Rising Bosco Tech Senior Barrera Completes Two Challenging Summer Programs
Pursuing a medical career is a major step. To be sure that’s what he wants to do, rising Bosco Tech senior Austin Barrera (MSET ’22) took on two challenging opportunities this summer, completing demanding student programs at both Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Pediatric Society’s Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program.
“I see myself getting clarity from both programs, clarity for what to expect when going into the medical field,” he said. “I gained a deeper understanding of all the different specialties that doctors and nurses are involved in. I was also able to make many connections, as all the doctors and nurses that gave presentations during the program gave their emails to all the students for questions they may have or advice they may need.”
As he described to us, Austin’s role was to be a ‘learning student,’ taking copious notes and participating in group discussions. In the CHLA program, he also got to participate in a hands-on skills lab, learning to take vitals and administer CPR and first aid. Austin plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, before working in the ER or ICU and pursuing a doctorate to become either a nurse anesthetist or a physician assistant.
“Ms. Sigoloff’s lessons (through the internship training program) on professionalism and communication helped the most, as I had problems, being an online event, with zoom links and so forth,” he shared. “Emailing and communicating with the event organizers in a professional manner helped resolve all of my problems in an organized and timely manner.”
“I recommend that students apply for internships in the future because they offer knowledge from real experts in that specific field. Even if students are not interested in that field, they still get to learn other working skills which are vital for college and a future career. Internships can also give connections, and it looks very good on a college application. One word of encouragement I would give students is that the process of applying to a program is the hardest part. Everything after that is smooth sailing.”
“Through both experiences, I learned that medicine is a lifelong learning career and that one must take one step at a time to survive the medical field,” he said. “In other words, don’t try and overwhelm yourself by learning everything so fast. This also applies to subjects in college and classes in high school.” A good lesson for everyone!
Don Bosco Technical Institute (Bosco Tech), 1151 San Gabriel Blvd., Rosemead, (626) 940-2000 or visit www.boscotech.edu.
