Arse
(This is a fleeting visit to express my frustration at my useless self - normal silence will be resumed as soon as possible).
I hate that feeling that I get every few years that I'm doing the wrong job and something else would be so much more my sort of thing. Well, I've got it again and I haven't even started being a radiographer. Arse. I'm so fickle. Maybe it's the stress of upcoming exams and essay deadlines and I'll get over it in due course. Maybe.
The thing that did it was the placement I had on Friday observing on an ambulance. Now I want to be a paramedic. The novelty of this situation is that I've been here before. Back in 2001 I applied to be an ambulance technician and passed all the assessments except the fitness test. I was even offered a training place subject to passing the fitness test. I trained hard but my heart rate let me down. My resting heart rate was fine - even now with my far more sedentary lifestyle and increased weight it's about 70 which is average. But they measure your heart rate whilst going up and down steps whilst carrying 30kg and if it goes above 90% of your theoretical maximum, that's it. Fail. It didn't matter that I could physically complete the test without collapsing and the gym lady said my heart rate returned to normal really quickly which was the criteria *they* used to measure fitness.
For some reason my heart has always had a tendancy to run fast when exercising. At the gym, the exercise machines had heart monitors in and they were constantly telling me to slow down so my heart rate would come down a bit. Thing is, if I obeyed the gym machine I didn't feel like I was getting any real exercise. I guess I'm just weird.
Anyway, I kept trying. Then in 2002 I came down with a bad back and decided it was probably a good thing I hadn't got a job as an ambulance tech. My back is more or less fine now, but with the occasional twinge to remind me to look after it. So I got over wanting to be a paramedic.
So, despite my history of a dodgy back, my past failures at the fitness test, the fact that I haven't been near a gym in years, I weigh more now, I have trained 2 and a half years to be a radiographer, and there aren't any unis near me that run paramedic courses (techs are being phased out) - despite all this I now want to be a paramedic again.
Bah. My head is *so * messed up. Anyone know where I can get a fully functioning one from?
I hate that feeling that I get every few years that I'm doing the wrong job and something else would be so much more my sort of thing. Well, I've got it again and I haven't even started being a radiographer. Arse. I'm so fickle. Maybe it's the stress of upcoming exams and essay deadlines and I'll get over it in due course. Maybe.
The thing that did it was the placement I had on Friday observing on an ambulance. Now I want to be a paramedic. The novelty of this situation is that I've been here before. Back in 2001 I applied to be an ambulance technician and passed all the assessments except the fitness test. I was even offered a training place subject to passing the fitness test. I trained hard but my heart rate let me down. My resting heart rate was fine - even now with my far more sedentary lifestyle and increased weight it's about 70 which is average. But they measure your heart rate whilst going up and down steps whilst carrying 30kg and if it goes above 90% of your theoretical maximum, that's it. Fail. It didn't matter that I could physically complete the test without collapsing and the gym lady said my heart rate returned to normal really quickly which was the criteria *they* used to measure fitness.
For some reason my heart has always had a tendancy to run fast when exercising. At the gym, the exercise machines had heart monitors in and they were constantly telling me to slow down so my heart rate would come down a bit. Thing is, if I obeyed the gym machine I didn't feel like I was getting any real exercise. I guess I'm just weird.
Anyway, I kept trying. Then in 2002 I came down with a bad back and decided it was probably a good thing I hadn't got a job as an ambulance tech. My back is more or less fine now, but with the occasional twinge to remind me to look after it. So I got over wanting to be a paramedic.
So, despite my history of a dodgy back, my past failures at the fitness test, the fact that I haven't been near a gym in years, I weigh more now, I have trained 2 and a half years to be a radiographer, and there aren't any unis near me that run paramedic courses (techs are being phased out) - despite all this I now want to be a paramedic again.
Bah. My head is *so * messed up. Anyone know where I can get a fully functioning one from?
6 Comments:
Wurzel Gummidge prolly has a spare head you can have. ;-)
I think you're right: it's more than likely that your feelings of dissatisfaction may well come from exam stress and whatnot.
I'd suggest toughing it out a bit more. You'll be fine if you stick with it.
By
Unknown, at 12:25 am
...And best of luck to you, too! :)
By
Unknown, at 12:27 am
Thanks! I won't be giving up the course - not after 2 and half years. It remains to be seen what happens after I finish though - I may not even be able to get a radiography job the way things are right now.
By
Lisa & Adam, at 1:08 pm
If you find a functioning head, can I have one too please?
By
Pookledo, at 9:21 am
Hey,
Sorry to hear you are having second thoughts about becoming a Radiographer. Hopefully it is just a passing trend.
Glad to hear your back is better though. I am still battling my back pain. Its actually been getting worse the last year or so and the pain has spread from my lower back to my upper and back and my sternum. I am currently trying a chiropractor, but havent had much luck with him yet. I think I'll stop going. Its costing a fortune and it isnt really doing anything for me.
Anyway, glad to hear you got your back problems under control. Lucky. Take care,
ArizonaDB
Mountain Imaging
By
Dustin, at 7:27 pm
Hello Lisa
Fantastic Blog, very witty and interesting too.
I'm currently studying at college and hoping to be a diagnostic radiographer.
How did you complete the personal statement ?
I'm really stuck on this and can't seem to stop it sounding like a job application. The pastoral tutor don't help much either, as she has a certain dislike of me.
I also have a blog ( and two cats ) at whyisitnotworkingright.blogspot.com where you can view my attempts at lifes little glitches and my car restoration.
Well at least I think its funny.
Keep up the good work and hope to hear from you.
P.S now I've seen yours you can see mine, and maybe reciprocate links.
"even when the darkest clouds are in the sky......." song by Sting
Regards Paul
By
Fufferfour, at 1:42 pm
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