Career Fair

Overview of Occupations

            As I was interviewing students at the Career Fair I noticed some really unique and fascinating career stands. There was a diverse variety of occupations, such as pediatricians, criminal lawyers, physiologists, cardiologists and different types of surgeons. Some students had interestingly presented their career projects, especially Christiana. She wants to be a surgeon; she was dressed up in her medical uniform ready to work. I thought her occupation was really interesting. As she was educating me on a surgeon's profession, I found it really incredible that to become a surgeon you must attend 2-3 years in university, 4-5 years in medical school and 5-6 years of learning and becoming familiar with the new vocation! In total its 12-13 years of preparation to become a surgeon! That's almost a quarter of your lifetime. This education period is for people to learn the procedures, like first there is the check-up where the surgeon diagnoses the patient and decides what procedures are required to aid the person in need. Next is the procedure where the surgery is performed, during the procedure the surgeon ensures that all the instruments needed are cleaned and sterilized. After the procedure is performed the surgeon follows up with the patient's recovery, they make sure the patient is taking the correct medication and that the disease or problem is healing correctly.  But all this education and labour does pay off, there are many benefits and pros such as a large salary from between $100 000- $500 000 each year depending on how much experience you have as a surgeon and also a surgeon helps people immensely by possibly saving their lives. Also since this occupation is in the medical field the surgeon has medical coverage and benefits. A surgeon also learns a lot of life lessons and morals watching other people's possibilities of dieing, the surgeons learn to cherish their own lives. But there are also disadvantages and cons for this occupation, the most important one, of possibly killing someone, and having to deal with the guilt in your conscience for the rest of your life. Also it may be difficult in some stressful situations to keep calm and composed. Surgeons work long days with 9-10 hours each day, and in emergencies a surgeon could be called in to perform for a patient in a crisis. They'll have to stop and immediately arrive at the hospital and be prepared to perform swiftly. There are also the long years of education and preparation required to become a surgeon. You must also have funds available to enroll in the schools and courses that are required to have this occupation. I thought this profession was very interesting and exciting but I am not sure what profession I want to pursue. I might either become a teacher and afterwards become a principal or possibly have a profession involving the medical field. I am capable of becoming anything I want to be and be successful. I am still very young and only twelve and I still have a couple years to officially decide what profession I would like commit my life to and study diligently in.  

Christina Z