Morgan Schmoll

9/17/08

As I sit here and try to think of something to write my paper on, my mind goes completely blank. At first I thought that I would write about something backed by hard facts, something that I could write a good paper on with with plenty of information to fulfill the 2500 word quota. However, I did not know how hard it would be to think of something to write about. At first, I was going for the sustainability idea, but honestly I still do not even know what that word truly means, so I will just hold off on that idea. My next choice was to write about something personal, something about myself. I sort of feel like its too informal though, like I am not putting my all into this paper. I mean do not get me wrong, I do not mind writing it, it’s just that the things I keep blogging about are all personal things, and I feel it is very informal. But maybe it’s not all about being formal, just because what I am writing about you can’t Google on the internet does not mean it is not important right? All in all I have decided to write about my major, how I came to the idea, and why it is important to me.

When I applied to USF I originally I wanted to get into the Tampa campus. I was born right here in St. Pete but then moved to Brandon, about fifteen minutes away from the Tampa campus, when I started high school. That’s why I wanted to attend Tampa USF because it was close to home. In addition, since my major is pre-med, I knew that USF had a really good medical program. I knew I wanted to go to USF since I was about a sophomore in high school actually. I ended up getting referred to the St. Pete campus and was really bummed about it. I mean it’s far from my house, my friends, family, everything that I’m used to. Turns out though, everything happens for a reason because I love it here. My mom let me move out; I love how the campus is small, the classes are small, I made a lot of friends and it’s just awesome.

As I said, my major is pre med. I pretty much knew that I wanted to do something in the medical field since I was little, not exactly sure why, I just always said I wanted to be a doctor. I really have always wanted to be an anesthesiologist. I believe that doing this makes a difference in a person’s life. When people need surgery, I will be able to be a part of the difference that the surgery makes in their life. I also was thinking about something in law, forensic science maybe, I always loved that. Whenever I turn on the TV I’m always watching something on medical discovery, or forensic files, anything on court TV I love. Being a lawyer can also help people in their lives. If someone hurts a person, I would be able to help put that person away into jail and off the streets. Throughout high school I took all the science courses I could. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Forensic science, and Anatomy, but I wish I could have taken more. In college I hope to take a lot of chemistry courses, more than are required to graduate from college.

I went through a lot of different ideas on what exactly I wanted to do for a career after college, all ending in becoming a doctor. I was seriously thinking about joining the air force and going to college at the same time. Since they pay for my college, the idea sounded really good to me. My sister is in the National Guard so it wasn’t a huge scary thing for me.My sister is getting paid to go to college ecause she scored so high on the placement that they gave her. So she gets to move out of Florida and go to college, having all her expenses completely paid for. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a reserve, be in the National Guard, or be on active duty. When I went to talk to the recruiter about it I thought he would love the fact that I wanted to be a doctor and be in the military while going to school and everything, you know, be completely supportive. It was not like that what so ever. I’m not trying to say anything bad, it’s just that I’m all about my education and I thought college was a big deal to them. He pretty much said college comes second and if I have to move I can’t go to USF and I would have to take online courses, I was really upset about that so it totally turned me off to the military idea. This sucks because I was really excited to travel and make a lot of friends and see new places. I have never actually traveled anywhere in my life, so I was very excited. I really wanted to visit Greece and Italy, which I would be able to do if I joined the Guard. sI was also thinking about joining when I’m done with my four years and letting them pay for the rest of my schooling. We’ll see I guess; only time will tell.

So now I’m here at USF St. Pete living on campus and it's the best experience I could have. At first my mom was not going to let me move out and I was going to have to commute from Brandon to St. Pete every day. I really was upset when my mom told me I would not be able to move on campus and meet new people. I was madder at the fact that I really wanted to go to USF Tampa and was only accepted to USF St Pete, and then my mom telling me that I would not be able to move out made me even more upset. I think it’s the best thing that happened. However, when my mom came home from orientation she decided to change her mind and let me move on campus. She even told me that she would pay for all my expenses! I don’t think college would be the same experience if I hadn’t moved on campus. When you are living here you know about everything that is going on, and there is always something exciting happening! From cookouts, to ping pong tournaments, foam parties, movie nights, parties in friends room, anything and everything happens here. And all the friends I have made, it just wouldn’t be the same without them. I did leave my friends from home but have so much here to. I got really lucky to have all really cool roommates. My roommate turned out to be my best friend, and what a small world, I went to middle school with her!

I went through a lot of different ideas on what kind of doctor I wanted to be. I was thinking about an emergency room doctor but then again I’m not sure if I could really handle the stress of seeing the patients all bloody and scared, it would freak me out. Another thing I was thinking was maybe becoming an Obstetrician, delivering babies. Actually I’m still thinking about doing that. Then there was the plastic surgeon. I could change people’s looks and make them feel good about who they are. Or a plastic surgeon that specializes on reconstructive surgery, like people who were in a really bad accident and their face was badly damaged; I can put them all back together, like they were in the first place. What I ended up deciding on, at least for now, was an Anesthesiologist. Yes, I want to put people to sleep. I had a class my senior year in high school, Business Systems and Technology, where we had to do a report on a profession. All I knew is that I wanted to be in the medical field. We had this special database thing we had to look at in the school library and most of the medical professions that I had to choose from were of not interest to me. The one I did see was an Anesthesiologist, I was skeptical at first but I picked it and ended up loving it.

I did my report and ended up learning a lot from it. Turns out that the papers we had to do in school weren’t as bad as I thought they were it actually helped. I always wanted to be a doctor because I know that they help people who really need it. When I was thinking about a Lawyer I kept hearing how my mom hated them and they were pricks and everything. Someone, at least one person it getting hurt, now I know that may not always be a bad thing, because in the case of say a murder, them going to jail would be a good thing. I mean I would be helping people but in the case of a doctor, I can save people’s lives. It really makes me happy to see people moving on with their lives and being healthy. I enjoy watching shows like ER because they improve people’s lives every day.

The other day, actually it was last week, I had to go to the hospital. While I was there at St. Anthony’s, I experienced many different types of people walking in. I really wanted to help them if I and make them healthy. However, my visit took forever. I’m talking like seven hours to get some liquid stitches on my eyebrow. I was upset it was taking so long and couldn’t understand why. This was because while the doctor was just walking around not looking busy, he could have come put some glue on my eye and send me on my way. There was this woman who came in who had overdosed on a lot of pills, I felt sorry for her because she was more than just sick. I’m sure she had some kind of mental problem. She was crying and screaming, for no reason. She was begging for water, and to go to the bathroom but the nurses would not let her because she was given charcoal for all the drugs to attach to. She had taken twenty Lunestas and eight Clodapins. In addition to all these drugs, she drank a lot of alcohol. Then this other doctor, a funny, easy going one was just making his rounds talk to all the patients. I felt really bad, I had a concussion and was out of it, tired, I had class in the morning, wanted to get out of there, just miserable. When he came over to talk to me, he really lightened the mood, I forgot that I was in pain, and was just laughing with him. He was showing me his scar on his eye; I was going to have one after this, and teasing me. But it was all in good fun and he was a really cool guy. Then I got to thinking, I love making people laugh, and helping people, I knew I really wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to make people better and feel better at the same time.

There are two sides to every story. The reason I have choosen to become an Anesthesiologist is because I know I want to be a doctor, obviously, and help people, but I cannot be there and see all the blood and chaos and have to make a split decision that can save someone or kill them. Some people can handle that kind of pressure; I’m just not one of them. So an Anesthesiologist just puts people to sleep, gets them all ready for surgery and no crazy blood, arms cut off, no chaotic mess. There are pros and cons though. To name a few of the pros: money, doctors do make a lot of money; being financially stable is very important to me. Helping people, that is one of the deciding factors, it’s something I love to do. Doing what I love, I’m facinated with the human body, I think its unlike anything else. The cons: being on call. A head doctor is on call all the time, this would mean day and night, all hours of the day. No matter what im doing if I get a call and the hospital says I need to be there, then I have to drop everything I’m doing and be at the hospital. This can be bad and good. It would be ok with me up until I begin to start a family. Once I have kids I do not want to be leaving all the time and not be able to watch them grow up. Another con about being an anesthesiologist is the malpractice insurance. Since there are so many risks associated with being induced in the hospital, the insurance is extremely high in order to practice. Although the salary is very large, about half must be taken out in order to be a practicing anesthesiologist.

I would love to move to New York. There would be very many awesome job opportunities to practice anesthesia. I have looked up New York on the internet and seen it in a lot of movies, and would love to visit. I like living in a face paced environment, where there is something to do all hours of the night. Although the rent is very expensive, my salary will most-likely be large enough to cover the rent of a nice apartment in a good neighborhood, and send my children to a private school. I have thought about my future many times, and my view right now in fifteen years would be living in New York City, with a husband and three kids.

I have learned that experience is everything. I believe that once you experience something, you will know if you like it or dislike it or want to do it again. I have experienced hospital visits, I have had surgery and been under anesthesia, and watched a doctor in work- I know that I would love being an anesthesiologist now and thirty years from now.