Update On My "One Word" and Following Up On My Mentoring Experience

At the beginning of the year, I was assigned with the task of choosing one word to guide me through 2026. The word I chose was fulfillment, “the satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one's abilities or character,”. I chose this word because I felt that I was falling short of my own expectations and responsibilities, which led to a great deal of frustration and disappointment. I realized that I needed more than just the idea of a good grade or verbal validation to feel like I was doing my best, because oftentimes I did not think I was. By choosing the word fulfillment, I was enabled with the ability to apply it to every aspect of my life, not just school or work. Truly trying my best to learn new concepts in school, asking questions when I need assistance, and being fully present all bring me a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Prioritizing a balance between family, friends, work, and alone time has also helped me feel fulfilled within my various relationships. Every day, I get to choose whether I strive to take actions that are fulfilling, or shrink due to lack of motivation and energy. Ever since I began to try and reach feelings of fulfillment, I have noticed a significant change in my actions, priorities, and overall life.

An update on my shadowing experience at Northwest OBGYN

As I am still only in high school and do not have the qualifications necessary, I have not been able to participate (especially in a clinical setting). However, I have been able to gain valuable experience relating to the display of emotions on the job site and how to handle heartbreaking situations. 

In February, Kelli Miller had to see a pregnant patient due to their original doctor being out on maternity leave. This particular patient was 20 weeks pregnant with her first child. Prior to entering the exam room, one of the ultrasound techs came into Kelli's office to inform her that while the baby’s ultrasound and heart rate appeared to be normal, there seemed to be an abnormality in the brain. The baby’s corpus callosum (pictured below), had some form of impaired development, which is can lead to various developmental and cognitive disabilities.

(Image of the Corpus Callosum)

The extent of the impairment was not yet known, and would most likely be inconclusive until the baby's birth. Since my mentor was not the patient's primary doctor or an OBGYN, she decided to send the ultrasound results to be reviewed by the doctor on call. This meant that we would not be sharing the news with the patient until the on-call doctor assessed the results. Not only was hearing this news hard, but I found it even harder to conceal my emotion as we entered the patient’s room. Seeing the happy young couple and the excitement on their face, while also knowing the devastating news that was to come, sent me through a wide range of emotions. Kelli had stressed the importance of concealing these emotions before even entering the room as to not alarm the patient or give premature information. 

The next week I returned for my routine mentoring and learned that it was highly suspected that the baby has some form of skeletal dysplasia. As my mentor looked more closely at the notes in the patients file, I could tell she was deeply saddened by this potential diagnosis. At that moment, I was able to gain perspective on what it can feel like to be a healthcare provider when a patient does not have a desired outcome, and the stress it can bring even after leaving the worksite. This perspective is valuable to me because it gives me a small glimpse of how the job may affect me and the emotional outcome of the rest of my day. I also was able to learn from the way Kelli handled the whole situation and how she effectively communicated with the patient without letting any sensitive information or emotion slip. I was able to both see her professionalism and composure, as well as value it's importance.

This experience, although deeply troubling, enabled me to understand the ways in which a medical professional should address and maneuver through difficult appointments.