Chris Ethridge's Blog (grad March 09)

It is Feb. 29th - LEAP YEAR

You know it is a Presidential election year when they throw in an extra day to campaign!

Here is an interesting term that I think sums up our choices for filling the oval office this time around:

ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION

The condition of having a field of political candidates that just does not excite you in anyway and leaves you hoping that things will be looking UP, while expecting that things could stay DOWN.

   

Rested and Refreshed

Bright eyed and Bushy Tailed.

That's how I'm feeling today - after getting 10-11 hours of sleep last night. Definately not looking like these two this morning.

Now, if I could only get some productive use of my free time today - I will be set (somehow, though, I think that I am looking for an excuse to procrastinate - as evidenced by my taking time out to blog while I should be analyzing XRays...)

BOARD REVIEW

I am officially exhausted now - two weekends ago - Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were spent 8am - 6pm in the Irene Gold Board Review for Part II of the NBCE Board Examinations. If that didn't tax my brain enough, this past weekend (Sat. and Sunday) were spent in review classes again, but this time I had to get up and drive to Atlanta early Saturday morning - 5 am. I didn't get home until after 8pm Sunday and was so hyped up on Energy drinks from the drive home, that I slept only a few hours before making it to my 9 am class. Of course, I went home to take a short nap before my next class at 11am - and promptly woke up at around 2:30pm. That gave me a little bit of a second wind, but killed my chances at getting any meaningful sleep Monday night (probably only another 3 hours). Luckily for me, I had four or five cups of coffee yesterday evening with an early dinner to keep going, only to be wide awake until about 5 am this morning. Add 2 more hours sleep to the weekly quota. It's no wonder I lost 20 pounds during Part I preparations!  I am going to force myself to get to sleep early tonight - so that I can take advantage of the day off (Health Center is closed tomorrow for Entrance/Exit Exams) to review the information that I have been getting a little rusty at recalling. At least I can get a nap tomorrow afternoon!!!!

Constructing a new Career

A Recent Comment posted by a Blog viewer:

Hi Chris,
My wife and I are planning on coming out to check out Sherman on Mar 6,7. I found your story interesting as I am moving out of contracting and planning on entering the chiropractic field as well. I'd love to hear a bit more about how you're managing your schooling with family, etc. We've got three little ones and I can just imagine that life will get interesting for us as we engage in school.

Thanks,

Paul Baily

Posted by: Paul Baily | February 08, 2008 at 10:31 PM

Paul,

Let me start by saying - I NEVER Regret my decision to get away from contracting and go into a field that promises to be more rewarding financially, as well as, emotionally. I gladly trade the stress of wondering if a customer would make good on their contract obligations ($$$) for the stress of a Midterm or Final. It is difficult to have a family and go back to school, but many students do it. Will it be hard to spend time with the family? Only if you let it. Sure, the first year and a half require most of your conscious time (and even plagues your dreams on occasion.) But, I try to  get my family involved. I frequently bring my daughter to the school and try to get her to understand what it is that I am learning here. In fact, she has become a strong advocate at her own school for not only chiropractic, but for a wellness attitude as well. Her friends, hopefully, don't think I'm a kook anymore with all the organic food and label reading. They even ask her advice on healthier eating. I must admit that I still do a little contracting on the side - holidays and weekends- and pretty much only for friends and family, now. I no longer buy materials or give net 30 terms, but I do enjoy watching a project come together...knowing that I did it with my own two hands. But the feeling that comes from making someone feel better or helping them to see a better level of function in their body is even better - AND I can still say that I did it with my own two hands!

Email me at cmethridge@shermancollege.net and I will be glad to answer any questions that you have. I'm curious to see what kind of contracting you are involved in and how you finally decided that there has to be a better way to make a living.