The field of medicine has been proven to be one of the most lucrative industries where people can either work or start a business, compared to other similarly booming industries such as the ones that are related to technology, engineering, finance, and outsourcing. In line with that idea, I have come up with the thought of whether it is possible to hit two birds—that is to hit two lucrative or promising industries, with just one stone—without having to spend time and money studying and establishing credentials for two courses or industries. Fortunately, I have found out a positive answer to that thought which is actually one of the reasons why I have duly decided to take up a course in Surgical Technology, particularly in the institution, Long Island College.
The Surgical technologist profession may not be as famous as other healthcare professions such as nursing, physical therapy, and medical technology but they are indeed an integral part of an allied medical team. Surgical technologists are usually assigned to work inside operating rooms in tandem with the surgeons, doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other vital components of the surgical team—all of which have the goal which is to deliver the highest quality of surgical care possible. I have already committed an ample amount of time researching the things that surgical technologists should be good at and naturally, I have found mixed answers. But just to give the gist of my research, surgical technologists should have a high level of proficiency and skill in doing aseptic and sterile techniques, which are two of the most important things that should be done inside an operating room, mostly to prevent infections and other complications that may arise during any operating procedure .
I am very much aware of the fact that choosing this tread may not be easy. In fact, I know that it is going to be a path full of challenges, especially, when I consider the fact that I am already 37 years old and have an elder 20 year old daughter and a younger 5 year old son to fend for. Their needs are, I should say, big enough to keep me occupied with work during the past 16 years of my life as a hair stylist. Yes, I have worked proudly as a hair stylist for the past one and a half decades of my life and I have no regret in doing so. Because of my current profession, I was able to provide for myself, and my two kids in the absence of a breadwinner. However, because of the undeniable fact that sending a daughter to college for a tertiary education program and a son to a preschool for a primary education program can be a little expensive for a hair stylist like me, I have decided to enhance my credentials and shift into a new profession in a more lucrative working environment, that is in the allied medical field, as a surgical technician.
This path is going to be full of challenges and again, I am very much aware of that. However, what compelled me to take this rather risky decision are the needs of my family. In time, as inflation rates continue to go up and as the government fails to provide the services that its citizens deserve in exchange for paying high income taxes, my income as a hair stylist would surely turn out to be insufficient for the general and extra needs of my family. I surely do not want that to happen which is why as early as now, I am planning for a career change that would hopefully result to a more financially stable situation. In a way, my decision to attend Surgical Technology courses being offered at Long Island College as an investment, a sound and practical one at that. Aside from the fact that education is something that no one can ever take away from someone, the personal and financial rewards that may come as a result of being able to successfully provide for the needs of your family for 16 straight years, and managing to study another course and shift into a whole new world inside a four-walled classroom and then later on inside a four-walled operating room filled with white lights and operating tools and equipment are also rewarding.
We are all thought that the key to real happiness is contentment. However, I believe that this can only be true as long as we can still realistically live with the things that we have or receive, which at this point for me, in my current line of work, is a little more than enough for me, my elder daughter, and my younger son. As a responsible mother and practically a father to my two kids, I want to be able to secure my family’s future. I want to be able to adequately provide for them until such time that they would be able to fend for themselves, without being too dependent on me. This is something that I do not see to be very much possible if I am to continue to be on my job as a hairstylist. Truth be told, the average salary of a hair stylist is nothing compared to a surgical technologist. By being a surgical technologist, I would be able to fend for my family, and at the same time, spend more time with them. I do not have to spend extra hours at work because my income would be more than enough for them. I see studying the Surgical Technologist as a great opportunity not only to secure our family in terms of finances but also in terms of building a strong relationship. My decision to devote another couple of my years to study a course that is not in any way related to my current profession is not purely driver by finances, although I can never be more than truthful and proud to admit that is primarily is. Besides, the allied healthcare industry will always be a part of the world’s economy no matter how many future market and economy crashes the world would have to face in the future. And so given the change to move into a new profession, I would say that moving into a healthcare profession would be one of the safest bet. With my sixteen years of experience as a hairstylist, I have learned how to love the job and parting ways with it would be extremely difficult. However, the truth is that I cannot see myself leaving one of my favorite activities for good. While I am studying, and then after I graduate as a surgical technologist, or even when I am already working as one in a reputable medical institution, I still could not see myself fully leaving the profession that have provided for me and my family for the past 16 years. It is something that I will always be proud of and that I can never leave. But things are tougher now and so I have to look for other opportunities to grow and the way I see it, being a surgical technologist is one of the best ways to do that.
Works Cited
American College of Surgeons. "Revised Statement on Surgical Technology Training and Certification." American College of Surgeons (2011).
Cumbi, A. "Major Surgery Delegation to Mid-level health practitioners in Mozambique: Health Professonals' Perceptions." Human Resources for Health (2007).
