1. What are your career goals after earning your degree?
My career goal after earning a degree is to share my personal story and
encourage/educate others about renal failure, dialysis, diabetes and organ
transplantation. Also, finding different ways to close the gaps of the disparities of these
4 areas in lower income classes and others.
2. What are you doing now to achieve these goals?
What I am doing know to achieve these goals is sharing my personal story of
diabetes, renal failure, dialysis and organ transplantation. The outcome of dealing with
all, the struggle, the setbacks, the fear, opportunity, the outcome and the future.
Showing others that it is possible to get everything that someone in a higher income
bracket receives. And that it is nothing like the movies or television.
3. How will your current major help achieve those goals?
My major is healthcare administration
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Learning policies and laws in healthcare
Insurance policies
Finances/Grants
Professionalism
Terminology
Disparities
▪ Income
▪ Social environment
▪ Where help is needed
▪ Research
▪ Communication
▪ Validity of healthcare, food, clinics, hospital, education, literature
4. What extracurricular activities are you involved in that will help you for the future?
S.H.E.A.- Student Healthcare Executive Association
• Community service
• Brainstorming
• Food Banks
• Speakers from areas of healthcare
The Morgan Frazier Cancer Foundation
Community Service- working at football stadium during the rodeo to earn money
for the organization. This organization was found by her family to help with non-medical
needs such as parking, rent, groceries and so on. Parking is extremely expensive and can
really deplete finances will dealing with a sick love one. While Morgan was alive her
parent often had to make the decision to feed Morgan’s siblings or pay for parking.
I understand because there were times when my mom would park and stay because she
didn’t have money for parking, gas or food. So many times, she stayed at the hospital
with me and we would split my meals. Or until her social security check would be
deposited or someone wired funds. There were times when I was hospitalized for 6 to 8
weeks at a time.
This allows me to work with an organization that is so personal to me because I
experienced the same circumstances. The difference is that Morgan died of cancer
when she was 8 years old and I am here today.
Running head: HEALTHCARE- CAREER SET UP
Healthcare-Career Set Up
Students Name
University affiliation
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HEALTHCARE- CAREER SET UP
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Healthcare-Career Set Up
Career goals after earning a degree
Acquiring a university degree is a dream come true for a majority of university
students. Completing a course successfully and graduating with better grades places an
individual in a better position in the job market. For instance, a student has a choice to
make the kind of career they wish to peruse. After completing school, students have
different career goals and targets, they wish to make in life. Setting career goals will
depend on the targets and goals an individual wishes to achieve at the end or during their
career life. For instance, students may create their career goals based on the experience
they have had while in school. They may also be based on reasons as to why they decided
to take the course or maybe for personal reasons. Additionally, a student may set a career
goal with a reason to improve the current system in the field at which they have
specialized.
Basing on the case study provided, my career goals will revolve around my
personal experience. The reason as to why I chose to define my career goals to base on
personal experience is because of the experience I have had with renal failure.
Additionally, I am in the position to know and understand the exact pain, and suffering
patients undergo. By changing my major to Healthcare administration, I wish to take care
of renal failure patients. I am driven by the fact that I want to share my story with different
people; patients mostly, about renal failure, dialysis, and organ transplant. Additionally, I
will also ensure that I educate them on the importance of having dialysis as scheduled and
be in the position to encourage them to stay strong. Due to the fact that treatment may be
expensive, I will try to find ways and strategies in which to try and reduce treatment
expenses. Being in the position to share and collect ideas from patients, I will be able to
reduce discrimination when it comes to treatment and organ transplant.
What are you doing now to achieve these goals?
People set up goals that they are sure and determined to achieve. Whenever goals
are set, strategies are put in place to help facilitate the process of achieving the goals. My
career goals are all aimed at promoting and improving the status of patients with renal
failure and organ transplants among other chronic and lifetime diseases. To be able to
achieve the goal of educating and sharing precaution information to patients, I am currently
sharing my personal story with patients in different hospitals. I make an effort of visiting
hospitals where I meet patients and share my story. The fact that most patients are left
alone it means that they lack someone who may understand their situation and tell them
that all will be well. I have made appointments to several hospitals where I get some time
with patients. It is during this session where I share my story and educate them on the way
forward. It is through this session where I also get to make sure that I educate patients on
the importance of dialysis and organ transplant.
Being a victim of renal failure, organ transplant, and diabetes, I understand what it
feels like to be ill. By understanding struggles and challenges involved, I am in the position
to know the specific countermeasure that can be put in place so that to achieve the desired
HEALTHCARE- CAREER SET UP
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goal. Patients struggle a lot, more so when it comes to the point of getting proper
medication. Challenges come in place where the cost involved is high, thus making
accessibility to drugs by low-income individuals hard. By acting as a mediator, I am in the
process of forming a group that will actively advocate for better medical services to
patients. The group will also be able to advise and encourage patients to stay strong and
focus on the future. Additionally, I am working hard to ensure that the gap between the
wealthy and low-income patients is reduced and discrimination is completely eliminated. I
involve all patients in conversations without separating them according to their social
status. Involving all patients at the same time helps them interact and share quality
information on how to improve medical services. It is at this time patients come up with
ideas of how to be united and reduce the social gap. Using ideas collected from patients is
essential as I present the information as general information that will improve their health
status.
How will your current major help achieve those goals?
My current major is Health Care Administration, which is a course that offers
healthcare education. My career goals revolve around taking care of patients, which means
that my current major is suitable for providing education and useful information.
Additionally, my major is also able to provide a medical point of view on all matters
relating to my career goals. Additionally, Health Care Administration is a wide subject that
can provide vital information in different fields directly related to my career goals. For
instance, Health Care Administration can provide information on learning policies and laws
in healthcare, insurance policies, finances or grants, professionalism, terminologies used
and disparities. The information mentioned earlier is essential in helping me achieve my set
career goals. For this reason, a clear description of how each subject is necessary will be
posted.
Learning Policies and Laws in Healthcare
Healthcare Administration can discuss policies and laws that are involved in
healthcare centers and career. By learning and mastering all laws governing healthcare
career, I am in the position to understand my limits. The fact that I am focusing on sharing
my story and educating patients, some laws prevent a health caregiver to disclose and share
particular information with patients. Health caregivers are also protected by law in some
cases more so when it comes to the point of accessing information and seeking justice for
patients. With a better understanding of healthcare policies and laws, I will be in the
position to carry on my mission with great caution.
Insurance Policies
Being in the position to understand how insurance policies work, especially health
insurance, it will help me be in the position to advocate for equality. Advocating for
equality in treatment will mean that all medical expenses will be covered by medical
insurance. An insurance policy will be in the position to support for equality since everyone
pays for insurance and no one has to be discriminated. It will help me be able to advocate
and achieve my goal of reducing discrimination and equal medical attention and bills.
HEALTHCARE- CAREER SET UP
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Professionalism
Training as a Healthcare Administrator does not only focus on taking care of
patients and mastering how things are done in the career. It molds an individual and makes
them present themselves professionally. The fact that I am a Healthcare Administrator
means that I have to operate and behave in a manner that shows me as a professional in my
career. Working as a profession improves my chances and trust with patients thus making
them feel at ease thus being in the position to increase chances of getting ideas that will
enhance their well being.
Terminology
The fact that Health Administration deals with the welfare of patients, it means that
an administrator has to be conversant with medical languages. Being in the position to
understand basic terminologies used in the hospital makes me be updated and enlightened
on all activities and actions taking place in the hospitals. It also helps me be able to achieve
my goals more so when it comes to the point of talking and sharing my story with patients.
Disparities
Healthcare administration helps us understand the kind of great differences existing
in the system. For instance, I can understand the differences that exist between the high and
low-income individuals. Additionally, I am also able to understand differences that exist on
the validity of healthcare, food, clinic and education in a healthcare system. The
information is essential as it will help me know the exact activity and step to take in dealing
with a critical situation. Also, being in the position to understand all difficulties in the
society helps me be able to identify where a current issue is and how to handle the problem.
For this reason, I will be able to achieve my career goals without any difficulty whatsoever.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in that will help you for the future?
Learning in class has had a significant theoretical effect on my career. However, I
have involved myself in extracurricular activities that have improved and boosted my
practical experience. For instance, I am an active member of Student Health Executive
Association (SHEA) which focuses on improving our practical experience in the field. The
association is well organized in a manner that it gives us an opportunity to participate in
community service, brainstorming, and food banks and meet different speakers of
Healthcare administration. Participating in community service is an essential activity as it
helps us have a feeling of the real world situations. It also helps us get confident in all
activities we partake and prepares us for future tasks. Meeting and interacting with
different professionals who share their experience with us improves our knowledge and
technical know-how of how to handle issues.
Additionally, I have also worked at The Morgan Frazier Cancer Foundation as a
social work where I helped in contributing money to the organization from a football
match. Being in the position to meet and interact with many people has helped me gain
HEALTHCARE- CAREER SET UP
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confidence and courage. It is a quality that will help me in future when it comes to the point
of interacting and mobilizing people.
MY STORY
At the age of 12 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes otherwise known as juvenile diabetes.
This was the same type that killed my father at the age of 31. One sunny day after he dropped
my oldest brother off at school he was on the way home with me 3 months and my other
brother 3 years old. His blood sugar dropped and he crashed head on into a tree and died
instantly. My brother and I survived the crash. I had a scratch from glass and my brother had a
fractured pelvis.
When I was diagnosed my mother and I worked together to keep a tight hold on my condition
but often struggled. By the age of 17 I was diagnosed as a “brittle diabetic” meaning my body
usually did whatever it wanted to do no matter how hard I tried.
Senior at Sam Houston State University
Age: 22
Close to graduating with a communications degree I got really ill one day and learned that I had
to get my gallbladder removed. Surgery went well but some numbers were off so doctor sent
me to a specialist. I found out that I was in stage 4 renal failure and fortunately had not
experienced any signs. It took 2 months between diagnoses and me going on dialysis.
Dialysis was one of the hardest things I ever experienced in life. I administered dialysis to myself
at home for about a year until I got an infection. Then I had to go to the center 6 hours day 3
days of the week. Though I was 22 I cried daily and my mother sat with me every day until I
realized how selfish I was being.
I was the youngest patient there and that was a struggle. I wouldn’t speak to anyone but the
nurses. I would stare off into space and to but never watched what was on. I frequently thought
of ways to harm myself because I felt like that would be better than where I was.
6 hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Watching every drop of blood be cycled out of my body and 40 others
Sitting next to others who can’t control their bowls
Couldn’t eat by themselves, walk or know when they needed to use the restroom
Sit next to them on Monday to find out they died Tuesday and someone new is in the seat
Wednesday
I met a transplant doctor at Methodist Hospital in the Medical Center because of my age they
felt I was a viable candidate for a kidney transplant. He assured me that no matter how long it
took he was going to get me well to live my best life. But I needed to take some test and
maintain my health.
I lost weight
Stayed out of the hospital
Stayed well (no colds, flu or anything)
Went to every dialysis treatment
Went to every doctor’s appointment
I some was approved by the board and received my letter on the transplant list. It only took 9
months to get the 1st call. And I almost fell out of the bed! They ask a few questions before they
say come in when have an organ for you. Until they got to the last question
“have you taken antibiotics in the last 30 days?”
I said yes because I had just taken my first dosage of antibiotics due to a repertory infection.
The next words I heard were
“I’m sorry we can’t offer these organs to you due to we will not get a clear diagnosis of the
body accepting the organ if antibiotics is in the body”
I was devistated and cried for days! This was not a journey that I was on by myself so many
people shed tears along with me. That was the day I decided to never take an antibiotic until I
received my transplant. Time passed and I continued on with my new normal when I received
another call telling to be prepared because there was a match in the area but there was
another person who was a match as well. That patient was more of a match than I was so the
organs went to them.
November 14, 2014 I was moving around a preparing to call my grandmother because it was
77th birthday and a call came in asking the same questions as before. I was ready this time! I
went in and my doctor said this organ are going to change my life. The average time for the
surgery was 3 to 5 hours but I was on the table for 12 hours. I said in the hospital for 10 days
and finally went home excited. When I went in for my 3 days follow up I looked bad but felt
worst. I was admitted because I had a fever of 102, couldn’t breathe, no fluids and could barely
walk. When my fever hit 105 they knew the kidney had failed. They had to remove the rejected
kidney or within the next 12 hours I was going to die.
This was the day I think I cried more tears then the Atlantic Ocean. But again, this fight was not
a solo fight. My doctor had to send in another doctor to tell me because he was in the hallway
crying. My mom left the room because she couldn’t hold it in. I thought I had bad days before
this is the one that hurt the most. I cried silent tears until they wheeled me into the operating
room and when I woke up I continued to cry.
Soon I had to go back to dialysis and all I heard were questions and that it would be ok.
I was suspended from the transplant list so I could lose some weight and let my body heal.
I also received a pancreas transplant and that held up well. So uncontrollable blood sugar
would no longer wreak havoc on my body. I became stronger and was put back on the list.
November 14,2014 again my grandmothers birthday! I received a call before I could call her. It
was the hospital calling to say there was a kidney for me. The whole process with smooth and I
was home in 4 days.
It is still a struggle but I make things work. Most have to see the doctor 6 months or 1 year I go
every 6 weeks and take labs every week.
My body has started to reject the kidney and not by any fault of my own. I guess it doesn’t like
foreign objects. But I do whatever I can to live life to the fullest.
I have helped 5 individuals go through the process. By encouraging them that financial is not a
setback. I have recommended my doctor. When the process got hard or challenging I would
encourage them. Asked several family members to be donors. How to care for themselves and
what is available to them.
80% of my family members suffer from the same condition but did not know that this is
possible or available to them. And they have sought out the process and are taking better care
of themselves.
TRANSPLANTS
• November 14, 2012
• November 14, 2014
My grandmother’s birthday
Refused any family member’s offer to give me a kidney. Only a cadaver because I would never
want something to happen later on in their life.
This all occurred by the age of 27
Now continuing my education by changing my major to healthcare administration.
I want to educate to the community what is available to them and find different was to bring
programs and education to the community.
Application Essay Topic: What are your career goals after earning your degree at TSU, and what are you currently doing to
achieve those goals? How will your current major help you achieve those goals, and what type of extracurricular activities are
you involved in that will also help you for the future? Be very specific. Essay must be a minimum of 500 words. Grammar,
spelling, sentence and paragraph structure will all be considered in the evaluation of the essay. (Attach separate sheet if
necessary.)
Application Essay Topic: What are your career goals after earning your degree at TSU, and what are you currently doing to
achieve those goals? How will your current major help you achieve those goals, and what type of extracurricular activities are
you involved in that will also help you for the future? Be very specific. Essay must be a minimum of 500 words. Grammar,
spelling, sentence and paragraph structure will all be considered in the evaluation of the essay. (Attach separate sheet if
necessary.)
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