"Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops" - Cary Grant
There are many types of families in our lives. As I was trying to find humorous and light quotes about family, I happened at this one:
“You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” - Archbishop Desmond Tutu
This quote was out of the my intended path for writing this post, but it resonated so strongly when I think about the family I gained, love, and will forever cherish in my Graduate Prosthodontics residency.
Disclaimer: Not to say that my real family, the CORE, dental family, gpr family, and maxface family aren’t special! You guys are the best toooooooo :)
The three years in Prosthodontics residency was a big ‘ole roller coaster - some of the highest of highs and definitely big drops into the lows. A lot occurred in ways of transitions with leadership, program direction, and clinic workflow. I’d be lying if I said that they were the “best years of my life”, and I’d definitely give a definitive “no” if asked if I’d ever want to go back to those times.
The most solid foundation in that time of vast learning, insecurities, and challenges was my Grad Pros Family. Everyone - our front desk, patient care coordinator, assistants (hi ladies!), hygienist, lab techs (hola amigos!), and core faculty - contributed to my growth in this field and for giving me the support to learn from my mistakes, be humble in my successes, and to always to provide the best care that I could for our patients.
But, I want to let known that my co-residents were (and still are) the mortar between all of the building blocks of experiences that needed to be puzzled in together during residency.
The very first day of residency. We forgot to shave.
I refer these two as my brother and sister. Hector, Lauren, and I share the unique bond of being in the same class (i.e. same-year) co-residents. Not to brag, but when we all met each other during our interview for resident positions, we all shared in the feeling of an organic (-certified) relationship. Although we came from varied backgrounds (Lauren is a scientist, Hector is a master esthetician of the dentition, I like to eat food), we balanced each other well and meshed well naturally. We also happen to be even in physical height (though we are short, we are mighty!)
What makes me realize how both sacred and awesome the bond we share is that no one else in this world will ever have experienced the feelings, moments, and times that we went through growing up within our residency. I hung out with these two more than I did with my actual family during those three years. And it’s amazing that we actually still wanted to hang out outside of school too.
While we have graduated from residency for over a year and we live apart, the magic I feel in our friendship is as present as ever. We still know each other’s quirks (Hector really really likes, and needs, to sleep), what makes our days better (for me, nut butter and a cookie), how we can push each other’s buttons (don't you dare take Lauren’s discoid-cleoid). Even though I miss their daily presence, their impact on the prosthodontist that I am today is very much prevalent.
Residency should be challenging. We are learning the responsibility and privilege of caring for someone. It should be cram-full of stuff to do, stuff to study, stuff to learn. Three years is actually too short to absorb it all so that’s why the expectation should be that those three years are going to be busy and will likely not be a sustainable way to live for the long-term.
But it also needn’t be unpleasant - and I can give thanks to my Grad Pros family for making it so. They’ve instilled in me values, hope, and inspiration to continue on and aspire to be better because we were (and are) all in the grind together as well. Thank you to all of you.
Enjoy this video. It was part of the “Roast” during my class’s graduation ceremony. Our little “brother” and little “sisters”, who have now graduated into awesome specialists, show the depth of the family ties between residents. It’s funny and enlightening to see how much our co-residents know us more than we know ourselves.
And also, to current students/residents and future students/residents in whatever specialty you’re in - I wish for you so much learning and success, but I also hope that you can forge relationships with your “family” that are as, if not more, enriching and wonderful as mine. The good in those relationships and their impact will carry on within you, with you, and to those who you will care for too :)
We do clean up when the occasion calls
This post’s lesson: The occasional spontaneous dance party in the middle of the night while processing a couple of dentures is never a bad idea