My First Experience In Healthcare

In high school, a counselor reached out to some of the students whom she knew were interested in healthcare. An adolescent psychiatrist from our local hospital was giving a presentation to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare disciplines, as part of an annual education conference. The presentation was focused on how to communicate with the teen-aged patient. She asked four or five students to serve on a student panel. We answered her questions and gave our perspectives during the presentation. Afterwards, the audience asked us questions. It was one of my first experiences with healthcare and exposed me to the necessity of effective and quality communication with patients.

For a summer job before my freshman year, I started working full-time (i.e., 40 hours a week) with a plumbing/heating/air conditioning company. I began by doing lots of "groundwork," which consisted of digging trenches for the pipelayers to use. Eventually, I started working with a plumber, and helping him with duties ranging from measuring pipe to helping install toilets. I was able to help him finish projects quicker. I also helped HVAC technicians with installation of heating and air conditioning systems.

I ran track and cross country for six years before college. To stay connected to the sport I love, I have …show more content…
Each season consists of at least 10 weeks of training with 2 practices each week, a regional/areal tournament, and a state tournament. I have coached basketball and track and field, and anticipate coaching and participating as unified partner in soccer. Special Olympics has provided an opportunity to interact with athletes with a wide range of social, intellectual, and athletic abilities in a variety of settings, including overnight trips to competitions. In basketball, I was the assistant coach of an adult, second-division (relatively high ability) team. I took a bigger role in track and field, helping head coach the