What does the shark say?

Something a lot more meaningful than a fox, that's for sure!

A few years back I had a two day interview and test session to a graduate program I really wanted to start. It was crazy! A two hour written test equal to the hardest anatomy and physiology test I ever took in undergrad. Tons of interviews and team exercises where they paired you with other applicants and gave you a problem to all solve together. And then watched, silently taking notes.

So when I finally got to an interview that was just be and 3 other people it felt like things had relaxed some. Really, a two day interview? Goodness..... The first question was pretty simple. I had guessed it before hand and had prepared for it. If you hadn't it would have taken you off guard. Basically how you'd deal with a patient who was indignant and obviously didn't trust you. No sweat, done that tons of times.

But their second question then was the classic first date question of, "If you could describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be and why?"

To which I instantly replied, "Great White Shark!" I can still see the look on their faces. So what comes next of course is the why. Elaborating, or maybe in this case defending, on my choice of animal.

"Why did I pick a Great White Shark (GWS)? Well because they are perfect. They've been around for millions of years and are the perfect example of evolution. All the worthless stuff discarded and only what is essential remains. And then what remained was perfected. Great White Sharks are unrelenting, always in motion, masters of their environment, apex predators, perfectly designed. Oh, and they don't get cancer. I would like to think of myself as having the characteristics of a GWS. Lean, efficient, always moving forward and maybe sometimes a little misunderstood."

I was wait listed to the program but never made it in. Nor did I even get an interview the second year I applied. Or for any of the other 13 graduate schools for this program I applied to...................... Sniff.

But next time I'm going to say I'd like to be associated with dolphins. Everyone loves dolphins and I'll be able to say I'm a dolphin because, "I'm playful, intelligent, gregarious, enjoy the ocean and am athletic."

Probably much better. Probably.