This coronavirus pandemic has affected and drastically changed life as we know it. This is especially true for medical professionals, but amazingly, it hasn’t stopped inspiring the next generation of front-line healthcare workers.
“I am interested in the medical field, and right now, with everything going on, I am beyond words for the medical professionals right now,” said student Hannah Hinojosa.
Hinojosa is a junior at Madison High School. She’s part of the clinical program, which means she volunteers at healthcare facilities. At least she used to volunteer, that all stopped when the coronavirus really started to take hold here. But the fear around this pandemic isn’t stopping her drive toward the medical field.
“Honestly, it isn’t affecting my career path into the medical field much. If anything, it’s motivation to become one of these caregivers and contribute in this helping the community and society.”
Madison Health Science teacher Billie Tolbert is also using this experience to inspire her students. She’s a paramedic and has been volunteering at an Emergency Operations Center in a neighboring county when she can.
“I have been keeping the students informed of what I am seeing and hearing just so they can understand, more fully, the scale of this pandemic,” said Tolbert.
She recently gave her clinical students an assignment to use items around their house to create required Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) used for interactions with COVID-19 patients.
“Demonstration of PPE is something they are required to do in this course anyway,” said Tolbert. “By telling them to be creative and silly with this assignment, I want to see their personalities come through.”
Hinojosa said assignments like this (and Ms. Tolbert) are helping her get through all of this.
“She is a really big support system and encouraging person in my life,” said Hinojosa. “For the classroom closure, she is keeping us motivated with assignments that keep us from sitting around and give us the inspiration to get up and learn while experiencing."
