If there is one thing that describes junior Anna Morris, it’s that she is knowledgeable. But more specifically, she is known as an expert in anything related to the medical field. Since she was a child, she has always been interested in medicine. For many children, interest in being a doctor fades after finding out how much school it takes, but for Anna, that never seemed to change her efforts.
“If I’m being completely honest, I feel like I’ve wanted to become a doctor since I was 10 years old,” Anna said. “But more recently, I’ve added more to my interests in the medical field.”
Anna has always wanted to go into the medical field, but recently she has discovered her passion is within the wider view of the field as a whole.
as looked into what different categories of the field suit her interests better than others.
“I’ve discovered that I’m more interested in being something like a neurosurgeon,” Anna said. “I obviously haven’t been employed in the medical field before, so I don’t know what specialty I would like to do, but probably something in neuro. I think neurosurgery is super interesting.”
Since she was a child, Anna has shown a strong interest in the medical field. But she didn’t just fixate on the subject in her head; she took action in going above and beyond to make her dreams a reality through shadowing and internships.
“I’ve done a few job shadowings, and I’m doing a few more this summer,” Anna said, “but I’m doing a surgery camp at [University of Michigan (UofM)], and I plan on working in a hospital in the fall. My dad works [at two hospitals], and one of them I was planning on applying for once I get certified.”
To be certified, Anna must take different steps to learn how the field works and know what to do in a medical environment. Having a dad in the medical field pushes her to the limits of opportunities for her dream career.
“Once I become a certified nursing aid, which is a three to four-week course,” Anna said, “I plan on applying for [one of the hospitals] with references from my dad. The hospital I’m applying for [is called] UofM Health West.”
Although her interest in the medical field has always existed, figures in her life, such as her teachers and her dad, have inspired her to enjoy it even more and figure out where her interests fall.
“[My dad] honestly hasn’t pushed me into liking [Neurosurgery], but he’s definitely been a very inspiring person in this journey,” Anna said. “But obviously it’s a very stressful job, so I wouldn’t say that he necessarily encourages me to [go into the field].”
Although Anna’s dad doesn’t necessarily ‘encourage’ her to go into the same field as him, he still plays a part in how she will become actively involved in her passion by offering job opportunities in the hospitality industry, and her mom does the same.
“I plan on shadowing [my dad] soon,” Anna said. “Actually, I have some papers to fill out, but my mom also works in healthcare, so [in the past], I’ve shadowed at an office that [my mom] worked at with the doctor [who was present] as well.”
While many may have dreams without taking action to achieve them, Anna puts in the work to succeed, while also having fun. At the same time as the internships are going on, and the excitement for the future comes into play, Anna still has even more opportunities to improve her medical knowledge by taking some of the health-related classes that Forest Hills has to offer.
“I’m in anatomy and physiology right now, so that’s a really good backbone for anything medical ,” Anna said. “And then I plan on taking [Advanced Placement] Bio next year, and then the health career academy.”
While anatomy and physiology are crucial to understanding the human body, the health career academy will help Anna get experience with an in-depth view of the medical field.
“[The Health Career Academy] is very new, but they have a simulation, where they got a huge grant for a simulation lab, and they’ll have a sim patient, and a simulation IV arms and things [along those lines],” Anna said. “Then through that program, I’ll be taking three Ferris State [University] classes. Then I also have the opportunity to get CNA certified and work in a hospital through that program as well.”
For the past few years, Anna has put in the work to make her goal of becoming a neurosurgeon a reality, and so far, she is on the right track. She has come so far already in the short span of her life, and in the near future, she will have accomplished far more than she has as of now.
“The field is just so fascinating,” Anna said. “I know it’s a very cliche thing to say, but it really is a gift to be able to improve someone’s quality of life.”
