It's December, and pretty much the entire of M4 has gone by. Four different postings in two months is really quite a mouthful - Pathology, Anaesthesia, Opthalmology and ENT. Test after test after test. I guess this is what they mean by how medical school trains you to become immune resilient in the face of examinations. Looking back, I'm glad it's over. Didn't really like that feeling of having to study, yet not really having to do so given the time frame either.

My posting at the spanking new Khoo Teck Puat Hospital during Anaesthesia was a pretty enjoyable one, despite the 2 hours travelling to and fro every day. New buildings, snazzy equipment and bright walls and murals - bodes well for a world class institution. My tutors were approachable and the subject was interesting, though 10 hours spent in the operating theatre just frazzles me up. It's a lonely vocation though, sitting for hours on end in the OT, surfing the Singapore Golf Open and hoping nothing untoward happens to the patient. You don't even see daylight. :/

Opthalmology was one of the lowest points in my entire 3.5 years in medicine. I had heard much about opthalmologists prior to my posting - I was told that they were all good looking people, dolled-up, speeding around with stilettos and caked in make up. Unfortunately, they didn't turn out to be very exceptionally good looking, and more often than not had an air of arrogance and a snooty tone in their voice. (There are the exceptions of course.) Didn't help that I'm one of those cursed to lack the ability of winking each eye individually, which resulted in a very miserable posting of being unable to master direct fundoscopy. Sigh. I left Opthalmology with a bitter taste, a headache and and crossed eyes.

I ventured into ENT with a very low expectation, having been sorely beaten up Opthalmology. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that these bunch of surgeons were certainly a different lot. They defied the stereotype and were polite, approachable and very willing to teach. It was a lot more enjoyable than I had expected it to be! What was particularly poignant about the posting was a 5 minute pep talk A/Prof Thomas Loh gave up about career choices and a life in medicine. It put into perspective many things that I think many of us feel, but are hesitant to admit or say.

Looking back in year 2010, I've found that many things throughout the year have made me a different person. There are some things I know I would have done better, some people I wish I didn't trust so readily, and things that I would have not done. I found that turning 22 made me become more of an adult that I've ever been, more cynical, more hardened, more untrusting. That's growing up isn't it? All in all, I feel like this year made me understand what William Shakespeare wrote in All Wells that Ends Well - Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. Maybe my brother was right after all, no one can be trusted.