Future Health Professionals
Ghenesis Balaan | Maui High School
High schoolers paving their way into the Healthcare field know it won’t be the easiest path to walk but it will be worth it in the end. These individuals see their future careers as a reward in order to give back to their community and to the world. Various skills must be mastered in order to adequately prepare themselves for this journey but none more important than having empathy towards others. They define their purpose by aiding those in need through healthcare and hope to create a better tomorrow through their future aspirations.
“Growing up, I was surrounded by a lot of medical and science background in my family, so I grew to like this specific field,” said Romelyn Joy Tabangcura, a senior at Maui High School. Her interest in the medical field truly deepened when she realized how direct and impactful it is by simply allowing her to be a helping hand to someone in need. In a world where there are too many people who disagree with each other and live with hate, Romelyn wants to be able to spread compassion and kindness as a nurse practitioner. It may be the smallest things like smiling to one another or showing someone the way to a place in a clinical or hospital setting but she believes that these small acts of kindness can change how we view one another. It is crucial to be selfless in order to practice the job of a medical professional. It is about giving back to others. She says, “It is a job where we put others before ourselves to help others in need. I believe other careers don’t use this certain skill on a day to day basis as much as a medical professional would.”
Maui High School Senior Jaelyn Malia Bala knew she wanted to pursue a career in the medical field once she learned that work equals success. As Jaelyn grew up, she realized the medical field had so much to offer not only to the employer but to those who seek greater health. Health careers she is currently looking into for the future includes nursing and pediatrics. “Nursing is on the top of my list for careers because of the wide variety of skills and experiences that come along with the job and the learning path though I am strongly considering pediatrics because I enjoy working with kids,” she said. Jaelyn believes the most important thing one must understand before pursuing a career in the medical field is not everyone is the same or expects the same so you have to adapt and accept whatever comes your way for the best of the patient and the people around you. She says, “The knowledge and skills I believe one could gain from pursuing a career in the medical field compared to any other profession would be compassion, selflessness, strong work ethic, and most importantly the ability to connect with people while being able to help improve their health.”
H.P. Baldwin High School student Princess Jena Santiago states the most important thing one must understand before pursuing a career in the medical field is one shouldn’t go into the field for the money. She said, “It is a field that is much more than just money. It is a field where lives are at stake and being able to handle immense pressure and proper decision making is very crucial.” Princess is interested in exploring the fields of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, and Biomedical Engineering. Since the area of surgery and engineering are very competitive, she will set herself apart from others by showing her skills and knowledge she has acquired throughout her years in school. Princess will also show others that grades and smarts will never come before hard work and empathy towards people. Princess said she believes some students are hesitant about joining or choosing a career in the medical field because it is competitive and very time-consuming. It is a field that requires hard work and determination. “I think, however, they should be reminded that it is a very fulfilling career,” said Princess.
To Maui High School senior Ian Casabay, pursuing a career in the medical field will also allow him to implement changes to the community. He said, “I think health services could be improved by focusing on the importance of cultural care and the impact that healthcare professionals have on whether they are inclusive about how to treat certain patients with different cultural backgrounds to overall optimize competent care in the healthcare industry.” To help him gain further knowledge about the healthcare industry, he joined his high school’s HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) organization. Ian has been a member of HOSA for almost four years and is sure to pursue a career in radiology after graduation. “The steps I have taken to prepare myself for this pathway would mainly be prioritizing. By prioritizing, I am able to stay clear of any distractions and make room for the important things. While doing this, I also make sure to stay true to myself and work hard in anything I do,” said Ian.
These high school seniors are preparing themselves for one of the toughest journeys of their lives. But as they push themselves towards this journey, they know how fulfilling it is to be someone who makes a difference in others. The medical field is composed of the most empathetic and determined individuals out there. These seniors are making way to be future health professionals as they work endlessly towards tomorrow.
Google® Is Not Everything … is a monthly column authored by high school students. The title of the column emphasizes that education is more than just googling a topic. Google® is a registered trademark. This month’s guest columnist is Ghenesis Jhay Balaan, a Senior at Maui High School attending its Culinary and Health CTE Pathway. He is a three-year member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and served as its Council Treasurer in 2017–2018. Ghenesis hopes to become a respiratory therapist in the future. He is the eldest son of Benjamin V. Ballesteros Jr. and Jerameelyn B. Ballesteros.