If you are a close friend or relative of a person living with Parkinson's, you have had some challenging experiences in the real world. You've learned a lot about health care just by learning about the life of someone you care about. You have learned about medications, symptoms, anatomy, and perhaps even some caregiving techniques. You may have enough experience to contribute to the lives of other people by working in health care.
Perhaps you have a natural desire to care for other people and get along well with people. If so, you may be an ideal candidate for a career in nursing. If you are an analytical thinker who loves science, you may find a career in the medical laboratory or pharmacy would suit you well. The health care world is not for everyone. The exposure to illness, medications, clinics and hospitals may have you understandably fed up with the world of health care. Nevertheless, there are some who will feel the desire to contribute more to health. The world needs more health care professionals, especially those who have experience like you.
My Parkinson's Information did some searches and did not find scholarships for relatives of people with Parkinson's. However, there are scholarships for people whose parents have a disability. For example, theThrough the Looking Glass organization offers some awards worth $1,000 each year. You may learn more by searching some commercial scholarship Web sites and FindAid.org, as well as using the big search engines. However, we are not expert financial aid researchers. Your college's financial aid office will likely be more resourceful.
A Practical Option There is an old cliché, “It’s not what you know – it’s who you know.” Well, guess what? If you are a teenager or young adult who has lived close to Parkinson’s, you know people who work in health care. You have built-in job experience. You have an “in” to the world of health care. Why not use it?
Certainly, you want to choose your career based on your true interests and passions. If you are passionate about the world of automobile design, nuclear physics, eastern philosophy, multimedia marketing, or a subject outside of health care, today’s blog will not be a home run for you. If your passions line up with a career in health care, use your contacts with your doctors and other health care professionals to help you pursue work experience or internships that will move you along that path. If you want scholarships or access to liberal financial aid, consider setting your sights on nursing school, or a career working in a hospital laboratory, or working as a respiratory therapist, occupational therapists, or radiological technician. There are numerous scholarships available for these high-demand health care jobs.
If you find yourself unable to qualify for a grant or scholarship to cover your school expenses, do not despair. Many employers are willing to pay a large part of your educational expenses. Tuition reimbursement may be your most reliable source of financial aid.
For example, imagine a fictional person, Elena, has just enrolled as a freshman at a large University, and she suspects she would like to work in health care. Her father lives with Parkinson’s, and she would like to help other people living with Parkinson’s. She has some doubts, however. She always did reasonably well in her high school science classes, earning As in Biology, Bs in Chemistry, and struggling to earn mixed Bs and Cs in physics. Elena enjoys working with people, so interacting with patients seems appealing. Nursing and respiratory therapy catch her eye. However, she wants to keep her options open in the sciences; she's curious about genetics and the laboratory.
The summer prior to starting college, Elena enrolls in a class in phlebotomy at her University’s hospital. While enrolled in the class, Elena calls her physician, Dr. Linda Easton, and discusses her interests in health care. Dr. Easton provides a letter of recommendation. Upon completing the class, she applies for a position as a phlebotomist at her university’s hospital, and two other community hospitals close to school. A few weeks later, begins working at one of the hospitals. The hospital offers 60 percent tuition reimbursement. However, for certain “high demand” positions such as nursing, laboratory technology, and respiratory therapy the hospital is offering 100 percent tuition reimbursement.
During the next year, Elena’s work as a phlebotomist allows her to interact with patients, nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, and laboratory technologists. She gets to ask them questions and see them in action. She works 24 hours per week, mostly in the evenings and on the weekends. During breaks and the summer she is able to pick up a few extra hours. From her classes in school, and work experiences she has narrowed down her interests. The hospital will pay 100 percent of her tuition as long as she continues to work 24 hours per week. She also must agree to work for the hospital for two years after she graduates. Furthermore, her career choice leaves her a number of options if she would like to go to graduate school and pursue further career growth.
For those of you passionate about automobile design, nuclear physics, eastern philosophy, multimedia marketing, etc., there is application here. You need to follow your interests and talents! First, find a job with a company that offers tuition reimbursement as a benefit. Search for a job that is allied to your interests.
I’ve worked for a decade in health care. If you are wondering about pursuing a health care career, email me at mnilsen@myparkinsonsinfo.com. I would be glad to give you some insight. I hope this was a refreshing blog.
