Up until now...

      As I briefly mentioned in one of my previous posts, I have had the wonderful opportunity to not only shadow one great Cardiologist, but I have also worked with a couple of her colleagues. Because of this, I'm getting three times the knowledge I began with, and I'm exposed to three different ways of implementing that knowledge, which allows me to learn even more. Throughout the past month, I've experienced events ranging from a procedure in the operating room to ordinary appointments at the hospital clinic, all of which have been wonderful opportunities for learning. One thing is certain, had I not taken classes like Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology class, I would not be able to keep up as well as I've managed to.
      If I had to pick one class in particular that has helped me the most it would undoubtedly be Human A&P. While my Biology class is great and informational, much of what I am learning now isn't pertinent to what I need to know for my mentorship. The information I learned in Human A&P, however, has served me very well. This aids me in answering questions the doctors ask me and also in retaining much of the knowledge they teach me.
      All in all, it's been an exciting month and I am eager learn and experience more new things.

Building Social Intelligence

      It's been brought up that a lot of youth these days aren't aware of the manner in which they should interact in a professional setting. Many say young adults come across as lacking self awareness and are unprofessional.  Nowadays, young people tend to show up to work late, don't show up in the proper attire, and even treat their workplace like it's their home, leaving a mess everywhere. I think it's about time that this changes.
      One of the solutions to the problems is building social intelligence. This is important as one should expect to make a lasting impression wherever they work. This interested me the most, because I think if you have the ability to interact properly with any group of people you can really leave quite the mark, and people will look at you respectively. As young people, we need to learn how to adjust to those in different environments, especially if your career depends firsthand on interactions between people. We need to spread the word to the up-and-coming generations, and show how wonderful we are. To read the article and learn more about some of the things you can to to become better in the work place, visit this URL: http://growingleaders.com/blog/first-soft-skill-develop-students/

A Little Bit About Myself

My Profile: You know how there are those who say they knew what they wanted to be ever since they were five years old? Well, in a sense, I can say I am that person. In all seriousness, I have always had increased curiosity for science. In fact, I am currently a senior enrolled in the International Baccalaureate diploma program at North Hall High School. For the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to take classes such as IB Biology and IB Chemistry, which have allowed me to learn some of the essentials. I have also taken a separate Biology and a Human Anatomy class my first two years of high school, all of which, have also increased my passion and determination to become a doctor.

My Mentorship: This year I have the amazing opportunity to shadow a wonderful Cardiologist at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Since the beginning a couple months ago, I have used my prior knowledge and applied it to what I experience at my mentorship, which allows me to learn and retain a lot of information. Not only do I get the opportunity to work with one brilliant doctor, I also have the chance to work will some of her wonderful colleagues. This entails me experiencing more medical procedures, and in turn, gaining more knowledge and exposure. Even more, the doctors take it upon themselves to make the experience twice as unique and fun by testing my knowledge, thus challenging me to learn more. Overall, what I have gained so far will most definitely aid in me pursuing my career as a Cardiologist. The part of it all is that I have still have many more months of exposure to come!

My Future: Since it is my last year of high school, I'm planing on attending college in the year to come. Although I will hate leaving this experience behind, I don't intend on making it the last of it's kind. Wherever I do end up attending college next year, I do plan on continuing my exposure to the medical world. This might entail volunteering at the local hospital, or maybe getting a job that I qualify for. Whatever it is, I do know that I am excited and eager to becoming one step closer to my future.

My Enlightenment

        Looking back at it now, in the beginning of my internship, I had no profound reason as to why I wanted to become a doctor. My view on the matter was quite the cliche: I love science, and I want to help others, therefore, being a doctor would be the perfect job for me. And although these are two great reasons for pursuing this career, I've discovered a more profound and meaningful motive for my aspirations. 

        Prior to any experience at the hospital, my view on everything was very simplistic and inaccurate. For instance, I had this overwhelming perception that doctors were the driving force of every operation, every procedure, and virtually every life that is saved. In actuality, the doctors, while they are wonderful, only perform a part of the job. In the medical world, every single person has their place in the line of operation. And although one might think that one job might be more important that the other, it's not in the grand scheme of things. If one person was missing from a part of the line of operation, it would cause backup and confusion, and all the tasks after that mixup wouldn't be performed properly. 

        All in all, I've learned that I don't want to become a doctor for hat M.D. at the end of my name, or for the sake of simply saying I'm a doctor. I've come to the conclusion that it shouldn't be about the people that save lives, but more about the lives saved when a group a people come together and work for the greater good. It sounds cheesy, but I genuinely believe the more I think and practice this idea, the better doctor I will become in ty he future.  

Partners in Education

        My ability to expect the unexpected when I walk into the hospital is very high. Even though I follow the same routine week by week, seeing the same procedures done over and over again, I have yet to be less intrigued. A part of this has to do with my passion for science and medicine, but another part of it has to do with the people I have encountered.
        I've come to the conclusion that my drive for becoming a Cardiologist increases with the amount of exposure I receive. Besides my wonderful mentor, every other doctor, nurse, and associate I've worked with has gone out of their way to help me. There are those who explain a procedure step by step so that I know what is going on, and there are those who constantly test my preexisting knowledge, and challenging me to improve. The list of generous acts goes on and on. For this reason I say that they are part of my drive to become a doctor, because without the knowledge and experience they pass on to me, I wouldn't be so set on Cardiology as my future.
        Besides being my partners in education, they have also contributed to the success of one goal of mine: sociability. Before I started the program, I had no problem being around and talking to new people. When I started, however, I found that I had trouble meeting and socializing with people of superiority. Each time I had to meet someone new, I was anxious to do it by myself. After experiencing this several times, I have realized that I shouldn't be worried, because up to this point, I have yet to encounter someone disrespectful and unwilling to work with me. And although I'd like to say that I don't feel anxiety when I meet a new doctor, or medical staff, I still do. I know that one day I will encounter someone who is truly worth my anxiety, but until then I should stop being so nervous. I guess the more I experience this emotion, the less worried I'll feel in this type of situation.
        All in all, I give thanks to those who willingly take part in furthering my education, as they are the ones that are shaping the future of medicine. As for the situation I fear the most (those who are unwilling to work with me), I also give thanks, because they are the ones who will help me get over this fear I have, so that I can worry about more important things, like becoming a successful doctor.

My Experience So Far

        A year ago, if someone would have told me that time was precious and so much could happen in such a little amount of it, I would have been skeptical. In fact, I recall having a similar conversation, and I was indeed doubtful of the matter. Since the beginning of my Cardiology mentorship, however, I have learned that time has something to do with everything. I've spent the last month coming to terms with the famous saying "use your time wisely." In merely four weeks of observing heart procedures, I have learned a substantial amount of information regarding the people I work with, and even myself. 

        On my very first day, I remember being worried and extra cautious of every little thing I did, because I didn't want to break hospital protocol, or overstep the boundaries that come with being a student. Funny thing is, I found out quite fast that I didn't have to be that guarded and uptight. It's interesting to note that every person has their place in a hospital, and not one job or position can  function without the other. When performing a procedure, every person in the room has a specific task they must uphold, and when doing anything regarding the procedure, everyone has to agree on it.  This aspect came to a shock to me, because I've always viewed the doctor as being the person who calls the shots, but in actuality, it's everyone coming to a mutual agreement. 

        Another aspect I found very interesting is the dress code. As previously mentioned, each procedure is a team effort, and each person has their own job. With that being said, the nurses have different colored scrubs than the techs, who then have different scrubs than the doctors. But despite having a minor difference in their uniforms, everyone has their own spot in the team lineup. Although this is a minor detail that might be overlooked, I find it very organized and helpful, especially for a student like me. 

        The last aspect that came as a shock to me was my ability to learn. Up until this point, I have always been the type that has to study more than others; I've never been able to simply listen and retain. To my surprise, I've retained the majority of the information I've learned while at the hospital, and even apply it to other cases I see. I don't know if this is because of my prior background due to the classes I have taken, or because I have an increased interest in the subject, or both. Either way, I'm learning. 

        With all this being said, my experience so far has been amazing. The knowledge I build every time I go in the hospital is going serve me well in the future, and is assuring me that I chose a perfect career that best suits me. 

The Next Step

        Although I've know for a long time the career I wish to pursue, I have been stuck choosing the most appropriate school best fit for my standards and needs. For a good while, I didn't know what I was looking for in a school besides a couple of obvious aspects like, my intended major and diversity. Now that I am at the point where I should be applying, I have found three wonderful schools that I know will give me the education and experience I am looking for. With that being said, the information below made a huge impact in my college decision and helped guide me to following  schools: University of Georgia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Emory University.  

           - Major in Biology

           - Diversity 

           - Great campus life

           - Great scholarships/ financial aid

           - Study abroad/ Internships

           - Guaranteed freshman housing

           - AP/IB credit

           - Honors Program

          Now that you know some aspects that were factored into my college choice, let's discuss each school. First up is UGA. This university is located in the beautiful town of Athens, Georgia, and has a lot going for it. Their Biology program is ranked in the top fifty in the nation. Even more, they have countless internship and study abroad opportunities suited for my program of study. I am looking forward to applying to this school and can definitely see myself going there in the months to come. 

          The next school is Emory University, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a private institution known for its science programs and areas of study. They offer world-class education and internship opportunities for Biology, and have a great honors program. This school is ranked number thirty in the nation for biological sciences, and offers just about everything I am looking for in a college, rendering it another incredible school to attend. 

         The last school, and undoubtedly my favorite of the three, is UNC-Chapel Hill. When I was researching universities, I found that this school had everything I was asking for. The campus is beautiful, and quite diverse. There is a lot to do around the school, and guaranteed freshman housing. They accept AP/IB credit, and their honors program is top of the line. Best of all, they are ranked twenty-six in the nation in biological studies. 

         Ultimately, all of these school are incredible, and I would be excited to be an student at any of them. Also, with a little help from the David Wright Davenport Scholarship, the Tommy Aaron/ Charlie Aaron Foundation Scholarship, and the Chuck Massey Memorial Scholarship, I could calmly attend these institutions. 

         If you have any further interest in these three extraordinary Universities, please explore all they have to offer at http://uga.edu, http://unc.edu, and http://emory.edu.