There was a time some dozen - or more - years ago when my eldest daughter - Leigh - came home from Unionville High School, and announced that she would be taking a science course as a co-op student at Markham General Hospital ...
She was to be assigned to the admin area of the operating theatre there, checking patients in - and with luck out - throughout the morning, two or three days a week.
Perhaps 3 or 4 weeks into her 10(?) week term, she called one day to inform us that we were to notify the school that she would not be attending classes for the remainder of that particular day. She had been invited by one of the hospital's surgeons to observe - up close and personal - the removal of a tumour from a certain patient's abdomen. She was quick to point out that this particular tumour was the 'size of a basketball, dad!!!' and as such, it would be a travesty should she not get the chance to stay and watch. Life would end as she knew it, etc., etc. Leigh was 15 I think, and following the aforementioned surgery ended, we were informed in no uncertain terms that she was going to become a 'general surgeon.
Fast forward a few years and Leigh has successfully graduated from McGill with a science degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology. Throughout her stay at McGill she - mostly - excelled, but she did stumble a wee bit in her third year for a variety of reasons - most beyond her control. Net, net, her GPA suffered and was not quite high enough for a direct shot at Med School. And - in any event - we were informed that she wasn't much interested in being a doctor any longer. So that was that!
Then... Leigh, having met a nice fellow who was to pursue a Masters degree at Dalhousie, decided to follow him there and perhaps look into more schooling (becoming a lawyer came up) , or find work of some kind. Or, at the very least, have an adventure.
A short time passed, and as fortune would have it, she met a fellow who had recently graduated Med School and was beginning his career in Halifax. Over coffee one day, he mentioned that his decision point vis a vis why he chose medicine, came down to 'not wanting to look back when he was 50 and wonder - what if?'. This single conversation was to have a profound effect on my daughter.
Shortly thereafter, she had networked her way into working for one of Canada's top Neurosurgeons; had met with the medical admission folks at Dal, and informed us that she had put together a game plan that would get her back on track to become the doctor she had dreamed of being.
Over the past 18 months, Leigh has worked her butt off, and has once again become a straight A student. She has excelled at her job with Dr. Mendez. And she has met the love of her life whom she will marry this coming July. Marg and I could not be prouder of her achievements - until today.
Today she was accepted into the St. Georges University School of Medicine. Take a peek here: (http://www.sgu.edu/international/index_ca.shtml)
She will start in early August, and beyond fulfilling her dreams, she has made Marg and my decision as to where in the world to get out of the Canadian winters sooooo much easier... Granada/Barbados here we come!
So ... Now I can safely worry only (for a while) about #2: Heather... Why, I really can't realistically figure out. SHE is finishing up her MBA - also at Dal - and having negotiated her way through full time schooling; full time consulting in her partnership - 'Wakeside'; full time TAing, and yes: full time girlfriend... she will graduate this spring one of the top of her class. Surely some enlightened employer will see her tremendous potential, and snap her up. Then she will be on her way too.
In the mean while, this particular dad is destined to worry - despite all the evidence that it is not really necessary.
It's just what I do.
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