

hold down work simply because I was so miserable. I didn't like the

work enough to be motivated to do very well at it. I also don't like

work that doesn't involve some degree of physical activity. I can only

focus when I'm doing things with my hands. I can't just sit and do

data entry.

Well - I recently took a leap of faith, and decided to enter the

health care field, especially since I have always been obsessed with

medical stuff (my livejournal is fascinoma.livejournal.com if that

says anything).

So, I am studying phlebotomy right now so I can work doing blood draws

in a hospital, clinic or blood bank.

I am really enjoying the class so far. I am one of the most careful

and organized people in class, I am finding out I have much, much

better fine motor skills than I ever suspected (the problem is with

*large* motor skills) and I really enjoy learning all the technical

bits about anatomy and the technical stuff.

I am actually very comfortable in this class and I have actually

gotten high marks for communication. I was worried because I haven't

done well in retail type jobs that worked with people, especially

since I have a very serious kind of outward personality.

However, I don't feel particularly out of place here. And it seems

okay for me to have a serious demeanor. Nobody has complained so far.

It is okay for me to be friendly in a professional way as opposed to

in a dippy, mall-rat kind of way that previous work expected me to be.

I seem to be good at detaching myself and focusing on the work when

other people seem to get very nervous and shaky.

I feel very good about myself doing this, and of course I don't feel

weird about having a medical focus when I am working doing medical

stuff. It seems like it is okay to be smart, and it seems also like if

I am really interested in medical stuff, it is okay since I am going

to be working in the medical field. I am meeting a lot of other people

who are really into medical stuff, too.

I like the people I am in school with, too, they are all very

practical and down to earth people. And many others share my medical

focus and it doesn't seem to mean we are " weird " . A person who is

focused on something they intend to do for a living, isn't perceived

as weird, I suppose.

One reason also that I decided to go after phlebotomy certification,

is because I can do the work part-time (I intend to stay in school).

So on the whole, I am feeling pretty good about things.

I am going after EMT-Basic certification this semester, after I'm done

with phlebotomy - wish me luck with that! I do not have good

large-motor skills, so we'll see how things are. However I am good at

detaching myself in a crisis situation.

--

there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall

about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other

is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in

them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.

-- C.S.