Medicine & Manicures

A Much Overdue Life Update…

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Alright guys, we’re getting real today. It’s taken me a while to be able to write this post but it was finally time to share a big life update with you all. As we all know, sharing positive and happy things on the blog is easy but sharing more personal and trying parts of our lives isn’t as fun. That being said, we all know life isn’t perfect and I want to share the ups and downs with you guys. You are my blog fam, after all! So here’s to getting something off my chest that I’ve wanted to share for a while now.

Those of you that have been following for a while may have noticed my lack of medical or PA related posts in the past few months. You may have noticed that I have been blogging more in general. If you follow me on Snapchat you may have seen me doing completely random things throughout the day (best schedule ever??) and that I’ve been doing more traveling. Heck, maybe you haven’t noticed anything!

On July 7th, things took an unexpected turn as I was laid off from my dermatology job after only 5 months of working.

These things happen all the time and I’m sure all of us know at least one person that has experienced job loss, but to happen so soon after graduation felt like a punch in the stomach. You all know as well as my friends & family that I truly loved my first job. I loved the specialty, my coworkers, the location (10 minute commute!) and just finally getting to practice as a PA. So what happened? To make a long story short, one of the doctors resigned and went to another practice. The office was not able to get find a replacement in time so some financial decisions had to be made which unfortunately affected my position.

I was crushed to see everything I worked so hard for be taken away. I tried to be positive, though. The first few weeks I was like… okay, I can do this. I’ll be able to find a job in no time. Sadly, that was not the case. I was unemployed for 4 months and just kept asking myself, if this is the number one Master’s degree, then why in the world is it so hard to find a job?! Maybe it’s the fact that Charlotte is saturated with PAs, maybe it’s because I didn’t have much experience. Who knows.

While it was definitely stressful, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wonderful husband. I tried to keep myself busy during the week but I quickly discovered that I would make a horrible housewife. Spending my days cooking, cleaning, running errands, and grocery shopping got old and boring really quickly. Those are things that Ryan & I typically do together and I prefer it that way. I was very thankful to have this blog to keep me busy though!

After 145 days of unemployment and over 65 job applications, I’m happy to say I’ve finally started a new job!!! (I received the max amount of unemployment assistance so I had to apply to 5 jobs a week… it was brutal!). I am working at a local urgent care and my first day was last Wednesday. I get to see it all at this place which is pretty awesome. Y’all know I loved dermatology, but I think as a new provider it’s best that I use all of my PA school knowledge to my full potential and get to treat a wide variety of illnesses and conditions. I’m not really able to interact on the blog on the days I’m there because we stay pretty busy and I work 12-hour shifts. Luckily the time has been going by very quickly and its nice to get several days off throughout the week too- like today!

Like I said, I’ve been wanting to share for a while but I didn’t want to jinx myself or put it all out there until my next step was actually going to happen. I felt embarrassed, frustrated, and mostly sad that my career had been put on hold. Everything was going perfectly but you never know when life is going to throw you a curve ball. But I try to think in the mindset that everything happens for a reason and maybe there was a greater plan. I have a lot to learn at this new job but I’m looking forward to the challenge!

Thanks for making it through this super lengthy post but I’m excited to start incorporating some more medical posts every now and then. Hope y’all have a great day!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chesson | Magnolia+Main says

    I'm glad to hear that you made it through the last few months – that couldn't have been easy to deal with so soon after starting your first job. Thank goodness for a supportive husband 🙂 Congratulations on the new job though! I hope that it works out well for you!

    Reply

  2. Annie Malone says

    Gal, Im so sorry to hear that you have been going through that, but so happy for you that you've found a new job that you will hopefully end up loving even more!! Thanks for sharing with all of us.

    Reply

  4. kerri @ cheshire kat says

    oh girly! what a curveball of life and thank you for sharing! it is so rough when things come out of no where and it's just too much. i am so happy you have found something! job hunting is NOT easy nowadays and i remember being in that same boat applying to about as many jobs a week. so exhausting. anyway – so many good things ahead!

    xoxo cheshire kat

    Reply

  5. Girl Meets Bow says

    Kristina my heart goes out to you!! I can only imagine what you've been going through the past few months (and trying to keep a brave/happy face)! I'm SO excited for your new opportunity and know that they are so lucky to have you! Cheers to new adventures and embracing the curveballs! 🙂

    Reply

  7. Jacqui German says

    I know exactly what you mean when you say embarrassed frustrated and sad – I've been at my current job (in my field) for over a year and a half now but I graduated in 2011 and had a string of jobs both in and out for years – It was SO hard to find something and when I finally did, there sometimes wasn't enough work! – Everyone takes a different path and yours just included a speedbump 🙂 Congrats on the new position!!

    Reply

  9. LHWinstead says

    Im so sorry to hear about your first job not working out. You are so brave to be open and vulnerable about what you've been through— Im sure there's someone whose walking through that very thing right now and will find this post especially encouraging!! So glad you found a new job & that you're enjoying it!!

    Reply

  10. Amber @ EasyPetiteLooks.com says

    Congrats on the new job, urgent care can be quite fun! So stressful to have to find a new job, but it often leads to things you never would have otherwise tried. I feel you on the unexpected things, I had to take disability two months into my first post-residency physician job, something I never ever thought would happen.

    Easy Petite Looks Blog

    Reply

  14. BLovedBoston says

    Congratulations on the new job girl!! I can't imagine how hard it was for you during those months but you made it through and did everything you could to make sure you were ready for work when the right job came along! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston

    Reply

  15. Katie Elizabeth says

    Ahhh I am SO HAPPY that something ended up working out! And sounds like you will get tons of amazing experience at this new job! I truly believe everything happens for a (good) reason, even if we can't see it yet! Congratulations, girl!!

    Reply

  16. Hillary @ styleinasmalltown says

    Being let go of your job is such a hard thing to do! I wish you would've told me. I went through the exact same thing in 2009 and was unemployed for 8 months. I remember all the paperwork required to go through unemployment and the 22 interviews that I went on. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and I believe that this will be true for you as well. You are a stronger person having gone through what you did and I'm SO excited for you to have this new experience! So many congrats, girl!!!

    xx,
    Hillary

    Reply

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