Another goal of mine was to prepare me academically for future endeavors. This included increasing my GPA and beginning to study for the MCAT. Although my final term grades are not entirely uploaded yet, I took a far heavier courseload this year and have continued to maintain relatively good grades while increasing my performance in important science and heavy credit-bearing courses. Moreover, I have obtained various study materials and study guides for the MCAT and have begun studying my resources. I have also taken on leadership roles on executive boards of various clubs that I participate in to gain leadership experience and diversify my abilities. This year helped me build a resume and strengthen my academic abilities.

This year I was faced with the challenge of understanding who I am and thus, who I want to be.  I was not sure of what I specifically wanted to do and who I saw myself as in the future. During the summer of 2018, I accepted an internship at a radiology facility, where I am currently employed. I was firsthand exposed to the ins and outs of the medical industry – all of the disparities and challenges the medical industry faces. I dealt with scheduling and preparing stat patients, I learned the requirements and limitations of various insurance policies, and I learned of the various legal implications that owning a medical practice entails. I have seen patients max out their cards receiving services and I have seen patients go into cardiac arrest while in office. I learned that this setting was right for me. I learned that I found joy in remaining busy and often under high stress. I learned that I enjoyed helping others and educating others about their options and that medical services are still not accessible enough. I also learned that perhaps the front desk of a medical facility or radiology specifically were not quite for me. I realized that I want to possibly impact healthcare on a larger scale. I found the major of environmental public health and officially made the jump. Although I am still pre-med and still may see a future as a medical practitioner, I want to prepare myself to possibly work before medical school in the position of a public health official and work on initiatives that lead to policy and lifestyle changes.