"What have you learned so far?"

This is the question that I was posed by Dr. R late Thursday afternoon. He actually stopped me as I was going about, closing up for the day, and asked what I've learned in the... four days I'd spent working at his optometry office. I was caught totally off-guard, I didn't even know what to say. In my shaken state I answered something totally random and retarded about the visual field machine and how it's unlike the one we use at school. (Worst answer ever, I really shouldn't ever go on a gameshow.) And something about practice management... and... then I quickly changed the subject.

Usually I can think relatively quickly when put on the spot, and not sound like an idiot. But I guess it was so unexpected that I was left speechless to think that: 1) I should have learned something after only four days of employment, and 2) my employer would be personally interested to know that I am taking something away from the experience.

So after that incident I figured I ought to sit down and really think about what I learned. Here's what I came up with:

Lesson from Day #1: Four days of R&R is not enough time for my body to fix jet lag.
Lessons from Day #2: 1) To adjust the height of the VF machine, press the arrows on the table; 2) Clinical software is retarded.
Lesson from Day #3: ... come to think of it... it might be that I need to back up files after using the fundus camera software... Shoot, I need to check on Monday if all the images I rendered are still there.
Lesson from Day #4: Always have an answer ready for when your boss asks you a question.

OK but seriously, I guess it was a cool reminder that every day and every experience can be an opportunity to learn, even though I don't always consciously register it. It can be something small, like observing a contact lens teach done a little differently, or something more significant, like realizing that sometimes I'm really not as quick as I think I am. Either way, no matter how smart or capable we think we are, it is refreshing to know there is always something new to learn, and humbling to think that we can only learn it from other people.


Addendum: Upon further reflection I remembered that I didn't close on Wednesday so I'm sure one of my coworkers backed up the files... I hope? I'm still gonna check on Mon. And all the same, lesson learned.