Reflection Blog

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I have had the pleasure of being in the St. Luke’s Biomedical Program for the past three years. It has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my high school career, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of it. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Throughout the program, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to many guest speakers from a wide variety of medical specialties, ranging from community health workers to surgeons. One of the most memorable speakers was Adam Korzun, the Green Bay Packers’ nutritionist. One quote from him that stood out to me was: “I find individual ways to help each player with their success.” This highlighted the passion he has for his work and how he supports each athlete not just as part of a team, but as individuals.

Another speaker who made a big impact on me was Dr. Elizabeth Palmer Hill, a Doctor of Dental Medicine. I was especially excited to hear from her because dentistry is something I’m deeply passionate about. She spoke about the various specialties within dentistry, such as oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and prosthodontics. One thing that has stuck with me since her visit was learning how poor oral health can lead to serious issues like heart disease, stroke, low birth weight, premature birth, poor nutrition, endocarditis, diabetes, and prosthetic joint failure. I was especially struck by her explanation that any time your mouth bleeds, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause these problems.

I am incredibly thankful to have had the chance to hear from such a diverse range of professionals, and it has truly helped me narrow down my future path toward becoming an orthodontist.

The Interventions class has helped shape me into the student I am today. It has improved my work ethic and taught me skills I’ll use for the rest of my life, including public speaking, problem-solving, creativity, and time management. I’m grateful for how this class changed my perspective during my senior year and prepared me for college.

One thing I wish we had focused on more in Interventions was note-taking. I think better note-taking skills would have helped me retain more from the labs and activities. One of my favorite skill labs this year was learning about hemiplegia, or paralysis of one side of the body. We had to complete simple tasks like putting on a sock using only one arm, while our legs were “paralyzed.” I enjoyed learning about how people with disabilities adapt to everyday activities. This lab, like many others, helped me gain a greater awareness of the physical and mental challenges others face.

Looking back on the year, there were both helpful and less helpful aspects of the course. While I understand the purpose of writing weekly blogs, I think they could be more meaningful if we only wrote them when something notable happened. That said, I did enjoy reading back through my blogs to remember the amazing experiences I’ve had. I also appreciated receiving our weekly agendas, which helped me stay organized and focused.

One area that I struggled with was the steps leading up to our Biomed presentations. I feel that the process could have been explained more clearly, or possibly restructured so that we work through the steps during class time in a more integrated way. I also think our speeches would benefit from more structured practice. For example, dedicating specific class days to our hooks, conclusions, and transitions would have made me feel more confident. Practicing in the auditorium, perhaps even in front of a few teachers, would also help prepare us for the real presentation night.

I am so thankful for the Biomed Program and could not imagine my St. Luke’s experience without it. I truly appreciate all the planning and dedication that went into making this program a success, not just for me, but for all of the seniors.