I fell in love with the human body during my last semester of college. I needed one more science course and anatomy sounded more interesting than environmental science. However, I had never even considered going into the medical field. Everything about the human body amazed me and I loved every second of my classes. I took a class called Principles of Disease with a professor who was a retired surgeon. He showed us videos of his surgeries and I immediately knew it was what I wanted to do. I was pursuing another career in the healthcare field but I knew I wanted something more hands on and there's nothing more hands on than surgery!
On the first day of my Surgical Technology Program, I finally felt like I fit in somewhere because all my classmates were interested in the same things I was. On my first day of clinicals, I was able to scrub and pass with little help from my preceptor. I felt (and still feel) at home in the operating room and I know it's where I am meant to be. I am still in clinicals and I have loved every second of it. I have surprising loved gynecological procedures and most recently, labor and delivery. I am currently preparing my resume for the labor and delivery department of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Once I gain enough experience, I plan to go back to school for surgical assisting as well as doing mission trips.
I couldn't have been properly prepared for the operating room without the help of many people. I was extremely lucky to find a great program with such caring and dedicated teachers who worked very hard every day to prepare us for the operating room. I would like to thank each of my teachers. Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Carrol, Ms. Aggie, and Mr. Doherty, thank you for caring so much about this job and taking the time each day to care about your students. I would especially like to thank Mr. Lamb, my teacher and program director, for always believing in me and creating an environment for me and your other students to thrive in. Thanks for pushing me to do my best and always answering all my (many) questions (even on your days off). If I become half the surgical technologist any of my teachers are, I will be proud!
I would also like to thank my family for always being there for me and giving me every opportunity to succeed that they could. Most of all, my daughter, Bella, for being the reason I do well at anything and always making me want to do better for her.
I can't express in words how much I love this job. I know I am helping people and I will never stop learning. I have never had a boring day and I always see and learn new things. I think this is one of the most important jobs in the world and I love that I get to do it. Thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship! I am extremely honored to represent the Foundation for Surgical Technology.