Goals & Learning

I am currently working toward my bachelor’s degree in health sciences. After graduation, I plan to continue my education by enrolling in a medical imaging program.

When I first entered college, I had a different career path in mind. However, as I progressed through my courses and gained hands-on experience, I discovered my passion for sonography. Conversations with professionals in the field gave me insight into the meaningful impact of sonography in healthcare, further solidifying my interest. Through these experiences, I realized this path aligns well with my skills and long-term goals.

I feel very confident about my decision to pursue a career in medical imaging. I am currently completing the required prerequisites and am committed to this path.

This year, I plan to gain hands-on experience by shadowing individuals in medical imaging, attending related workshops, and networking with professionals in the field. Additionally, I will continue engaging in coursework relevant to my intended career goal, such as anatomy and imaging techniques, to assess whether this path aligns with my strengths and interests.

My internship at Project ECHO has confirmed my passion for healthcare and solidified my career goals. I have always wanted to explore the different aspects of the healthcare system, and this experience has reinforced my commitment to the field. While I prefer a more hands-on approach, this internship has allowed me to gain valuable insight into a different setting than the one I see myself working in in the future. Observing how communication plays a crucial role in meetings and how healthcare providers both learn and teach has been eye-opening. This experience has strengthened my confidence in using my self-knowledge and preferences to make informed career decisions

At the beginning of the year, one of my main goals was to succeed in my anatomy course. To achieve this, I utilized the resources available to me, such as attending tutoring sessions and seeking help when needed. I also connected with classmates to study together and made sure to attend lectures regularly. My goal for the spring was to find potential internship opportunities, and I am extremely proud to say that I succeeded in that. Additionally, I set a goal for my internship at Project ECHO to gain more confidence in my work. Over time, I have grown in many ways, particularly in my communication skills and self-confidence. I no longer hesitate when it comes to my work, and I feel much more assured in my abilities.

To continue progressing toward my career goals, I have secured an internship at Northwestern Medicine as a Radiography Intern in Chicago for the summer. This opportunity will allow me to gain hands-on experience, build professional connections in my intended career field, and spend time closer to home. During the rest of my time at IU Indianapolis, I plan to continue seeking opportunities that will strengthen my skills and prepare me for a future in healthcare.

Learning Goal #1: I would like to improve my communication skills by the end of my internship. I want to attain this by doing my best to actively participate in meetings, asking for help if needed, and asking for feedback on my work. 

This will help me learn to communicate effectively in a professional setting. To meet this goal I will work on drafting emails and communicating with ECHO swag bag recipients.

Action Plan: Tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities you'll do to meet this goal.

Progress: Reflecting on my progress, I have made significant strides in improving my communication skills. I now feel more confident participating in meetings and have become more comfortable reaching out for help when needed. Drafting emails has also become easier, as I have learned how to tailor my communication to different audiences. Additionally, I have received positive feedback on my emails, which has reassured me that my writing is improving. Some of the next steps that I would like to take for this goal is continuing to ask for feedback and being engaged in meetings.

Learning Goal #2: By the end of my internship, I would like to improve my resume by adding the new skills that I have obtained. I can achieve this by adding red cap or marketing cloud to my resume after I complete the courses. 

This will help me to become more hopefully gain more opportunities in the workforce because I have acquired new skills. I will meet this goal by adding RedCap, Marketing Cloud, and CITI Program training to my resume.

Progress: I have made significant progress toward improving my resume by gaining hands-on experience with RedCap and Marketing Cloud. I have completed the necessary courses and have actively applied these skills in my internship, particularly in drafting emails and managing data. Adding these technical skills to my resume has strengthened my qualifications and will help me stand out in the job market.

One of my key accomplishments has been becoming more comfortable navigating Marketing Cloud and understanding how to use it for effective communication. Additionally, working with RedCap has allowed me to develop my data management skills, which will be beneficial for future roles in healthcare.

A challenge I faced was initially feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of these platforms. However, I overcame this by taking my time to learn through practice, asking for guidance when needed, and reviewing training materials.

Learning Goal #3: By the end of the internship, I want to improve my confidence in my work and personal skills by setting weekly goals for completing tasks and asking for feedback. I want to track my progress by reflecting on my confidence level when first began my internship to the end of the internship 

This goal fits into my career journey to prepare for the future because by gaining more confidence in my personal and work skills I will become a better professional. I will acheive my goal by attending zoom meetings with my camera on and unmuting my mic and asking questions.

Progress: I have made significant strides toward improving my confidence in both my work and personal skills. Setting weekly goals has helped me stay on track and focus on specific tasks, which in turn has boosted my confidence. I’ve also been consistently asking for feedback, which has given me valuable insights and reassured me that I am progressing. A key accomplishment is that even though the entire office had to work from home for the first few months of the spring semester, I have not taken a step back towards my goals. If anything, I have continued to improve and adapt to the changes. I’ve been able to maintain my momentum, even in a remote setting. Initially, I was hesitant to speak up, but over time, I’ve grown more comfortable engaging with the group and contributing to discussions.A challenge I faced was overcoming initial self-doubt, particularly when I felt unsure of my contributions. However, I’ve been focusing on celebrating small wins, such as successfully completing tasks and receiving positive feedback, which has helped me build my confidence gradually.