No Longer a Loner

Lately, I have been pondering a transition of roles in the work/learning environment. I have been accustomed to doing most things for myself and sometimes, if it was my job or as in medical school, my unexpressed duty, doing "stuff" for my superiors. I'm talking about simple things, like making sure I have gloves and a gown for surgery or pulling a file that I (or previously a "boss") wants to see, and generally making sure all is in order so that a job can be done.

The other day, I was struck by the fact that there are people now doing some of those things for me. People retrieve files for me and make sure I am prepared to do my part in surgery. As I reflect back to the first days of being here, administrative personnel made all the phone calls necessary to make sure I had identification and access to the hospital resources that I needed. I ask where to find "x" or "y" and instead of telling me, someone goes and retrieves the item.

I have mixed feelings about this whole thing. I end up following the person who is helping me so that I don't have to bother him or her later. Yet, at the same, I appreciate that I don't have to do everything. It's odd relinquinshing some of that control, asking for help and accepting it.

I suppose I will come to grips with the idea that the big picture is really a teamwork effort and everyone is doing what they are trained or hired to do such that I can focus on the tasks for which I am training to do.