Always Looking Out

My older brother, a tall brunette with 15 years on me, has looked out for me like no one else. As a dual board certified physician, his experience in the field of medicine and schooling is unmatched.

Nathan during his senior
year at Bucknell

 "Yeah it sucks" was his famous phrase at family gatherings. As a   child psychiatrist, Nate's days are long, hard, and taxing. He has been   an attending for three years now, currently employed at an outpatient   clinic in Pennsylvania. Although he makes a good earning, he   persuades people away from the profession in an effort to save them   from the horror he experienced. 

 He began his journey as a graduate of Bloomsburg High School,   from there he majored in biochemistry at Bucknell University. After   the completion of his undergrad he moved to the city of Philadelphia   in order to pursue his acceptance to Jefferson Medical College.   Nathan is very smart, brilliant in fact, but even as one of the brightest   students, his years of med school took a toll on him. He missed   several family vacations and was forced to miss most family   holidays due to his studies. As unfortunate as this was, he knew it   was necessary in order to achieve his goal.

 In the end, his hard work and dedication never went unnoticed by those around him, and Nate matched at his first choice hospital. His career took off, and he never looked back. During his time as a fellow, Nathan Lee was a name all employers knew. He was sought after by several large hospitals and finally settled on his best offer. Him and his wife packed up and moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania where they started the next chapter in their life. "That's when it got real," he once told me. "I had an office to myself with my name on the door, and a patient list all my own." I could not grasp the awe he felt until I walked into his office myself.

Nathan receiving a white coat during
his first year of medical school

"Wow," was all I could say when I walked in for the first time. He had a large desk with a name plate, and the phrase "M.D." on it. 

"This is it," he told us. Looking around, my eye was drawn to a play house in the corner.

"What's that for?" I asked him.

"It's for my kids to play with," He could tell I was confused so he went on, "I can actually tell a lot about their functionality level by how they play with toys." I thought that was genius and everything I knew about my brother was confirmed. He really was the hardworking and smart person I always thought he was. 

Years later, sitting in the house we grew up in, Nate let me in on the truth of becoming a doctor. 

"Don't do it. There are easier ways to make money," He said this over and over as he laid on the couch, half asleep from his lengthy shifts at the hospital. 

"But I want to be a doctor," I argued, sitting on the carpet across the room. 

"Why?" he asked. For that I did not have an answer. "I'm half a million in debt." he said laughing. Again, I had no answer. My head spun as I tried to think of a rationale as to why I wanted to be a doctor. 

"It's what I've always wanted to do. I want to help people," That was all I could think to say. Nate and I argued about my career choice countless times previous. But now it was getting serious, my major determined what college I would go to. 

"Pick nursing. It's a lot less school and you can go be a nurse anesthetist, and make good money. That's what I should have done," I thought long and hard about the words he said. I applied to Bloomsburg University not long after our conversation. I took to heart what he said and I chose a balance for my future. I want to work hard, save lives, and make money. I cannot thank Nate enough for pushing me in the right direction and always looking out for me.