Radiologic Technology by Abigail

Radiologic Technology by Abigail - March 2020 Scholarship Essay

I, Abigail Shepherd, have recently been accepted into the Radiologic Technology Program at NHTI in Concord, New Hampshire. I have already completed my general education classes, starting the radiology classes in May of 2020. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to work in the medical field, I just wasn’t sure what specialization. My mother is a nurse, my close friend is an LNA, and another friend of mine is a surgical technician. None of those careers stood out to me, so I continued my search.
I completed a clinical job shadow at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire in the radiology department, the summer of 2019. I absolutely loved that field of study and finalized my decision to apply for the radiology program. I was fortunate enough to see so many different patients and learn more radiology itself. I was able to see a chest x-ray taken on a premature baby in the NICU. I also saw a diabetic patient get his foot x-rayed on, even though he was missing three toes. Looking at the x-rays afterwards amazed me and excited me to picture myself doing this every day. I left the hospital that day, certain of my field of study and already planning out my career ahead.
My future career plan in life is to first graduate from NHTI in 2022, with an associate’s degree in Radiologic Technology. Once I am certified in the state of New Hampshire, I plan on working in a hospital setting. I will gain so much experience and get to see so much, working in a hospital. No workday will ever be the same, as every patient is different from one another. The great thing about being an RT, is that you can continue your education and advance on. I also plan to one day learn new skills and become certified with ultra-sounds or MRI’s.
When I think about where I’ll be in the next 10 years, I plan on genuinely enjoying my job in the Radiology field, where I can strongly support my family. It is very exciting to start this new chapter, and see my life starting to come together.