Extracurricular Activities
Oregon Tech Radiologic Science Club - Vice President 2022-23'; TOP (Tech Opportunities Program) - first generation college student; Volunteer in Oregon Tech's medical imaging labs aiding other imaging students in competency practicals.
A Little Bit About Me
I’m a Senior medical imaging student working toward a bachelor's degree in radiologic science. I'm a non-traditional first-generation student which is a personal attribute that I take pride in. At the time of drafting this letter, I will be reaching the end of the first term of my year-long clinical externship. My externship is being conducted at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield, Oregon, where I've have had the chance to gain real world clinical experience as a student radiographer. It's been a challenging but immensely fruitful experience thus far as I get to apply the knowledge and skills I've learned at Oregon Tech over the last three years.
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
Many years ago, I came to the realization that I wanted to pursue a more fulfilling and meaningful career than the one I was in at the time and medical imaging felt like a perfect fit for me. It was almost like fate that a school with such a respected imaging program was less than a hundred miles from my hometown. I wanted to attend a school where I would have the chance to not only earn a bachelor's degree, but also be closely connected to my peers and faculty. This is exactly what I’m getting at Oregon Tech with its cohort-based education model and smaller class sizes.
My Influential Professors
I owe a great deal of my success in my academics at Oregon Tech to the faculty of the Radiologic Science department. Each professor brings a rich perspective of knowledge and experience to this degree program that is hard to match. It’s become clear to me that each of them has chosen to be an educator, not merely for financial gain, but for their deep passion of teaching and the betterment of our profession and community at large. This is evident to me through a multitude of fundamental values that they carefully impart on their students by acting as good examples of a high commitment to excellence as shown through their consistently invaluable teaching interactions as well as their impressive ability to endure unexpected adversity (particularly during the challenges presented by the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak), just to name a few. They have set many gold standards for the students that go through OIT’s radiologic science program, which I for one, will carry well into my future career and beyond. From a personal perspective, the programs’ reputation as a leading institution correlates directly with the merit and distinction of its faculty which simply cannot be overstated.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
My time at Oregon Tech has been challenging in a very positive way. My academics consistently encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and this gives me the opportunity to hone important skills such as performing under pressure and connecting with others. I find these to be the most valuable experiences I’ve encountered at Oregon Tech thus far because it has taught me new levels self-confidence and courage that will surely aid me throughout both my professional and personal life.
My Plans After Graduation
After graduating, I intend to begin my new career in Southern Oregon where I have lived all my life, and I look forward to serving my local community. I hope to expand upon my practice in medical imaging by becoming registered as an MRI or CT technologist soon after graduation. A long-term goal I've set in order to continue advancing my career is to at some point return to school to obtain my graduate degree in allied health.