Personal Narrative: A Career In The Medical Field

My interest in public health emerged when I recognized how much the health and well-being of an individual affects a community. From a young age, both my parents have struggled with their health; my mother having diabetes and my father having hypertension. I have seen how their health has affected them on the day to day basis and how it has affected those around them at a community level. As I continue to learn more about public health I am beginning to understand that many of the health problems, like the ones my parents face, can be prevented through lifestyle adjustments. Also, I have learned the most effective way to prevent diseases in a community is through advocating healthy habits to avoid health problems from emerging in the first place.

As I exit the locker room, I strap on my black cleats and tighten my gloves. I grab my silver helmet with the lightning bolt logo, touch the sign that says “Play Like A Champion Today,” and walk into the tunnel. Finally, we hear our team’s name, and we run onto the field ready to defeat the fear of losing embedded in our minds. The opportunity arose, and whether we seized it or not, this would be my last game. We took away from that day more than just a win, or a loss. As somber as I was to let this moment go, I knew I had not let my team down. There was no anguish, no agony. These lessons from football have carried over in my journey to become a physician. I knew I wanted a career in healthcare, and football has better prepared me for that.

The career I became interested in is a Physician’s Assistant, or a few people call them PAs. I became interested in this job in my sophomore year of high school. It all started when I attended the STEM fair after school one day. STEM fair is only offered to students who are in either the biomedical Stem academy or the engineer academy. At this fair, students tour around to different classrooms to acquire information on different careers. I attended the Physician’s Assistant one, where there was an actual PA to give information on what PAs achieve. For example, PAs examine patients for diseases, injuries and illnesses.

Choosing my career was not an easy choice but becoming a Medical Assistant would be my “foot in the door” to becoming a nurse. I started Alaska Career College in fall 2014 to become a Phlebotomist. I thought that with my experience as a medical receptionist, I can further my career as a medical assistant rather than a phlebotomist. I love to draw blood but because of my personality, I thought that maybe it would be more beneficial to become a medical assistant instead. As a young Hmong child, I loved helping people especially the older folks who did not speak English well. It is my goal to help others who are in need of help and because of that, I chose to become a Medical Assistant. I do hope that one day

Ten years from now I see myself trying to buy a house. First the things I would do would be going to college and finding a job. I think it would be a little difficult but not as bad. Finding a job would be one of the most Important ones because you are always going to need money. Some of the decisions I would make would be living in town for a while till I for sure know where I'm going and what my job is going to be like. I would have to start saving once I get job for the important stuff and not going into debt. Going to debt right now would be a little bad, especially if you don't have a good job and aren't getting paid well. Also ten years from now I would be doing everything by myself. I am not going to be

During the course of my college years, I have considered alternate career options. I have contemplated becoming a physician’s assistant, a dentist, or a podiatrist. Physician’s assistants and doctors play similar roles in clinics; I would still be able to see patients and enjoy the interpersonal aspect of delivering healthcare. Additionally, I would still be able to play an important role in primary care and do my utmost for the sake of my patients, which is hugely appealing.

Sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, 7-year-old me swung my feet back and forth under the generic, time-worn furniture and anxiously wrung my sweaty palms. I’d been to the doctor’s before, but with each returning yearly visit the dread that sunk to the bottom of my gut never shrunk. “Jillianne Carrasco?” The nurse called. My stomach turned. I began to shoot my mother a pleading look, but she wasted no time in grabbing my hand and leading me to the smiling nurse waiting at the door, and we both followed her through the pasty white halls to a customary exam room. The nurse closed the door behind us and asked me to take a seat on the crinkly tissue paper cot. She smiled warmly, likely taking note of my nervous breathing and shaky hands.

When I first started going to Terra State Community College I was an eighteen-year-old with two jobs and ambition towards the medical field. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I began my first semester by taking very broad classes so that I could use them towards any career. I remember looking up different career paths that I could possibly take through Terra and weighing my options. I then came across medical assisting, a truly perfect career for me. I met with my advisor and set up a visit with Mrs. Hopkins, and as soon as I sat down with her, I knew this is what I wanted to do. This field allowed me to do everything that I could of imagine wanting to do within the medical field.

Though I have another year and a half before I complete my schooling, it is always important to find out as much information about my future field of work. Knowing what is to be expected when going in for a job interview will not only be a bonus for myself, but allow me to feel confident when giving answers.

I remember being awaken by the loud commotion going on from the living room, so I decided to go check. I went out calling for my parents, but to my surprise, I only saw my mom on the phone crying from the reflection of a mirror. I wondered where my dad was. I got closer towards the living room and stood by the wall. I witnessed my dad sitting down on the floor having trouble to breath complaining about chest pain while my mom stood next to him. I closed my eyes in fear. I then heard something calling me to open my eyes. It was a siren that got louder and louder each second. I stood up and saw red lights shining through the window. There was a knock at the door and my mom went to open the door. Two men and a woman came through the door in navy

The best feeling in the world to me is not going to sleep in my cozy bed after a long and exhausting day at school or work, it is not wiping off a full face of makeup or even cuddling up in a warm blanket after the cold, chilly winter nights. Sure those things are great but the feeling I get when I show any act of kindness is what I define as the best feeling in the world. Having the chance to impact the world, myself, and even my family, is what I have strived for my whole life. The chance to save lives, be there and care for people through illnesses, injury, pain or loss. Pursing a career in nursing is my ultimate goal. It is a profession that allows me to see people at their worst, all the while, helping them become their best.

High School has been filled with some of the best moments of my life and overall my experience has been very memorable. However, my most memorable high school experience would have to be a special accomplishment in the Medical Academy. April 27, 2017, was the day I gained my first industry certification as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. By having one of the highest passing scores in my class made me feel very accomplished and I truly gained the understanding of hard work and determination. That day is very special to me and have encouraged me to work even harder to accomplish all of my goals. My experience in the medical academy has inspired me to pursue a career in Nursing. Ultimately, I want to work towards becoming an ARNP

“Letto diciassette!” I froze at the sound of “bed seventeen,” and watched with horror as the Italian nurse ran into my grandmother’s hospital room. The monitors were beeping out of control, yet my heart seemed to be beating even faster and louder. I stood at the end of the dimly lit hall, shaking and unable to move. A health care provider spotted me standing there, desperate, alone, and vulnerable, and made her way over to comfort me. The feelings I experienced next are what I remember most when I look back on that dark and gloomy day in Italy. The feelings of hope, reassurance and genuine kindness. The feeling that a missing piece of my heart had been put back where it belonged. That is what I remember most and that is the role I want to fill as a physician assistant.

A few months ago at a free clinic for recovering drug addicts, a 19-year old female came seeking treatment for her active heroin addiction, and reported her addiction had progressed over the previous six months, paralleling her boyfriend’s, moving quickly from use of oral opioid painkillers to intravenously injecting heroin. The day she came to clinic, make-up barely concealed an injection site on her neck, which she reported, was where her boyfriend injected her with heroin, as she did not know how to inject herself and the veins in her arms had collapsed. The addiction specialist I shadow decided to treat her in the clinic and asked her to return in one week to monitor her transition from heroin to buprenorphine. This patient struck me, as she was so young and overwhelmingly consumed by her disease. However, I was not able to follow up with her case as I began my current position at UCLA. As a shadow, the inability to follow patient’s care as much as I desired, along with knowing I did not have enough experience or knowledge to care for the patients, was incredibly scary and frustrating, although it was simultaneously

Ask someone, and chances are, they’ll argue that health comes first. Doctors say it, parents repeat it, media promotes it, but in actuality, not many of those who suggest making health a priority can truly say that they’ve never jeopardized their health, whether that be through something as small as skimping on sleep or as big as stressing themselves out, for their job. While some might not consider it one, maintaining a certain BMI is another health benefit that goes neglected, especially in modeling, a career that carries the stigma of only consisting of starving girls who need to “eat a burger”. Luckily, I never had to worry about my weight mainly because I danced 22 hours a week, something I could maintain in middle school only because I was homeschooled. Once I started high school, however, I found it hard to stick to this rigorous schedule, so it wasn’t long