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KathyHuynh
Mrs.Manugo
English111
28September2015
PlanetMars
HighschoolwasequivalenttoPlanetMarswellthatswhatIthoughtwhenIwasinthe
eighthgrade.Mylastyearofmiddleschoolwasmysafezone,myPlanetEarth.Ihadeverything
IneededtostriveyetIwasstillsocuriousaboutwhatwasinhighschool.
Ithoughttomyself,freshmanyearwassoclose,yetsofaraway.Myteachersand
counselorsadvisedmyclassmatesandIthatitwasgoingtobethebestfouryearsofourlives,
howeveritwillbefilledwithcursivewriting,drama,andhoursofhomework.But,theydidnot
tellmeIwasgoingtofinallyfindtheonethingIlove:medicine.
Inthemiddleofmyeighthgradeyear,IappliedtoBaysideHighSchoolsHealth
SciencesAcademyandsoonafterIreceivedareplyinthemail.MydadreadthelettertomeasI
wastoonervoustoreadittomyselffirst.
Congratulations!heread,Wearehappytoinformyouofyouracceptanceinto
BaysideHighSchoolsHealthSciencesAcademy.MyheartracedandIscreamedin
excitement.Iwasreadytoseewhathighschoolwasallabout.Furthermore,Iwasreadyto
finallyfindmypassion.
Duringmyfirstyearofhighschool,ItookclassessuchasIntroductiontoHealth
OccupationsandMedicalIllustrationsandAnatomicalArchitecture.Ilearnedmanymedical
termsthatIhadneverevenheardof,norcouldIpronounce.Ialsolearnedaboutmanydifferent

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healthprofessions,whichIneverconsideredbefore.Finally,attheendoffreshmanyear,I
finallygottogetsomehandsonexperience.MyteacheraskedtheAmericanRedCrosstocome
intoteachFirstAidandCPR.Attheendofthatmonth,wewereallprofessionallycertifiedFirst
AidandCPRresuscitators.
Inthefollowingyear,Itookahumananatomycourseandlearnedaboutthefunctionsof
majororgansandlocationsofbonesandmuscles.Afterthisclass,Ibegantounderstandthe
humanbodyevenmore,increasingmyinterestformedicine.Duringthatsummer,Iappliedto
becomeajuniorvolunteeratSentaraLeighHospitalandworkedintheEmergencyRoom.Igot
tolearnofalltheequipmentusedinpatientroomsandIevengottotalktosomeofthepatients
intheIntensiveCareUnit.
Junioryearpeakedmyinterestformedicine.Itookpathophysiology,psychology,and
forensicmedicineandparticipatedinaclubcalledHOSA,HealthOccupationsStudentsof
America,yearningtobecomeafuturehealthcareprofessional.MyfriendsandImadeavideo
forapublicserviceannouncementonconcussionsandwonfirstplaceatstates.Wemadeitonto
nationalsinCaliforniainthesummer,howeverIdidnotattendbecauseIwenttoaMedical
LeadershipAcademyatSt.GeorgesUniversityinGrenada.
InGrenada,IgottoexperiencesomanythingsthatIcouldnothaveexperiencedunlessI
wasincollege.Igottoworkoncadaversandreviewedmyknowledgeofanatomy.Welearned
howtosutureandusedanultrasoundmachinetolookatvariousorgansinthebody.Attheend
ofthecamp,wehadtocompleteaprojectonmedicalethicsordiagnosingapatient.
Now,Iamfinallyinmysenioryear.Mymiddleschooladvisorsscaredmyselfhalfto
deathabouthighschool,butfortunately,wedidnotwritecursiveeveryday,Ididnthavealotof

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drama,andIdidnotdrownmyselfinhomeworkeverynight.PlanetMarsturnedouttobea
secondPlanetEarth.Turnsout,MarswasnotjustasilentvoidthatIknewnothingabout,butit
wasafamiliarplacewithfewresourcesIneeded.ItwasaplacewhereIfinallyfoundand
understoodmyinterestinmedicine.TheclassesItookandtheexperiencesIhadcontributedto
myloveforhealthcare.IfIhadnotleftEarthandmovedtoMars,Iwouldhavenever
discoveredmypassions.