Still Here!

Hey Everyone,

For those of you out there that enjoy (c'mon play along) my blog, I am sorry for not updating it in the past few months. It has been a very busy past few months full of wonderful adventures and new opportunites. I know the majority of my blog posts are focused on what I have been up to lately, but I figured you all may be interested in catching up with my life lately so here goes nothing.

Since I last posted I have been in several locations: Houston, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. I really enjoyed my time in Wisconsin and loved seeing the sites in D.C. However, I absolutely hated the rest of D.C. I found the areas away from the touristy sites to be very dirty and overcrowded. If you all want to hear some funny stories let me know :)

I am currently working in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. It is a VERY large hospital (800+ beds, I think) affiliated with Wake Forest University Medical School (thank you captain obvious). They have essentially every specialty you could possibly imagine. I have been working in Pediatric Cardiology and Urology thus far with plans to begin working in Opthamology and Pediatric GI. I am loving my time in Cardiology and find it fascinating. In my opinion, the heart should be the 8th wonder of the world. AMAZING!

North Carolina is a fantastic state. I have only been here for approximately two weeks, but no one would have to force me to stay here longer. I joined the local YMCA here in Winston-Salem and have been spending a lot of time in the evenings playing basketball. Last weekend I made the trip to Asheville, North Carolina, which is appropriately labeled 'Beer City, USA.' The dowtown area alone is home to five or six breweries. For a craft beer fan like myself, I thoroughly enjoyed tasting the local brews. Asheville is located just inside the Appalachain mountains providing absolutely beatiful drives and scenery. The town is just slightly bohemian/hipsterish, but a great place to relax and catch some live music and just hang out. This weekend we are driving about an hour and a half South to check out Charlotte and are planning a trip to the Wilmington (on the coast) in a few weeks. Needless to say, I am really enjoying my time here.

I actually put in my 'notice of leave' with the company this week and will officially be done working for Elite Medical Scribes on July 1st. I can't believe that next month will make one year with the company. When I started the job I thought there was no way I could survive a little over a year of traveling and being away from my friends and family. It has definitely been a roller coaster ride, but I know I made the right decision and have already begun to see some of the benefits of this experience.

I will be taking the month of July to prepare for St. George's and making sure I am ready to move down to Grenada. I never got to have a summer break in college so I am going to do some traveling and take time to enjoy my friends and family before heading to Grenada. I will officially leave for Grenade on August 11th for my first semester of my MD/MPH program. Words can not explain how excited I am to enter this next chapter of my life. It is going to be a very challenging and very long journey, but I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and I can't wait to see what God has planned.

Well I think you all are finally up to speed with my life over the past few months. I hope this blog finds you happy and well. I miss you all and can't wait to see you in the near future. Feel free to shoot me a text or give me a call some time. I know I would love to hear from you!

Preston Sereg

Right Out The Window

Hey Everyone,

It is hard for me to believe that another year has come and past. The year of 2012 was filled with happiness, sadness, smiles, tears, hellos, goodbyes, and so many important life events for me. In the future, I believe I will look at this year and remember how much I was forced to grow.

As many of you know, I graduated college this year with my Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Northern Iowa. I consider this one of my greatest life accomplishments to this day. The life lessons I learned in college will follow me for the rest of my life, and I would never trade the time I spent at UNI for the world. While in college I worked almost full-time between my two jobs, volunteered at my church, volunteered at the hospital, and somehow managed to balance some sort of social life. It was extremely hard at times, but I would do it again in a heart beat. The friendships I made over the past four years are some of my greatest treasures in life and I cherish the people I was fortunate to spend these years with. Some of the hardest moments of my life were spent saying goodbye to these peoples as they went on to pursue their dreams and begin their lives elsewhere. To say I miss college would be an understatement.

After graduation I accepted a full-time job with Elite Medical Scribes based out of Minneapolis, MN, working as a scribe trainer/project manager. Essentially my job is to travel to new or existing sites and train new employees to work in the hospital setting. I took this job thinking it would be the experience of a lifetime, but it has by no means been easy. I have always been a very social person and I have put my self worth in the relationships that I maintain (probably not the wisest decision). I quickly learned that a traveling position, and a full-time position at that, leaves little time to visit those you love back home. It has been one of the hardest adjustments of my life. However, I am greatful for the employment opportunity that God has granted me and I choose to believe that this job has taught me several life lessons that will make more sense in the future. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with dozens of physicians and learn medicine directly from them. Plus, seeing a gun shot wound is never dull!

A future as a physician is still in sight. There are several twists and turns that loom in the distance, but the path is becoming more clear each and every day. I am learning that I have no cruise control or GPS for this journey and that I will have to rely on faith to direct my path. Each day presents a new challenge and a new opportunity in this journey. There are some days I wish I could see the finish line ahead, but I am learning that the journey has the potential to be just as beautiful as the end goal.

This year was also full of several memories that I never want to forget. Two of my best friends, Molly and Seth Webb, were married in May and I was fortunate enough to share in their special day. My parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary....what a testament to what true love really looks like. My sister and her fiance got engaged, and I look forward to their ceremony this year. I am also happy for so many of my other friends that got engaged/married this year and can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

I thank you all for the roles you played in my life over the past year. Odds are that if you are reading this you are very special to me and I hope you know how blessed I consider myself to have you in my life. I wish you all the best in this new year and hope that all of your dreams come true. It is my prayer that you will continue to grow in your faith and let God take hold of the reins as you navigate through life this year.

Happy New Year!

Preston Sereg

The Month of Gratitude

The month of Novmenber has to be one of my favorite months. I have never been a big fan of holidays (ask my family), but Thanksgiving is an exception. I enjoy the symbolism and religious meaning associated with the other holidays, but I feel they have been too commercialized and that we lose sight of what the point is. I would be lying if I told you I didn't enjoy all of the wonderful food associated with Thanksgiving, but the holiday encompasses so much more than my love for great food. It seems to be the one time of year that everyone, myself included, is forced to think about the things we are grateful for. 

I feel that gratitiude is something that we often overlook. It is so easy to focus on the illusive curveballs that life throws our way that we forget to remember the blessings we have in life. I know that I spend most of my time sulking over the things that I deem unfair. My daily life is dictated in my subconcious by the things that go wrong. I remember getting a speeding ticket or a co-worker drinking the last cup of coffee, but I forget to remember the blessing of owning a car or having a job in the first place. In fact, I would be willing to bet that you and I could make a longer list of things that went wrong today compared to those things that went well. For those of you that can win that bet, props to you. The fact of the matter is that we all would be a lot happier if we treated every month like November. Facebook, one of my greatest sources of news these days, is jam packed with things people are happy for. This is a nice alternative to the "my world is falling apart" statuses that seem to dominate the Facebook world every other month of the year. But like they say, "misery loves company."

One of the things I love most about my parents is their inability to let me sulk. Believe me, I often call them simply wanting to hear them say, "Yes Preston, it is okay to be upset about this." Much to my chagrin, they never let me win that battle. They often concede that it is an unfair situation, but they always remind me of their "life is not fair" philosophy. A dark and ominious philosophy, maybe, but fitting nonetheless. The worst part is the fact that they always point out the blessings or life lessons hidden in my laundry list of struggles. By forcing me to focus on the good things they make it almost impossible to be upset about anything, almost. The lessons they have taught me hold more value to me than any other thing I will ever acquire. 

I don't mean to imply that I am a gratitude guru, as I am likely one that has the most to learn. Those of you that know me well can vouch for the fact that I tend to be slightly pessimisstic and that my thoughts are easily consumed by the negative factors in life. In fact, this blog is more for me than anyone else, sorry for my selfishness. Rather than post my list of things I am thankful for over each day for the rest of the month I have chosen to list 30 things that I am thankful for below. I hope that this post has in some way forced you to reflect on the things that you are thankful for this holiday season. If nothing else, I hope it at least provided some comic relief after a long Monday. Regardless, I hope that things are well with you and that life continues to treat you well. 

1. My family

2. My education

3. My faith

4. My job

5. My friends

6. Books

7. Social Media and Facetime

8. Living in the wonderful United States of America

9. Starbucks, yum. 

10. My health

11. Freedom

12. Movies

13. Pickles

14. Football

15. Prairie Lakes Church

16. Buffalo Wild Wings

17. Oskaloosa, Iowa

18. The election is over

19. The U.S. military

20. The University of Northern Iowa
21. Days off work
22. My mother's cooking
23. Peanut Butter
24. Knowing that I am loved
25. Growing up in the Midwest
26. Beer, I promise I am not an alcoholic. 
27. Nature
28. Ground Transportation- I hate flying!
29. Music
30. A place to call home 

Traveling Man

Hey Everyone!

Wow, it has been quite some time since I have posted any updates. For my loyal followers (if you exist), I apologize and hope you enjoy this post. If we haven't talked in awhile you should stop what you're doing, send me a text, or give me a call. I would love to hear from you....promise :).

I am currently concluding the last day of a two week hiatus at home. It has been a nice breath of fresh air for me following approximately two months of 70-80 hour work weeks. Needless to say, I was getting pretty run down and was in much need of a little rest and relaxation. I was able to come home for a wedding at the beginning of the month and have been working at home since then. I could definitely get used to working from home.....I should have gone into business! Tomorrow I will be headed back to New Hampshire. I will be working there for approximately ten days at a new site for the company in Nahsua, New Hampshire. Nashua is approximately 30-45 minutes North of Boston and within an hour from my two previous sites in New Hampshire.When I finish up in Nashua I will be heading to Rockford, IL, and will be there for approximately two and a half weeks. I will be very glad to return to working in the Midwest and to be much closer to home. After Rockford I am scheduled to be working in Texas! When I took this job I had no idea how much traveling I would be doing. I love seeing everything there is to see and enjoying all of the new experiences, but I am going to be all traveled out by this time next year.

Some other updates:

1. I have ALMOST overcome my fear of flying.....my friends know how big of an accomplishment this is for me. My heart still pounds every time I get on a plane, but after holding hands with the person next to me for several minutes I can usually calm myself to a minor whimper.....just kidding.

2. I have a medical school interview :)

3. I've lost 35lbs since most of you have seen me last. Don't worry I won't blow away in a strong wind...yet.

4. Tim Jacobsen thinks that scholarships make college more expensive.....ask him about it.

I know this was a pretty boring post for all of you to read, but I figured some of you may want to know what I have been up to. I am pretty terrible about keeping in touch and this is my attempt to at least try. I hope that all of you had a great summer and are enjoying being back to work, school, or whatever else it is you do. Thanks for reading :)

Preston Sereg

Wrapping Up

Hey Everyone!

I have officially been in New Hampshire for three weeks now! The time is absolutely flying, and I find myself having to double-check my calendar. I hate to say it, but I have fallen in love with it out here. Manchester is a little rough around the edges in places, but it is smack dab in the middle of so many things. An hour to the South is Boston, an hour East and you're floating in the Atlantic, and major cities such as NYC and D.C. are all within a days drive. Everyone out here feels terrible for you all back home because of the heat wave......Did I mention it's only been in the upper 80's to low 90's with very minimal humidity!? Everything is green here, much like in Iowa, but it's mostly trees. I had to drive East to Portsmouth, NH, on Friday and it was easily one of the prettiest drives I have ever been on. All of the houses near the coast are "box-like," are typically two stories, and have A LOT of windows. I've never been one for fancy architecture, and the simplicity appeals to me (not that Iowa is the most extravagant place on Earth).

Before you get your undies all up in a bunch, let me say that I do miss Iowa, very much so in fact. Right now is one of my favorite times in Iowa, driving down the country highways, surrounded by the sea of green. I would love to sit down to a family dinner full of all the proper summer foods.....watermelon, sweet corn, Iowa chops, potato salad, and a fresh apple pie topped with homemade ice cream......YUM! (when you live in a hotel and eat primarily salad and cold-meat sandwiches you begin to dream of a home-cooked meal. ) Oh, I also miss the people. Don't get me wrong, there are a large number of very nice people out here, but it's not like the Midwest. In the Midwest, a nod of the head, a tip of the hat, or a friendly hello are pretty typical pleasantries that most people share. That is not the case on the East coast. I try to keep my overly friendly personality buried a little deeper than surface level out here so that not everyone will think I am crazy......but I'm pretty sure most of them still do.

I finished up my training duties at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester this week, and it was definitely a bittersweet moment for me. Initially, when I came out here I was only going to be here for two weeks. However, that quickly became three, and is now going to turn into something along the lines of five. Needless to say I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of time that I would be away from my friends and family. However, this experience has been one of the biggest blessings for me. The people at CMC welcomed me in, and treated me like family. I absolutely loved the environment. At Covenant Hospital, the hospital that I scribed at in college, I had become very close to several of the nurses and providers. This was something that had made my job so enjoyable, and all of the new hospitals I had been at were lacking that family feel. So when I began to get to know people here I began to feel at home. After three weeks I felt like I had been working there for months. One of the housekeepers even made me a batch of chocolate chip cookies on my last night.....they were absolutely delicious. Unfortunately after several offers to stay, I had to part ways with everyone at CMC. I can honestly say I will never forget everyone at that hospital.

Tomorrow morning I will be headed to Portsmouth, NH. It is about thirty minutes to the East, and is literally right on the coast (hence the name of the town). It is going to be a great time! The town is considered one of the best walking towns in America, and the downtown is primarily cobblestone. Every weekend is jam packed with all kinds of things to do. I am most excited to take Route 1 along the coast into Maine. The nursing staff at CMC told me it is a breathtaking drive, and that there are a lot of things to see. Also, they frequently have fireworks at Hampton Beach (just South of Portsmouth) where they shoot fireworks out over the ocean. It's gonna be awesome :)

As always, there are a few things I have noticed during my travels out here.
1. Everyone loves Tom Brady. Personally, I hope the dude breaks every bone in a career ending injury. However, everyone in New England thinks the dude walks on water. Oh, and the ladies love him.....surprise surprise.
2. Ginger Ale is a huge hit out here. The only time I had ever drank Ginger Ale in the Midwest, was in punch. They even sell it is vending machines out here.
3. If you stall at an intersection for even a second.....be ready to get honked at. (No more spacing off for me)
4. Snapple is also a huge hit. I remember seeing commercials for Snapple, and thinking how they could afford nationally televised commercials. Now I know.
5. Nobody has heard of a Dumbledork.....told you I coined the phrase (Sarah, Tim, Seth, Leah E)
6. The seafood is WAY better than it is in Iowa....call me Sherlock Holmes ;)

Well everyone I hope you all are doing well. I miss you all more than you know, and would love to catch up with you. If you are every looking for something to do, shoot me a call! I can't guarantee that I won't be working, but I will get back to you as soon as I can! I should be home in a few weeks, and look forward to seeing you all.

Preston Sereg

Midwest Boy Far From Home

Hey Everyone! It's been a wee bit of time since I have posted on here. I had a few short hours before my next night shift, and figured it might be kind of nice to catch up on here. I have been one busy dude since my last post. I finished the project in Stillwater just in time to get home and see my beautiful cousin, Brittney, get married. That made me feel super old! Once my cousin, Amy, get married in September I will technically be next in line......hahahahahahaha. I'm gonna go ahead and pass the torch off to my sister on that one. Following the wedding I boarded a plane the next day for New Hampshire. First off, I hate flying. Secondly, I always get placed right behind the dude that decides he is going to hibernate the entire flight. By hibernate I mean put his seat back as far as it can go, break my knee caps. At six foot four with a stunning lineman physique, planes and I have become arch enemies. However, there were no unexpected emergency landings, and Tim Jacobsen wasn't drinking rum punch so I was happy. On flights I don't care as much about comfort as I do survival.....I know I have a problem.  I finally arrived in Manchester, New Hampshire, and have been here for a week now. Manchester is a town of about 100,000 people, and is the largest town in New England. Personally, I find that pretty crazy. I am currently working at Catholic Medical Center. I really like the hospital, and the staff has been so friendly and welcoming to me. One of the things I've noticed about being a young guy in the health care field is that all of the nurses want to be your mother....of course I embrace this role :) I have befriended a girl named Riley, who is another scribe, and Doreen, who is one of the housekeepers. Riley has been so nice to me, and has really made the transition here a lot easier. Doreen is a champ. The lady is the hardest worker I have ever seen in my life. The other day she told me that I give off a vibe that makes people feel comfortable, and that she usually doesn't warm up to people very quickly. She told me I have to be careful out here because people aren't as friendly as I am haha.  There are a few things I have learned while being here. 1. People here aren't as friendly as they are in the Midwest. I'm a huge fan of smiling at people, and saying hello. Yeah, you aren't supposed to do that here. A  few hundred funny looks later, and I haven't given up though.  2. Manchester is pretty thug. You know you live in the ghetto when you tell people where you're staying, and they respond with "oh, be careful at night." I ain't scurred though. There was a lady sleeping out on the front stoop outside my window the other day. I assumed she was tanning until I saw that she was wearing a bathrobe, and looked like she had a run in with a grizzly. P.S. they have bears here...... 3. Everyday is like a bad mob video. I live in a world of hilarious east coast accents, and sometimes I just can't help but smile. Apparently you have to say New HampSHIRE, but Portsmouth is pronounced Portsmith. It doesn't make sense to me either.  4. If you aren't Catholic, good luck finding a church to go to. 5. Make sure a door doesn't lock from the outside. Yep, I locked myself and a doctor into a room with a patient, and we had to wait five minutes for a nurse to find us haha. Well everyone, that is about it for me today. I am planning a trip to Boston and the white mountains this week so be ready for some good stories. I hope all is well at home. I miss you all more than you know, and can't wait to see you all again. Take Care :) Preston Sereg 

Who's In Charge?

Hey everyone! Warning: this post is pretty deep. Feel free to stop here. Have you ever been given something, and known that it was God's will for you to have it? Yeah, probably sounds a little silly, I know. Until about a month ago I probably would have agreed with you. However, I was given something for graduation that may have been written soley for me. I was given s devotional book by my parents for graduation. I have never been very good at being faithful with devotions, and I usually cringe when I am given one. This time it was different. I am in a huge stage of transition in my life, something that I have never handled very well, and I needed help desperately. I decided that I would give it a shot. I tend to over exaggerate, but I don't think I would be if I told you that giving this book a shot was one of the best things I have ever decided to do. Serious. There have been several mornings that I have read the book, and either laughed because I was certain that the page had been magically changed during the night, or had tears fill my eyes because I felt so convicted. This morning, was one of those mornings. The funny part was, it wasn't what the author had said in the devotion itself. It was the verses that followed. The verses are located below. Luke 12: 29-31 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or what you will drink; do not worry about it. For the world runs after all such things, and your father knows what you need. But seek FIRST his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. I would not be surprised if most of you have read those verses, and I'm fairly certain that you all have a pretty good grasp on what they mean. I, however, did not. I've read these verses several times in my life, and heard them referenced in several sermons. Unfortunately, I have never fully understood the depth of these verses. Many of you know that I spend a large part of my time worrying, and attempting to solve my problems. Okay, more than my problems, the worlds problems. Go ahead and chuckle, we all know it's true. I spend a ridiculous amount of time contemplating every word I say/said, every decision I make/made, and every possible circumstance I may encounter in the future. If you looked up "worry wart" in the dictionary, my picture and biography would be in there. The sad part is, I know that it's not how life is supposed to be. I have spent a large portion of my life trying to understand how people don't worry; how people turn over their worries to God. I don't know how biblical my answer is, but I think I have begun to understand how it has to work for me. The title of this post is "Who's in charge?" Ironically, that's my answer. That is the question that I have decided I may have to ask myself every morning I wake up. It is the question that is also the solutiion to releasing my cares and worries. Until this point in my life the answer to that question has always been ME. I have always tried to control my life, and told God to tag along for the ride. I've told God that his plan didn't quite fit what I had in mind, and that we were going to have to do things my way. When things didnt go according to my plan I would get so angry, and I'd run from the one that has always carried me through. What I have failed thus far to realize is that God was, is, and always has been in control. I have been so blinded by my own selfish ambitions that I have failed to see how every situation I have been put in has been preparing me to be the man that God wants me to be. The bumps along the road and the detour signs were not God punishing me, they were his way of preparing and molding me into the person that I am supposed to be. The phrase, "tough love," would be very fitting. For the first time in my life I am stepping back and reflecting on the question, "who's in charge?" While reading the verses above, I became extremely convicted. My mom has always told me "life isn't always fair," and even the verse above promises that life will bring struggles along with it. I don't care who you are, what you believe, or where you are at in life, you will have troubles. By taking control of my life, I had always tried to resolve and find the answers to my problems in life. Probably the reason I worry so frequently. All the time failing to see, "seek first his kingdom." Instead of drowning myself in worry and anxiety, I should have drawn close to God. I should have asked him to give me the wisdom and the strength to overcome my problems. Most importantly, I should have asked him to remind me, "who's in charge?" One of my favorite songs has a line that says, "sometimes he calms the storm, and other times he calms his child." This would also be a fitting time for my friends and family to chuckle because they know how frequently I use sing lyrics to express my feelings. In this transition in my life, as minor a transition it may appear, God has opted to calm me. At first I tried to fight it because I'm über stubborn, but I've decided to give up the fight, and have faith that the place I'm at in life is only preparing me for what is yet to come. I know there will be days that I worry, and that there will be days that I fail to get this idea through my thick skull. However, from this point on I have decided to "seek first his kingdom." Like I said before writings this blog, it's a deep one. I hope that if you find yourselves wrestling with God, and failing to see the bigger picture, that this blog may bring you comfort. If not, that's okay too. You may even disagree with me. If that's the case, I hope you find your own way of releasing your worries. As much as this blog was written for you to read, it was written to be a reminder to me. I hope you all are having a great day. I miss you all, and can't wait to catch up with you in the near future! Preston Sereg