Name: Celeste E.

I was actually very lost in choosing which courses I wanted take. That being said I had the pleasure of talking to Nella Quasnitschka before all of the courses opened up. I told her I was interested in the medical field but I wasn't sure which courses to take to give me a more in depth experience. I was then told about the Anatomy & Physiology and the Pre-Med Program, which were the two courses I took, and by being recommended by Mrs. Quasnitschka for the class, it was how I ended up taking those courses. I knew the Anatomy & Physiology would be the program to give me exactly what I was looking for.

I tell everyone I meet this and it's because I'm so proud of it. It was the second day of class I believe, and we were finally able to start working with the cadavers. I knew one of us would be able to make the first cut into the heart and I wanted to be it! That being said, our professor actually did let me cut into the heart! With my own two hands at the age of 17, I was able to cut into a human heart for the first time. Like I've mentioned before, I do have a special interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Cutting into my first heart definitely put everything into prospective for me and is where I want my medical career to take me. I have an interest in the thoracic cavity of the body which is part of the reason I want to do Cardiothoracic. I know I want to work with lung cancer patients and esophageal cancer patients and I was so fortunate enough to be able to see a cancerous lung right in front of my very eyes. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I know a lot of people who want to go into the STEM program, but I noticed a lot of my female friends get discouraged because there are very few women in the STEM field. I know that being a girl myself might make it difficult to go into a career that is male dominant and just like I tell all my friends, I will not nor should anyone else give up what they love simply because it might be harder for them to accomplish. Everyone has things that hold them back, I for one have many, but that's not a reason to give up on your passion for the STEM field.