And so…

…the big news: new job!

I’ve unfortunately been hesitant to post as to what has been going on in my life regarding the job situation....mostly b/c I didn’t even know what was going on! However, it’s official, I received the job offer for the job I wanted. However, it wasn’t in my first choice location, BUT there’s a great team where I’m going (plus Cat and other friends are there too). So basically, I’m going to be a field clinical engineer (FCE) with St. Jude Medical in Northern NJ. If you wanna know more details, give me a call. It has been kind of an interesting transition to getting to this position, and I’m technically the third student EVER from ATI to go straight into the position! That means that the pressure is on…but, when it’s a job you really want/like to do, does it really mean as much? Nope, I think not! Anyways, so, in case you’re wondering what that means I will be doing for St. Jude, basically, I will be in charge of overseeing multiple research projects in CRM (cardiac rhythm management) with multiple implanting EPs (electrophysiologists) at multiple hospitals from Morristown to Jersey shore. There’s a lot involved in my job and I will be training for the next few months all over the place. I should be making it to Austin for formal training and then also to multiple other sights on the east side of the country for shadowing/training of other FCEs. I’m pretty pumped about it. NJ wasn’t my first choice, but it will be good for me to be there with a very supportive team, etc. I will probably be moving to somewhere outside of Morristown between it and Newark (high probability that I’ll be closer to Morristown).  I’ve found a few places I’m looking into at the moment and I will hopefully be able to get out there near the beginning of May. This consequently also means that I will not be staying in SC for too much longer. Basically, I’m coming back to finish up with my finals, pack and then get out of there. I’ve accomplished a lot while I’ve been there but I’m eager to move on to the next step in my life. Living in NJ will mean quite a bit of things-being by Cat, being by Marlo, and be a hop skip and jump away from NYC! Cat is pretty insistent that I join the Young New Jersey Professionals…which honestly, I think it probably a really good idea to start to get to know people.  So…a new adventure is beginning…yikes! :D

In other news, I finished my presentation on my abstract in Marseille, FR at the ECAS conference. It went pretty well. I got introduced as “Dr. Hegwood”…and it was a “holy $hit” moment…basically, as I was there, I was considered completely on the same level as every of these (very smart) physicians that were there. I was actually pretty nervous (kinda rare for me…unless Joe is there…haha)…just b/c I was presenting in front of pretty much old men who (1) know an a$$ ton more than me and (2) are in age, quite my seniors. Admittedly, that I’m 22 yrs old and able to present competently in front of them (could have done better, but it was my first time…) …well, let’s just say I’m giving myself a pat on the back. I definitely am armed for the future and hopefully more presentations, and holding myself a little more confidently. What I realized after my very brief presentation was that I was slowly starting to realize where my expertise lies, where a physician’s lies, and why at some point they begin to become not as aware of how things work via the devices (which is where I’m very competent) and where I, admittedly, in turn start to realize that they have me beat when I comes to medical knowledge. They know medicine, I know devices and this is a very distinct difference. But regardless, we are working together towards a more beneficial future for patients with conduction/heart problems. My goal currently (and hope) is to some day merge my technical knowledge with a medical education. But anyways, at the conference, I was congratulated on my presentation and my handling of the (very difficult) questions by the chairman (also an EP) of the conference. So, if anything, this made (and makes) me feel very good. I can only move forward. I did my best, and it was good, it can always be better, but I’ve accomplished something not many 22yr olds have, so, bravo for me J.

Also, while I was in Marseille (I’m currently in the airport writing this in Frankfort, Germany) I got to meet up with Nadege for 2 days. Nadege was one of my au pairs when I was little and she was actually the last one I had before we moved to France. If you didn’t know, I actually had a lot of au pairs when I was little…probably 5 or 6 of them from lots of different countries. My favorites were always the ones from France though J. I basically haven’t seen here for an extended period of time for 10 years. And, the last time she saw me I was small little girl. As you can imagine, it was crazy to meet up with one another!! However, she stayed with me while I was in Marseille and we had a really good time. I got to catch up on her life, and her on mine, and I got to practice my French (which is very rusty). I can basically read, write, and understand everything…but actually getting my mouth to move quickly with French words like it used to has been a challenge. But, thankfully, I’m still extremely fluent J.

The next news and fun bit of information is that Joe is coming to visit this weekend!!!! I’m very very excited (haha…I about fell out of my seat when he told me he was coming!). I’m so pumped. For those of you who are fortunate enough to have a relationship even in the same state (or same town), believe me when I say that a few weeks apart feels like a life time.  It’s strange how I cannot feel really whole until he’s around. I realized today that, despite me even realizing, he has become part of my family. We’ve adapted to each other (habits, etc) and so when I see him, it is exactly like coming home to my own family. I personally view this as a very good sign (as if I needed one) of our relationship. All my life as a little girl I dreamed of “that guy”…you know, the one who would sweep me off my feat and carry me into that romantic and happy ever after every girl/woman dreams of?…well… as soon as I stopped looking, it happened to me. Not that I’m saying this is how it always works out, but that is how it worked out for me. The feeling I had imagined when I was young is exactly as I thought it would be…something I want to relish in for every moment of my life. I think that the only thing that little girls or women don’t realize is that you can get to this point and have what you’ve dreamed of…but don’t expect that journey there to be as you had imagined. And basically, this is just b/c life is too complex for things to fall exactly into place as you would have imagined them to happen. But, the glory of it not working out this way is the fact that you will always have your OWN story to tell…how you met, the trials you went through, …the journey will be completely yours. It’s a beautiful thing.

So, aside from the crazy chaos that exists in life…I am ever so happy and ever so lucky.

I hope everyone is doing well. When I make it back to C’ville I will give people a call to see if we can catch up before we move. I’ve already talked to Sara and I’m hoping to see more people too! J