My eldest stepdaughter is graduating from medical school today.
She embarked upon this journey seven years ago, having graduated from upper secondary school with the highest grades of that graduating class [what they call dúx here in Niceland]. She got off to a flying start, but somewhere during that first year became somewhat overwhelmed by everything and decided she needed to take some time off.
She took a break the following year, working for the first half and going abroad for the second to stay with a friend of ours in the UK. While there, she picked up her medical textbooks again and happily found that her fascination and enthusiasm for medicine returned. She came back to Iceland, went into her second year, and has not looked back since. At times it’s been a bumpy ride; she’s had to face a lot of challenges in both her personal and her professional life, including some things that nobody should have to endure. Yet she’s made it through with courage and grace and has not wavered in her commitment to her chosen path.
The high regard and goodwill she already enjoys in the profession became evident early this year when she was trying - and managed - to get a temporary place as an intern at a hospital in New York. People were going out of their way to help her. Not only is she exceptionally intelligent, she’s also has something far more rare among members of the medical profession - the power to empathize. She’s a kind person, self-aware, and very skilled. She’s going to make an excellent physician.
Til hamingju með þennan glæsilega áfanga elsku Ásthildur okkar!!
AND THE WEATHER IS COOPERATING
It’s very beautiful, brilliant sunshine, though with a cool breeze in the air. Currently 10°C [50F]; the sun came up at 2.58 and will go down one minute short of midnight, at 11.59.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations to your beautiful step daughter, that’s a lovely success story!
Fantastic! What an amazing accomplishment! She looks rightfully pleased and proud! All those years of long hours and drudgery don’t seem to have taken any toll on her appearance!
Congratulations to your step daughter, Alda. Well done!
Congrats to your stepdaughter.
Congratulations! What an accomplishment! I am from New York, so if she has any questions about moving to the city, please feel free to email me. (bunnynico1 at gmail [dot] com)
It’s great to see people with a heart going into the medical profession. Congratulations to her!
Congratulations, brilliant.
Was this from Háskóli Íslands? A good friend of mine was in the same class, then, + a fellow violinist from the amateur orchestra
Congrats!
I hope she’ll Love New York - I know she’ll love the profession
I really like your blog a lot….never ever stop
thx
Thanks for your comments, all.
Slightly misleading: she’s already been to NYC - that happened in January. She’ll be doing her residency here.
Hildigunnur - yes, it was.
Congratulations!
As the other have said: well done to your stepdaughter.
“others” not “other”. Mus learn to read comment before pressing “submit”.
The wedding photos that the picture links to are lovely.
obviously not learning
Congrats to your stepdaughter!
(I must say, I’m feeling a certain kinship with pierre l, having left a series of comments on any number of blogs that were much the same as his above….
)
Til hamingju öll!
Congragulations !!!!
Congragulations and
empathy is something that is a great asset in medicine.
I have been to many doctors and nurses that just did not have this and the ones that have , have been the most helpful and memorable.
Karen Parker
Congratulations to Ásthildur, and to you! It’s good that she rediscovered her enthusiasm. Sometimes you just need a little time to catch your breath.
Re the wedding photos: what a cool place for a reception.
Very beautifully written Alda;)
Knús*