My past year in HSS has been extremely beneficial and has helped me to gain a great deal of insight into what the right career for me really is. Over the past two years I have attended HSS events, completed an informational interview with a graduate student, and completed a Major Service Project volunteering as a Patient Advocate in the Emergency Department at Riverside Methodist Hospital. All of these experiences have been helpful in their own way. My experience at Riverside has reaffirmed my passion for health care and showed me I am happiest working and interacting with patients and health care staff. My experience working in a research lab and interviewing a graduate student has showed me that a full-time career in academic research is not the right choice for me. Furthermore, attending HSS events has fostered a sense of community with the HSS cohort and allowed me the opportunity to interact with my peers who have a lot to offer. Overall, I can easily look back and say that I am happy with my experiences in HSS, it has certainly met my initial expectations. I believe that the time I’ve spent with HSS over the past 2 years will continue to benefit me in my career later on.
I have changed a great deal over the past two years. From the start of my freshman year to now I have gained a lot of experience socially and academically. All of my experiences, both academic and extracurricular, have shown me that a career as a physician assistant may be a better choice for me than attending medical school. I welcome the ability to work in health care and provide patient care while working as a PA. I am excited to continue my education and eventually get a job in the health care field where I can make a difference in the lives of people dealing with medical problems. For the rest of my time at OSU I will continue to volunteer, work, and take classes in order to improve my application for PA school.