Not all students have the opportunity to participate in a program that prepares them for their future profession. Clinical Rotation is a double-blocked class that allows students who are interested in medicine to attend various sites such as the Heart Hospital Baylor Plano and Texas Health Presbyterian Plano where they help patients alongside professionals.

Clinicals students do not mind giving up two periods for this thorough and hands-on experience. The extra time allows the students to get an even deeper understanding of the medical field and gives them time to return to class from their sites.

“The fact that the class is a double-block really allows the teachers to get more done when we are in the classroom,” clinicals student junior Julius Hubby said. “It gives the students a nice cushion to get back to school in time for their next class because we are supposed to leave thirty minutes before the next period.”

Commuting can be a struggle for some students—especially if you cannot drive. The commute can range anywhere from a one-minute drive down the street to a thirteen-minute venture that involves highways.

“Usually commuting to clinicals sites is fine,” clinicals student junior Olivia Ostermann said. “Sites such Plano Presbyterian Hospital are located just across the street. But last week I went to a site that required a thirteen-minute commute and having to merge onto two different tollways.”

Students are required to visit multiple different sites throughout the year and eventually discover which ones they treasured most.

“My favorite site that I have been at this year is definitely respiratory therapy,” Hubby said. “Even though it is not a field that I am interested in studying, the nurse that I had the chance to follow allowed me to sort of do her job for the two hours I was there. This was my first chance at some real one-on-one interaction with patients and being able to do some things to help them out.”

Although Hubby’s favorite site was not in the field he was interested in studying, other students favored the experience that gave them a sneak peek into their future profession. This not only helps students to experience what it would be like to work at their dream job but also opens opportunities to get to know real successful doctors.

“My favorite site so far is Dr. Yager Plastic Surgery because I want to pursue a career in plastic surgery,” Ostermann said. “Dr. Yager was really nice and even offered me a summer internship at his office.”

Clinicals is a good source for students who are interested in medicine but are not sure which field they would like to major in. This class allows them to venture out into the working world and get a feel for what they do or do not want to major in.

“Since the selections for the sites that we rotate at are mostly random, it allows for students who do not know what they want to do to get a feel for what is out there and see what they enjoy,” Hubby said.

Seniors who have experienced both years in clinicals have grown exponentially from the experience and learned critical life, and medical skills. Students who take the class their senior year are allowed to have more freedom and even greater hands-on experiences.

“I think that it has taught me to block out my emotions more in medical situations to better analyze the problem at hand,” clinicals student senior Vlad Wallace said. “It is more independant senior year and allows you to put your education into your own hands.”