One of the hardest things about being chronically ill is the waiting. Waiting for a diagnosis, for test results, for the doctor to call you back… just an endless series of waiting. Patience has never been my strong suit, so I was probably not an ideal person to develop a chronic illness (but then again, who is?).
A couple of weeks ago, though, the waiting felt different. This time, it wasn’t related to my current health, but to my future well-being. When the phone rang this time, the news was all positive. I found out that I was selected for an internship that will allow me to pursue the field that I love. Not only that, but the internship I was chosen for seems like the perfect fit for me. It will allow me to gain experience with aspects of the field that I am very interested in. For someone who is so used to waiting for bad news, this was an absolute dream come true. I didn’t cry, but I sure came close.
It has been a long road to get here. Academic classes, volunteering, a practicum… and now, finally, an internship. I started down this road after a couple of hospitalizations (one that included surgery) when I knew I needed a new direction in life, and I thought this might be it. I took a class to see if I liked it and fell in love. And now I’m here, knowing that I am one internship and a certification exam away from entering the field I’ve longed to work in.
So now, I find myself waiting again. My internship doesn’t start until May, and if I could speed up the calendar a little bit, believe me, I would. Until then, I have things to work on… finding somewhere to live, filling out paperwork, and a few other things. While the waiting won’t be easy, it’s the good kind of waiting this time. I’m so glad to finally be moving forward in life, even if I have to wait a little while to get there.