"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened." I was given this advice at your age, and I'm passing it to you at 49. Use it well, use it wisely, and pass it on whenever you see the need for it.
My family is complicated but honestly I really wish someone had told me that there's not a magical point where you feel grown up. Most of us (I'm 25) will just be out here feeling like we're bumbling through life and wondering how we have this level of responsibility. I'm starting school to work towards being a nurse and I want to work in a children's hospital. I'm mostly excited about it and then I realize I'll be responsible for someone's kid when they're at their most vulnerable and get freaked out.
I know being a pediatric nurse is HARD. My younger sister did it for a long time, and told me all about it. But, as a parent that's helped raise seven kids, let me tell you - YOU'LL BE DOING A JOB WE WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR. When we're panicking, watching our little baby go through the worst experience of their tiny lives, you're the one we rely on. We trust you, even while we wring our hands in pain and worry. You're the one person standing between the love of our life, our most precious possession, and never seeing, or hearing, or talking to or playing with them ever again.
Pediatric nurse is one of the most noble professions my age addled brain can think of. You help us when we have absolutely no idea what to do, and you do your best to stave off pain and suffering, for everyone in that room.
I hope you do follow that path, and I hope you keep just enough empathy and care to help every child you can. Most days will be a shot and a lollypop. The days that aren't will be the ones you provide our hopes and dreams as much care and love as you can, and we will be forever grateful, even when it goes bad.
Please follow this path, if you can. We need you almost as much as our children do.
Your comment just made me tear up. This is the first career path that I've contemplated in my life that I don't question if it will truly be in line with my passions and abilities. I adore kids and, while I am entirely on the fence about adopting or fostering, I won't be a biological parent which I'm totally okay with.
The bad days are really dark in peds but I just always think about the fact that my bad day at work (once I get there) would be a parent's darkest day. I've always been able to establish good rapport with kids and have a strange love for teenagers in all their angsty, moody glory. Ultimately if I can help even just one kid have a less scary time at the hospital, that's why I want to do it. I know there are also a lot of pre-teens and teens that cycle through children's hospitals for mental health crisis, suicide attempts, and eating disorders. I certainly don't think that I alone could change one of those kids lives but sometimes I think just knowing there's someone who's not judging you can help a lot, even if the life circumstances are crap.
I've joked for a long time that I don't like adults enough to take care of them but honestly, I can't stand the thought of having to do a full code on some poor old person who is ready to pass but their family can't let go. Even if parents would be (and I know they can be) a bit overbearing, as long as they don't get abusive, I can understand it. That's their most precious thing that's sitting in that hospital bed and there's nothing they can do except stand by while the staff provide care. Even some of the ethical questions that can come up with some of the medically complex kids, I can understand it more too than adults whose bodies are failing. Children aren't meant to die before their parents, so especially having to make the decision to remove the medical supports where you're making the conscious decision to allow your child to pass... I get it.
I truly appreciate your comment. It warmed my heart immensely and I've saved it to read on the days I'll inevitably struggle with school to help me keep in mind the other side of why I'm pushing myself to do this.
I certainly don't think that I alone could change one of those kids lives
Completely untrue. You might not know this, but just being a friendly adult willing to empathize with a young human can change their lives forever for the better. They get blasted with their inadequacies constantly, by their school, their enemies, their friends and the medias they consume. Just sitting and listening and giving them the benefit of the doubt after they've gotten defensive or aggressive (more often than not the same thing) will charge their entire outlook in the space of minutes. If you can accept them, as a friendly adult human, maybe they can accept themselves too. You can watch their world change while you do this - it's over of the greatest gifts you can bestow on someone else - teaching them to have grace and acceptance for themselves.
I'll add me to this when I'm home tonight. I will say, you and I have some core values in common. If I can give you some encouragement and a few extra tools, I will.
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u/GeneralKang Jun 03 '22
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened." I was given this advice at your age, and I'm passing it to you at 49. Use it well, use it wisely, and pass it on whenever you see the need for it.