#theVIPexperience Post #95: Emma Norris

I have always been the type of person to plan everything out ahead of time. As soon as 13 years old, I started really thinking about my career path and where I saw myself in 10 years. At that time, I knew I loved science and learning biology in the 7th grade. As I grew older, I shadowed doctor’s, physician’s assistants, and nurses and from the level of involvement to the excitement I had when we got to help each patient and sent them on their way, I knew that healthcare was my passion. Applying for college was an excitement and a challenge picking where I wanted to pursue my degree in Biology. I decided on my hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, because of the amount of opportunities for volunteering, research, and shadowing at the many hospitals surrounding the campus. As I searched for these opportunities, I wanted to find something that could bring me out of my comfort zone and give me real experience with patients that would better my knowledge of the healthcare system and have a positive impact on the community. When I heard about the volunteer internship program at Crossroads, I was excited to get involved because of the impact that I could have on the community of Cincinnati through this position. Halfway into my year internship, I have not only aided patients in helping to relieve stress around their appointments but to help them be more trusting of the healthcare system and keep their bodies healthy and happy. This experience has been enriching and has provided me with many opportunities to expand my knowledge and communication skills in and out of the office. This opportunity has been such a great experience and I am excited to finish out the experience knowing that I had a positive impact in healthcare and in the health of our community.