Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below (1000 character maximum).
In the summer of 2011 I began work as an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard at Huguenot Beach, Florida. This work experience has significantly influenced my life, and also altered my career path.
I encountered situations where I had to exceed expectations to accommodate the situation. Dealing with unruly patients, and parents frantic to find their lost child were regular incidences. The amount of responsibility put on me forced me to become comfortable in situations where there was high pressure, quick decision making, and where people were watching and judging you. Every call that we received had to be dealt with professionally and to the highest degree. In the last two years as a beach lifeguard I also learned how to work in a professional environment, where some people are weary of 18-25 year olds in this position. This aspect of the job, though small, helped me to realize that when people are not comfortable with you, but need your assistance, you have to approach it in a special way. An example would be parents of small children. They are typically very cautious, and usually adamant about not letting someone assist their child.
This job has influenced my career path. I have always been very curious and interested in and about technology, and always assumed that I would make that my career path. When lifeguarding came around, I was introduced to something I found even more compelled to do - helping people in need. Through the seasons I experienced highs and lows of helping people. I found enjoyment in the chaotic days when we would have 10-12 calls. I remember a particular time that stands out. It was the beginning of summer 2012, and I was helping patrol the beaches by vehicle. It was late in the day, and we were about to wash the trucks. We got a call that someone had fallen off their bike in one of the bike trails. We responded with all haste and were quickly ushered onto a bike trial by another biker. We then ran 3/4 mile to get to the patient, lugging all of our equipment. When we got there our initial speculations were confirmed. The patient was lying on his back, moaning in pain. We quickly had to figure out how we were going to move the patient onto the backboard, without further injury, and minimizing his pain. All of my training came back to me within a couple seconds, and with the assistance of the other guards, we maneuvered him onto the backboard and carried him out to the waiting ambulance. Although it was a stressful event, afterwards I had the greatest rush in the world. I had truely helped someone who was injured and in immense pain. The thought that I could do this for a living solidified my decision to work towards a career in medicine. During the past two summers, I helped people every day in big and small ways. That feeling is very appealing to me, and I can't wait to continue along this life journey.
In the summer of 2011 I began work as an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard at Huguenot Beach, Florida. This work experience has significantly influenced my life, and also altered my career path.
I encountered situations where I had to exceed expectations to accommodate the situation. Dealing with unruly patients, and parents frantic to find their lost child were regular incidences. The amount of responsibility put on me forced me to become comfortable in situations where there was high pressure, quick decision making, and where people were watching and judging you. Every call that we received had to be dealt with professionally and to the highest degree. In the last two years as a beach lifeguard I also learned how to work in a professional environment, where some people are weary of 18-25 year olds in this position. This aspect of the job, though small, helped me to realize that when people are not comfortable with you, but need your assistance, you have to approach it in a special way. An example would be parents of small children. They are typically very cautious, and usually adamant about not letting someone assist their child.
This job has influenced my career path. I have always been very curious and interested in and about technology, and always assumed that I would make that my career path. When lifeguarding came around, I was introduced to something I found even more compelled to do - helping people in need. Through the seasons I experienced highs and lows of helping people. I found enjoyment in the chaotic days when we would have 10-12 calls. I remember a particular time that stands out. It was the beginning of summer 2012, and I was helping patrol the beaches by vehicle. It was late in the day, and we were about to wash the trucks. We got a call that someone had fallen off their bike in one of the bike trails. We responded with all haste and were quickly ushered onto a bike trial by another biker. We then ran 3/4 mile to get to the patient, lugging all of our equipment. When we got there our initial speculations were confirmed. The patient was lying on his back, moaning in pain. We quickly had to figure out how we were going to move the patient onto the backboard, without further injury, and minimizing his pain. All of my training came back to me within a couple seconds, and with the assistance of the other guards, we maneuvered him onto the backboard and carried him out to the waiting ambulance. Although it was a stressful event, afterwards I had the greatest rush in the world. I had truely helped someone who was injured and in immense pain. The thought that I could do this for a living solidified my decision to work towards a career in medicine. During the past two summers, I helped people every day in big and small ways. That feeling is very appealing to me, and I can't wait to continue along this life journey.