I look at the news today and I see loads of people frustrated. One of the biggest problems we have is that we’re playing the wrong game.
CNN, FOX News, and all others are not in the business of giving you information. You do get some information, but after the last 6 months, I hope you see that the insane headlines that come through on a daily basis are rarely (if ever) true.
You’re playing the “I’m gathering useful information” game. They’re playing the “We want you to watch for as many hours as possible and to think what we tell you to think” game.
You get mad, because you can’t win if you’re playing the wrong game.
Years ago, this idea was made plainly apparent to me. I took my then-little kids out for a walk around the block before dinner. I explained to them that we were going for a walk around the block and then mom would have dinner ready.
Twenty minutes later, after nudging, cajoling, and pure frustration, we had made it less than a quarter of the way around. I was beside myself. We had to get around the block before dinner was ready and we were running out of time. I was ready to explode.
That’s I realized that none of it mattered. The kids had no intention of getting around the block. To them, the game was kick each other and roll in the grass. I was losing because we were playing two different games.
Rotation are the same way. You think you’re supposed to be learning one thing, and that isn’t how it goes at all.
You’re frustrated because you’re playing the wrong game. You think rotations are about learning surgery. You think rotations are about learning medicine. No, no, no, my friend. That’s the wrong game.
“What game is everyone else playing, and how do I win at that one?”
That will be the focus of the July issue of the Physician Assistant Exam Scholars Newsletter. See you inside.
Brian Wallace