Many high school students still don’t know what they want to do after high school, and we don’t blame you. It can be hard trying to figure out what you want to do, but something that’s always open is the medical field. Careers can range from a pharmacist to a surgeon; the options are endless. In medicine, you are able to help people, and it is a very respected field of work.
Patient Care and Medical Terminology teacher Ms. Plaza says people should consider joining the medical field because there is a wide variety of areas to explore. “But the main goal is just taking care of people and making sure you’re able to take care of yourself.”
When it comes to the difficulty level of joining the medical field, it mainly depends on your chosen specialty. Ms. Plaza recommends“ starting off as a CNA, getting your license as a nursing assistant, and then you’re able to go into different departments.” When you apply to different types of jobs, you see what would fit you the best. You also meet new people. This further helps students find what field they want for a future career.
To start a medical journey at the high school, students would begin by taking patient care, then medical terminology with Ms Plaza. With these classes, students learn about anatomy and tons of vocabulary pertaining to the medical field. Ukiah High has a new class this year called CNA. It is a certified nursing assistant course that teaches basic skills needed to provide patient care and prepare people for certification. In order to get into this class, though, students need to have taken patient care and medical terminology first. Skills people should practice in high school to prepare for a medical emphasis in college are to be driven, motivated, and very communicative. Mrs Plaza says, “Have goals for yourself on a day-to-day basis, doing and going above and beyond.” You could also take classes at the college to help you navigate what you want to do.” Motivation is key to the medical field.
It’s important for high school students and younger people to learn and care about healthcare and physical wellness because our bodies are really important. Things can happen that can cause a ripple effect. An example would be twisting your ankle. You think it’s no big deal, but down the road, the sprain can become a fracture. It’s really important for people to know how to care for their bodies so they can live long, happy lives.
Junior Mattie McManus wants to join the medical field because she has a passion for taking care of people and is interested in learning about the human body. Her biggest inspiration for wanting to go into the medical field is her mom. “She has been in the hospital sometimes. I just really want to help people like her and just help people in general.” To start exploring the medical field, McManus is taking Scrubs and plans to take the advanced version next year. Then, after high school, she plans on taking medical-related classes in college. The field that she is most interested in is EMT and paramedic work because she would prefer to be on the scene helping people.
All students should take advantage of this UHS program, especially if they don’t know what they want to do after high school.
Kora Hendrie
Kora Hendrie is currently a junior at Ukiah High School. She was born and raised in Ukiah. This is her first year taking journalism, and so far she really enjoys writing about her hometown. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with friends and family.