When I was much younger, I always liked the idea of helping people. Whether it meant completing various tasks around the house, assisting my grade school teachers with projects, or simply offering a hand to help someone get through their day to day. I know it might sound like I am trying to build myself up, but this was a reality for me. Thankfully, this mindset continued into high school. I found myself volunteering at soup kitchens and participating in recreational activities such as bowling alongside those with special needs. It was actually working with those who had special needs that inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.
To no surprise, deciding that I wanted to be in the healthcare field was only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. In fact, saying I wanted to be in healthcare was like answering the question "Where do you shop?" with "the mall." It eliminates things like outdoor shopping centers and outlet stores but is still a far cry from a specific answer. Saying that I want to pursue a career in healthcare might eliminate careers in business, education, or management (to name a few), but it is not a specific career path. It is a massive industry that I was just beginning to wrap my head around.
As I enrolled at Cleveland State, I was considered a student pursuing a Bachelor of Health Science with an Area of Emphasis in Physical Therapy. I figured this was an ideal way to help people like I have always wanted. I did very well in my first semester at Cleveland State and I had zero doubts in my mind about my AOE. At the beginning of my second semester, I sat down with my advisor to go over my course load for upcoming semesters. Granted, my first semester was filled with general education requirements so I had not really endured the rigors of the major courses that were to come. As I read over some of the course descriptions, I felt that level of great discomfort and anxiety. I began to realize that PT was not for me before the end of my second semester. As that semester was coming to an end, I met with my advisor yet again. This time with much less optimism..I had hit my first metaphorical wall in college.
"I do not know what to do. I thought this was the right path, but the upcoming courses are stressing me out and I have not even taken them yet."
My advisor quickly calmed me down, and after careful deliberation, I was on a new path. At that time, I was pursuing a Bachelor of Health Science, but my AOE was in becoming a Physician's Assistant. Once again, I was confident that this was an excellent career path for someone who has a desire to help people. Once again, I found myself panicking by the end of the semester.
Naturally, I found myself right back in my advisor's office with the same concerns I had at the end of the previous semester. This time they were heightened. I was headed towards the stage that many college students experience; I began to feel like there was no career path for me. I have had an incredible college experience, but in retrospect, this was the darkest academic point in almost four total years.
I have been on the General Interest with a minor in Health Care Management from that point on, and I will graduate in that fashion as well. I realized that this was the best move for me, and I have stood by that for quite some time. My stress was reduced and my academic confidence skyrocketed. This led to my desire to one day become a Wellness Director. I know that there is a healthcare career in front of me and I am confident that I will excel in it.
The moral of the story is that everyone has a path in life. Even if you fail to find it a dozen times, there should be hope that it will be found in that thirteenth attempt. In my case, I failed twice and managed to bounce back and figure things out on my third attempt. I worry that many people leave school because of similar situations like mine. This is not to say that college is the only way to be successful because that is the farthest thing from the truth. Success is how you define it, not how some book or some television show portrays it.
Make your own success story, no matter how long it takes.
Carpe Diem.
