Island Med Student

“The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best – and therefore never scrutinize or question.”
- Stephen Jay Gould

Today was a wonderful day of pediatrics clinic. I saw, I learned, I made way too many kids cry with my prodding and poking. During some downtime today started talking with another med student about taking patient histories. He commented how that was his least favorite part of being a doctor. I realized that it was my most favorite part of being a doctor. For me, there is nothing as fascinating as getting to know a person, and hearing their story.

I guess it’s no surprise that I ended up in psychiatry. Psych is all about getting to know the stories that made and make a person an individual. To me, taking a history or listening to someone share their life’s details with me is like opening a gift box. I enjoy peeling back the layers to reveal the gift inside.

Please enjoy the trashy photos along with today’s post. I took them all on my walks to and from the hospital today. It occurred to me as I was snapping the shot of the discarded hotdog that one of the reasons I enjoy (and am possibly obsessed with) taking photos of trash is because I’m interested in the stories they tell. How did that pile of smashed up computer parts end up so non-randomly assembled on the sidewalk? Why did someone discard that hotdog after only one small bite?

Perhaps just as fun as knowing the stories behind the trash, is making up my own stories for them.

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series