Last night I attended the Marquette University School of Dentistry’s Winter Gala. Always a wonderful night and something that my wife and I look forward to every year. And every year Gala is a time for me to see a little more of the human that dwells within each and every one of my students. All too often in life, and certainly right now in dental school, we seem to be railroaded into homogeneity and a lack of humanity: everyone required to wear their class scrub color with no deviations; prescribed uniforms that must be worn in certain areas or there will be repercussions (forget wearing a sweatshirt if you get cold); etc. To me it seems that we put forth way too much work and effort to dehumanize our burgeoning young professionals who will eventually be contributing to and working within a field/profession which is all about human interaction, empathy, and expression.
Winter Gala. One night to see beautiful dresses. One night to see dashing suits and ties. One night for burgeoning professional youth to be free from their shackles for a brief moment so to embrace and experience their fleeting and rapidly changing youth. One night that may be the very last time for D4 students to dance and sing and celebrate their youth as life and adulthood are calling and there is no choice but to be ready to be launched into life and commence practicing within the profession that we faculty have tried so hard (or not) to instill in our young protégés and protégées.
Unbridled youth. Enjoy these days. They are fleeting. Hold on to youth and life for as long as possible. Don’t hasten the transition. Life always moves us on to the next thing and most of the time that next thing in life is a good thing. But when we move on, as life always forces us to do, we always leave a little bit of ourselves in the past.
Gala is a chance for me to relive my days past. Gala is a time for me to live vicariously through my youthful student’s dancing and celebrating. Gala is a reflection back to my days of innocence. Days when I was just Patrick. Yes, I long for those days when people saw me as just Patrick (and not doctor). Yes, I have done the work, walked the walk, and talked the talk that have afforded me a title. But if I always was and am and will continue to be only that which I am then why the title? If doctor is what Patrick was and is then why can’t I just be Patrick? Maybe Gala brings me to this: the bright eyed youth doing that which I was always meant to do and will continue to be.
I miss my youth. I lament the many things that have derailed my bright eyed youth and innocence. Life happens. Sometimes life isn’t fair and doesn’t make much sense. And I am grateful that I get to see my students be the beautiful and youthful people they are especially at Gala. And I am grateful that my beautiful and youthful students daily remind me of where I’ve been and where I can go.
Enjoy these innocent days my friends. There will be good days. There will be not so good days. And if one works hard the not so good days shape us into greater and better versions of ourselves. I wish I could shelter my students from the not so good days but we all must face those days and learn from them so that we may grow into the better people we’re meant to be.
Thank you for last night. I cherish my time with you all.
Doc's Writing Refuge 