“… Now you surely have heard a lot
From this year’s 4th years
About how hard surgery is
Allowing for some slight narrative variation due to personality quirks
They told you the truth:
You are about to face a major challenge
(But you’ve been hearing that all your life)
I can remember vividly my third year
So you can come talk to me if you need to
The real truth is,
Expect abuse—
From the residents, the attending, really anyone who is above you
On some days, it’s going to come like clock work
On other days, it will be totally out of the blue:
You’re going to get abused
But try to remember—
As hard as it is—
It’s not personal.”
