Graceland University, Class of 2006
Major: Health
In January 2006 I completed an internship for the Central Iowa Chapter of the Red Cross. During the internship I completed several office tasks and had the opportunity to learn a lot about the inner-workings of a large non-profit. During the spring semester I continued to volunteer one or two days a week, as my schedule allowed.
After graduation I moved to Des Moines and worked at Iowa Methodist Registration and Admissions Department. In this position I registered patients as they entered the Emergency Room then assigned them beds as they were admitted to the hospital. While I did not directly participate in patient care I learned a great deal about the behind the scenes action. I put the skills and knowledge learned in classes such as Medical Terminology, Medical Ethics, and Current Issues to work on a daily basis.
While working at Methodist I continued to volunteer for the Red Cross, specializing in the Disease Prevention Education Program. Under the guidance of the coordinator, Bryce Sitter I began leading Scrubby Bear Presentations (hand washing for children), Avian Flu lectures, and created Measles and Malaria Awareness. I work primarily with Elementary and High Schools as well as several opportunities to respond and volunteer for disasters. I truly believe I have one of the most rewarding and fun jobs available.
My recommendation to anyone who is not sure what they would like to do after college is to get involved in the field that they are interested in, whether through volunteering, an internship, or just shadowing a person as they go through a normal day at work. By doing this you not only discover if you would like to work full time in that position, but you discover different opportunities that are available. By volunteering or doing an internship you make connections that may present excellent connections in the future. The recommendations I received from my supervisors at the Red Cross allowed me to work at the hospital and eventually allowed me to work full time for the Red Cross. When applying for this position my supervisors already knew me and I knew the program which made me stand out more than the other applicants.
Current Employment: American Red Cross, Central Iowa Chapter
