Jarrod had a friend his come by the shop so he could help me with a speech I need to give for his wedding on the 19th. I've never given a speech. Once in college I took a B in an advanced design class just because I refused to give an oral report. Public speaking is not my thing.
ive never been one to speak in front of a crowd.....its not that hard at a wedding, Ive done it twice, but speaking to friends and family is nothing compared to speaking to strangers.
when I was a fourth year pharmacy student, we had to work in a hospital as part of the program.
I worked in a brooklyn hospital in brooklyn NY, well, didnt work, I didnt get paid, but worked like a slave.
part of the experience was we had to pick any patient on the floor we were assigned to and give an oral report/speech along with charts, graphs, whatever, and discuss the medical treatment and disease or condition and why and how the drugs given to the patient were necessary or if we felt not, etc.....
so I was on pediatric floor and I chose a child with lead poisoning. yes, in the 70s there were plenty of buildings in ny with lead paint and kids would eat paint chips....
once a week the students in our group had to get up in a meeting room/conference room and give a speech to the other students as well as the pharmacy administrator who ran the program.
I wasnt thrilled about it, but knew I had to do it.
an hour before I was about to give my presentation, the pharmacy administrator found me and informed me that some famous physician who was considered top in their field was scheduled to give a lecture around the same time I was going to present myself to my fellow students. the physician took ill, cancelled last minute, but with a smile from ear to ear the pharmacy administrator told me she found out and since most of the guests were on their way or already present, she invited them to my presentation, letting them know I was only a student, but my luck, most of them came. I walk into the conference room, and it was standing room only.....Ive never been so panicked in my entire life. there is an expression, but cant use it here, but its along the lines that one might need an undergarment change.
and so I bravely went on, at least the administrator stepped in if she felt I didnt explain something thouroughly.
when I finished, the relief was incredible, felt like I just climbed everest.
but it was only the beginning of my worst nightmare.
the administrator asks, are there any questions, and 25 doctors all raised their hands.
I was hoping scotty would beam me up any second, but he didnt, and this went on for nearly another hour.
it was the worst day I ever had in college life, worst then medicinal chem final.
she gave me an A minus for the report, but only a b plus as final grade.
it still haunts me today.
and in the end, I was taken out of the hospital program because of something a doctor forced me to do under a threat of her having me thrown out of the program for not assisting.
I was a big strong kid in college, not fat, and a tiny women physician was giving a 12 year old boy a spinal tap, and she couldnt find a male nurse to hold the kid still. she told me, after I told her Im not allowed to touch any patients, if I didnt assist her, she would have me thrown out of the hospital...she explained, I need someone big and strong like you, and you are perfect for the job. I tried to explain again, Im a pharmacy student, but she literally dragged me into an exam room. there was this frightened little boy with his mom, and another female nurse.
I had to hold the kids knees up to his chest while she did the p;rocedure, and I was sweating like a pig, this kid was strong. the nurse and doctor both laughed at the way I was sweating when it was over, I wanted to bash their faces, but hey,
the pharmacy administrator found out and immediately had me transferred out of the hospital, they sent me to the indigent ward in a city run hospital, where I was totally comfortable as the men in there were very appreciative of the care they got and noone ever knew why with a week left in the program I was kicked out.
now you all know, but it was 50 years ago. I hope the kid is a billionaire,healthy and shares the story with his family one day.
