The thought of only having 6 weeks left terrifies me to my core—but the excitement has slowly started to creep in after accepting a job offer in June. However, unlike the majority of my peers, my plan from the beginning meant I would be leaving Manchester and moving back home to the south. Although I always knew this, I started to question my decision when the time came in April to start applying for the position of a newly qualified paramedic (NQP). The thought of leaving behind the people who have helped to shape me as a paramedic filled me with apprehension. It was as though I was deciding to cut my own safety line.
Throughout my journey as a student paramedic, I have never opted for the easiest route—and I knew that I could not start my career doing the same. So I cut my remaining safety line and only applied to two ambulance services based in the south. Then the agonising wait began. I was constantly thinking to myself: ‘did I just make a huge mistake?’
Thankfully I didn't. Relief came just 2 weeks later when I received invitations for interviews from both trusts—an added bonus being that I could travel down and spend some much-needed time with my family, which I rarely had the opportunity to do during my studies. Living away from my family and partner has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but I will never regret that choice. As I said before, I have never opted for the easiest way!
The interviews only confirmed to me that I had made the right decision. They gave me an opportunity to re˛ ect on how far I have come and how much I have achieved in the space of 22 months. All that hard work paid off when I received the all-important phone call only a few days later and I officially heard the words: ‘we would like to offer you a position as a newly qualified paramedic’. I felt like a child again as my stomach filled with butter˛ ies. I could not contain my excitement—I really am going to be a paramedic! But that thought truly sunk in… I really am going to be a paramedic. The butter˛ ies turned to nausea as I realised that there was no going back. The safety line is well and truly gone.
I am officially leaving ‘Abby—the student paramedic’ behind in Manchester and will be moving home in 6 weeks' time as ‘Abby—the newly qualified paramedic’.