Over 40 students in the Institute’s Medical Career Pathway were treated to an inside look at the challenges and rewards of college and the working world in the Institute’s Medical Careers Panel Discussion on Tuesday, November 18.
The discussion, organized by the Institute’s Medical Career Advancement Program, featured graduates of Institute programs who have gone on to college and are now employed or seeking employment in nursing and phlebotomy. It was an opportunity for students to hear from people who had been in their shoes and to see what they too could achieve.
Five panelists took part in Tuesday’s discussion. Dhuguma Tola (pictured right), a registered nurse, is currently studying for a B.S. in nursing at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Joseph Osuji, Marie Denise Uwizera and Sylvie Sahiri are all nurses, and all of them are working toward associate’s degrees in nursing—Marie Denise only has one semester left to complete in her program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Nai Yang completed Saint Paul College’s Phlebotomy Technician training and recently passed the American Society of Clinical Pathology certification exam, allowing her to look for work as a phlebotomist.
The hour-long conversation included a variety of questions from the audience, which consisted of students from the Institute’s Nursing Assistant Training and College Readiness for Medical Careers courses. Students were especially interested in learning about the challenges panelists faced as college students and the qualities that helped them succeed when others failed to graduate. For their part, the panelists all cited the importance of perseverance and drawing on the encouragement and knowledge of friends and supporters in achieving their educational goals.
In addition to being a unique learning experience for students, the panel discussion provided graduates with an opportunity to renew their connection with the Institute and to share their knowledge with others.