"I'm Qualified!" Well, let me qualify that...

In My/Your Dreams: Perhaps prompted by all the pre-Olympic coverage, an email I received that invited me to participate in an upcoming athletic event because I "qualified" due to my participation in a related event within the past few years (which meant I paid the money, managed to finish...), a few nights ago I dreamt I had actually qualified for the Olympics...only in my dreams! But how cool, if only for a few minutes in the depth of R.E.M. sleep, only to be dashed by reality a few hours later...it's as if I had, at the last minute, been disqualified by a technicality...totally dissed, totally p_ _ _ _ _! But, of course, I had to make use of this microcosm of emotions, a self-analysis on your behalf, to provoke you, yourself to think of your own experiences in this world of "qualifications" (how utterly thoughtful, selfless, eh?)...

Opposites attract, repel (?): Qualifying for something, while having to qualify, justify your findings, conclusions, statements, almost simultaneously in many cases. A very common experience, even for those who haven't 'officially' qualified for anything in a strictly professional sense. just think about it...you're in a conversation involving something you're quite conversant with, know quite a bit about, sort of a semi-expert even, and you get called out in the form of a question, a technicality, or other conflicting piece of information. All of a sudden, you have to back down, at least qualify your findings (e.g. "Well, it's five o'clock somewhere, isn't it?!"). Happens all the time casually, intermittently in professional settings. Quite dramatically, I experienced this both academically and professionally in the midst of my doctoral dissertation defense, when I tried to not get distracted, not take offense, by challenging questions about the limits of my findings, conclusions ("Would you like to further qualify your findings before we move toward a vote?") Gulp, a set-up? This, just about 30 minutes prior to being told "Congratulations..." It can also go in reverse, such as the first time I was about to be installed, qualified as an 'expert witness', having both my academic and professional credentials attacked by one attorney or the other--despite the cautions, prep by two mentors ("Don't take it personally...") I found myself getting defensive. Eventually, after a bit of sparring between the attorneys and the judge/referee, I was told I could testify, but only after my professional ego had been bruised, if not battered. In the midst of this, I could also hear my mentors coaching me ("Only testify to what you really know; you'll be forced to qualify your findings") Good advice for us all.

Over, Under, Terms, Conditions: Ever applied for a job, only to be turned down, due to being overqualified (?!) To be told "We'd love to hire you but find your credentials outrun this position" (aka "We don't want to pay what you're worth") Complimented? Or, of course, there's the opposite unfortunates, who are told "You are otherwise a great candidate but you are just one credit shy of being officially qualified for this job...sorry...go and...feel free to come back and re-apply..."). It's common for me to talk with someone who has just applied for a professional licensure or certification, where it's in turn commonplace to be either informed "You are qualified..." without being told exactly how you performed on the test or, in the other undesired instance, when you have to come try a second time, you are informed out of 'courtesy' (?) just how much you came up short...including in those cases where you are only one point shy...@#$%!! Even in those cases where we qualify, we are, of course, reminded there are limiting or qualifying conditions, terms -- most of us have experienced this when getting our driver's "permit" and then finally our "license" to drive without another adult (but most states have strict limits/conditions for the first few years of 'autonomous' driving). In my professional world, before I finally received my "full" license, I first went through a few years of having to endure having "limited" after my name -- humbling, humiliating even...celebrated the day I could finally remove the letter "L"...

Once and for All: Professionally, whether for licensing purposes, to be affiliated with a local hospital staff organization, or another professional group, I am invited periodically to re-apply, re-qualify. GEEZ! Thought once I proved my professional credibility, eligibility, I'd be good to go. So where are my mentors now ?! Well, if I really pause and reflect, I actually can hear the words often offered -- "Don't take yourself too seriously, but take your service to others seriously" Good advice, once again. Well, at least they can't take my academic credentials away, at least I don't have to defend my dissertation again...I wish, but frequently, when one of our children was sharing either an academic or professional conundrum of their own, I find myself in the midst of another dream, yet another defense...

Feeling Lucky? "You're qualified!" For entry into a sweepstakes, to at least apply to be a member of an "exclusive" group, we all get these offers, all the time...Throughout the past several months, most of us by now have received invitations or indications we have "qualified" to receive a vaccine, the order of which reflects your respective "qualifications" -- being part of a certain age (OLDER), front liner (exposed), or otherwise of such a category having "underlying" conditions (high risk). So, I ask you, are you feeling lucky? Footnote: whether or not you "qualify" to be part of such a group, before being distracted by the "exclusive rights of membership", always, always read the "terms, conditions..." prior to clicking on "Agree" Good advice for us all. 

Last, not Least: And, when you find out that you "qualify" to stay at home due to a calamity, whether a freak of nature or 'man-made', should you feel lucky, complimented...that you are "nonessential"? ("Congratulations Harry, you can stay home again; you've qualified as nonessential...haven't I been telling you this for a while?"). Then there's our awareness of the qualifications of those from whom we seek advice and professional services, ranging from physician to plumber and the old saying "What do they call the person who is the bottom of their medical school class...Doctor" May give you pause the next time, prompt you to check further...well, at least we can be reassured they all have to "re-qualify". Finally, whether I was the first or last in the noted event that started this whole dissertation of a post, I qualified. How about you?