Ok, yesterday I looked back at my goals for 2023 and reviewed what I had achieved and what I hadn’t. There was a smattering of accomplishments and a smattering non-accomplishments. Happens every year.

So, that said, what am I looking to do for 2024.

• Get into PA School! My goal had been to be accepted in 2023, but that didn’t happen (though I did get waitlisted at one!) This is going to be perhaps the hardest goal to achieve, but the one I’m most focused on. What makes it hard is my undergrad GPA is holding me back. This has been an ongoing issue, one I can’t really change. But I’m working several avenues to get in anyway.
• Keep working in the Emergency Department. Technically this is a part-time job, but because they’re often chronically short of techs, I’m often able to pick up extra hours. Last year for example (including training and a few days I took off for vacation) I worked 2200 hours. I’m not sure I’ll work that hard this year, but my goal at least is to be at over 3000 hours by the time I start my second round of PA School applications (this includes the 300+ I achieved in 2022).
• Keep my Red Badge certification in the ED. This allows me to be the Lead Tech on Traumas. This won’t be hard. I simply need to lead 3 traumas in 2024 and I’ll have my Red Badge for 2025. I’ve honestly had shifts where I’ve done that in one shift.
• Cut back on my IT consulting. This is a mixed bag for me. It’s honestly where the bucks are. But I’m enjoying it less and less. That said, to any of my #SQLFamily members reading, if there are quick projects you need help with or short term items, let’s talk.
• Work on me and be a better person. While I think I’m generally a pretty decent guy, I’m aware of some issues I want to work on. That’s about all I’ll say for now.
• Meditate – even if it’s just a minute or two a day. This is related to the previous goal. I want to be more relaxed in life.
• Relax more. Sometimes it seems like I do that a lot, but honestly this past year I took a number of classes, did my IT consulting and worked in the ED. I want to slow down just a bit. And honestly, my 56 year old body is telling me this a bit more.
• Hiking – I put this down every year and rarely get out and do more. But perhaps this is the year.
• Biking – I definitely didn’t make my goal last year. Perhaps this year. My new schedule for work might actually allow me to bike to/from work. We’ll see if I actually do that at all.
• Caving – again, need to do more. With the NCRC weeklong in NY this year, I’ll be busy planning that.
• See friends – twice in December we had friends over for an evening of hanging out. We’re going to do more of that. We used to do more pre-Covid, it’s time to do more. In fact, I think we already have a night setup to watch a few episodes of From the Earth to the Moon (Spider and Galileo Was Right for those wondering).
• Travel – nothing big this year due to budget and time. Though, if I get accepted into a PA School, I may take more time off from my work in the ED to do more travel.
• Get our new septic system in. This was a goal last year that didn’t happen for a variety of reasons.
• Finish several projects around the house. I think once I’m done with the IT work, I’ll try to focus on this.
• MAYBE take a class or two. I’ve taken pretty much every conceivable pre-req I can for any PA school I’ve looked at, but it might be fun to take more classes anyway.
• Blogging – I definitely won’t be doing this every week, but I’ll continue from time to time.