StormKnight

Doctor. Scientist. Teacher. Veteran (USAF for 8yrs, 3 enlisted, 5 as an officer, and worked with all of our services as well as Great Britian's Military Medical Corp and the Medical Corps of the Japanese Self Defense Force.) Raised blue collar (father was a badge for 39+yrs.) Survivor of a rough childhood.

When I was 10 or so, I learned how poor our country's education standards are compared to other developed countries. This infuriated me to no end. I wanted to prove them wrong. I forced myself to learn things not because they were easy, but because they were hard and a challenge. I learned Latin as a language and learned of the classical literature. I learned the violin to learn to appreciate the music (met Isaac Stern and held his Stradivarius...too cool.) Science? Yes, please. I found I was good at it.

I am a doctor, and it has been a quest for most of my life. Because it is not just a job that is fun, it helps complete the quest for the perfection of my soul, to use my knowledge to directly help my fellow human. It also means one has the ultimate responsibility of life and death issues, yet have the humility to know I could be wrong, and I can always make mistakes.

It has not been an easy trip, and I have fallen many times. I have dined on ashes more often than not in my time, and I know I am not done with that bitter meal.

The last big fall was a medical condition that cost me my uniform, listed me as disabled, and cost me the first shot of medical school. But I have never given up, even as far as a plummeted. I made it to that sacred degree. I have spent 2 years out of 5 in a surgical residency as a preliminary resident (no follow-up beyond year 2,) and was the one everyone in the hospital wanted to be on call: nurses, techs, and even some attendings. This was not because I was "not bad" (evaluation from the hardest-to-please attending,) but because I am approachable and will take the time to care. I have evaluations from all to prove I wasn't a screw-up, and could call upon anyone in the program for letters when I need them. Now I have set my sights on the next goal: becoming an anesthesiologist.

I am in the area because I have tripped a bit on that road, and I am doing research and working on my Master's to get into a program.

My friends are important, more so than family, as most of the family that I cared about have been ashes for years. I have met great many people I have called friends, and this area's scene has been the most friendly one I have been to. I thank you all for letting me in so quickly.

I have lots of interest in lots of different things. I would like to think I have squeezed as much as I can into this life. Now I am trying to make the next step in life.

Never start a fight, but always finish it.