It's a Process

Good things take time. It takes patience. In the end; however, everything is worth it!

Weekly Report 2/19/18 to 2/25/18

Nothing worth having comes easy. I found a mentor and could not be more happy to work with Dr. Braga, original work was a success and is over, and final presentation night is on its way. However, opportunities don’t knock at your door and most often opportunities are disguised so it becomes difficult to spot them. When they do come it's not easy to surpass the obstacles, but an optimistic viewpoint is the only skill set required to overcome it. Paperwork is the most tedious process in the whole protocol in being able to observe surgeries, go on clinical rounds, or converse with patients. It may not be the most exhilarating opportunity, but it definitely provides a look onto another side of medicine and that is the idea of paperwork. Health records, blood tests, drug tests, vaccinations, the list is endless on the requirements to watch surgeries. Time is running out and the school year is wrapping up, but my goal is to start observing surgeries very soon. I know what is to come will be a opportunity that will be the memory of a lifetime. Being able to watch brain tumor surgeries or any neurological surgery as a high school student is an opportunity that I could never take for granted.

While hurdles will continue to block the way, the past week has brought productivity and work towards final product as well. The past week was spent rewriting the final product proposal due to the infeasibility of the previous final product idea. The clinical study of Chiari with the observation of seventeen patients with the diagnosis of Chiari is a unique opportunity that I look forward to doing with the help of Dr. Braga. As of now, there has been a difficulty in actually conducting tangible work towards the final product due to the immense amount of paperwork that must be transacted prior to being able to even enter the hospital offices. As of right now, all I can really do is discuss with Dr. Braga and come up with a comprehensive plan towards the end goal.

The next week looks forward to completing multiple health tests and arranging all the work n order to start observation as soon as possible. In addition, we are setting up meeting dates in order for me to meet his other ISM student who I have been in touch with for the past couple of weeks.

As of now, I have had two mentor visits and look forward to many more with experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime; however, discouragement is not something that can get in my pathway. If anything, the thing I have learned the most from my ISM journey is the act of perseverance. It's not easy, never was, and never will be; however the end result is always worthwhile.