Hot Off The Lunch Bench: after all this, what are your thoughts on the health field?
Kira Bretsky, Staff Writer
Over the past 20 months, Samo students watched COVID-19 first responders risk their health and safety each day, serving as the heroes of the pandemic. For some, watching health professionals was beyond inspiring; others have crossed a future in medicine off of their lists for good. How have the views of Samo’s student body about careers in health changed over the pandemic months?
“I was thinking about...the medical field, but mainly as a backup plan...I did suffer with my own health problems over the pandemic, so I did find more interest there, but I’m still choosing a different career.”
- Natalia Salazar (’22)
“I am, specifically orthopedic surgery, because it’s a male-dominated field...There’s little representation for women, especially women of color. The pandemic showed how disorganized and how much improvement the medical field needs, and what still can be done.”
- Amber Ureña (’22)
“I’m uninterested. It’s never really crossed my mind. Still uninterested. You know, medical people are heroes, so it’s a wonderful job in that way. I’m definitely more inclined, but not enough to actually pursue it.”
- Emma Thorpe (’24)
“I was somewhat interested in the medical field, but now I am a little bit more because you can see...how much it’s in need...For people in the medical field, it was really important how they were administering the vaccines for everyone, so that was super cool.”
- Amitis Akbari (’24)
“...My mom is a doctor, so over the pandemic I got to observe her and her dynamic with work. There’s some deterrents now, after the pandemic...But also, it makes me want to do it more because people need them. You don’t realize how much we need doctors until they’re all getting sick.”
- Sara Ty (’24)