Kaitlin: Do you have a major? If so,
what is your major?
SS: Yes, I major in medical assistance.
Kaitlin: How did you decide upon your
major?
SS: I was interested in the medical field
before I even got to college so I immediately
knew what I wanted to get involved with.
I wasn't sure about what exactly I wanted
to do in the medical field, so medical
assisting was a comfortable position for
me to observe and learn the basics about
the medical field.
Kaitlin: Do you have to choose your major
and minors in college right away during
your first year? Or do you have to choose
them during other years?
SS: No, you don't. Whenever you decide
to take classes that you are interested
in for your career then you can sign up
for them. The college is going to ask
you what types of classes are you interested
in, and then your schedule will be created
from that decision. The decision is also
never permanent; you can change your mind
thousands of times through out your years,
but just always try to beware of what
profession that you are interested in.
Kaitlin: What is your curriculum or schedule?
SS: I go to school from 10:00am - 4:00pm
four days a week, I have 4 classes that
are everyday classes that are 50 minutes
to 1 hour long. And mostly in those classes
I learn lots of medical terminology, study
anatomy, and different things like that.
Kaitlin: How did you go about choosing
what schedule was right for you?
SS: I didn't have a job or anything like
that so it just made more since to take
the day schedule. Usually the evening
schedule is for students who have jobs
and other things to do during the day.
Kaitlin: What are the college professors
like?
SS: The professors are really nice. They
are always available to tutor me whenever
they can. And Robert Morris is cool because
the teachers use PowerPoint to visually
explain what they're teaching. Now for
other schools with larger class sizes
and rougher teachers, using a tape recorder
to record lecturing is always helpful
to me.
Kaitlin: How do you receive any tutoring
from professors? What are the best hours
to meet them?
SS: Its good to see the professors after
class hours when they're not busy because
then you can communicate with them one
on one
Kaitlin: Where are the most effective
places for you to study at your school
or anywhere else?
SS: There is a center at my school called
the Labata so I go there to study and
get tutored. Another place where I like
to study is at the library and on the
train because I have a 40 minute train
ride to and from school.
Kaitlin: What subjects do you use a lot
of in college that you were exposed to
in high school and even elementary school?
SS: English and math are two subjects
that you really use a lot in college.
So it's good to get an early start in
high school, so that you can be prepared
for college work because the work is the
same it's just harder.
Kaitlin: I've heard in college that you
are exposed to a lot of different people
and different types of peer pressures—What
types of peer pressures do you observe
in college?
SS: The peer pressures are not like the
peer pressure in high school. At my school
its not an issue of drugs or stuff like
that its more about making the right decisions
for yourself.
Kaitlin: How do you handle them?
SS: I just think about my future and
where I want to be and try to stay focused.
Kaitlin: Was it easy to make friends?
SS: At first it wasn't easy because I
didn't have any old friends there from
high school but now I know more students
in my different classes who I hang out
with. Paul [Sereno, Project Exploration
cofounder] always told me that it's good
to have friends in college because you
can't go through college or life in general
without people to support you and help
you along the way.
Kaitlin: What is the most important thing
to realize when you're faced with social
problems going through college?
SS: It is always best to know what you
want. Think about yourself, your values,
and always know when there's a time to
study and a time to have fun, too.
Kaitlin: Is it important to look a certain
way when you attend college (dressing
casual, name brand clothes, or any other
appearances that could affect your image)?
SS: When I started college I started
dressing more casual because when I am
dressed casual or dressed-up I always
feel more positive and confident about
myself. At my college it just depends
on how you want to dress, and how you
want to look to the public eye.
Kaitlin: What techniques do you use today
from PE programs?
Susan in the
field with the Junior Paleontologists
Photo: C. Walker © Project Exploration
SS: The major techniques that use are
my communication skills because Gabe really
exposed me a lot to public speaking. And
because I want to into the medical field
I use a lot of science, which I was exposed
to also in the PE programs.
Kaitlin: Describe the biggest challenge
for you in college now.
SS: The biggest challenge for me now
in college is just staying on track because
I always know that I can easily fall off
track.
Kaitlin: What is next for you?
SS: I am currently transferring to a
new medical clinic, so I have to change
my schedule probably to nights. So I just
want to adjust properly to that schedule
and still stay on track while doing so.
Kaitlin: What do you see yourself doing
in the future?
SS: I see myself in the medical field
at UIC or Northern Illinois University.
 |
Kaitlin graduated from
North
Kenwood
Oakland
Charter
School
in 2003- the same year she entered
the Junior Paleontologist program. Kaitlin is currently a sophomore at
Jones
College
Prep
High School
and hopes to become a lawyer. |
