Holly Springs Direct Primary Care Health Care Scholarship

It only took one patient, my very first, for me to realize that healthcare was my calling. While interning at an optometry office, I was trained to assist as a technician, performing eye exams and operating diagnostic machines. My first scheduled patient was a young man coming in for a routine exam. I went through the regular process until a certain machine began buffering. Caught off guard, I had to quickly decide how to proceed. After reassuring the patient, I chose to skip the machine and continue with the exam. The remaining screening results showed a decline in vision, even though the patient had normal vision one year prior. Following the doctor’s visit, the patient was diagnosed with keratoconus, a disease in which the cornea progressively thins and bulges, blurring vision. The diagnosis was devastating for the patient and his mother. Witnessing the uncertainty of the patient’s diagnosis solidified my commitment to healthcare and shaped my goal of becoming a provider who approaches each patient with curiosity, compassion, and a dedication to lifelong learning. After this incident, I stopped taking eyesight for granted and began to view it as a vulnerable and precious aspect of life. I found myself reflecting on the patient’s diagnosis for the entire week, questioning how it developed so rapidly and what it meant for his future. Through my research, I learned that the cause of keratoconus is still unknown, yet it can be extremely threatening to one’s eyesight. I was astounded that someone so young could develop such a condition, and that I was a part of the doctor’s team who diagnosed it. I was captivated by this discovery and very concerned for the patient’s recovery. As this was the first patient I had ever pre-screened, I was eager to gain more experience and take on greater responsibility. When my advisor asked me about how much involvement I wanted at the office, I knew I wanted to take on as much as possible. I soon began coming in daily, taking on longer shifts, and seeing more patients. Whether it was a regular check-up with no issues or an office visit with a complication, I became more efficient and grew in confidence. The day-by-day problem-solving and consistent exposure led to significant growth as an intern. These experiences confirmed my commitment to healthcare. Whether it was the young man with the disease, or a patient’s simple relief of a new glasses prescription, every discovery, every thank you, and every impact filled my heart with the satisfaction of improving someone’s quality of life. Not only was I satisfied and eager to advance in medicine, but this experience gave me the tools to do so. The unpredictability of patient care, like the one described before, is something no classroom could replicate. The precise language needed when speaking to elderly patients or toddlers while attempting to perform a medical exam is a skill I could only develop through hands-on experience. The small mistakes I made and the corrections from my supervisor showed me how to improve my abilities without disapproving of my inabilities. Recognizing that progress is continuous showed me that I am well prepared for my future healthcare endeavours. After my internship, I know that I am capable of being the provider who understands the importance of every moment with a patient and continually strives to improve.