GEAR UP Makes College Real

Success Stories - #2005 - 007

“Can you imagine seeing open heart surgery through a monitor, and you’re just steps away from the two doctors and a team of nurses working on the human being lying on the table? … The amazing thing for me is that I didn’t have to imagine. I didn’t have to hear this from someone, read it in a textbook, or watch it on a TV show. The amazing part is that I lived this.”

Eliza, a student from Wells High School, expresses her excitement about participating in Discovering Healthcare Careers, an internship program that started in 2002/3. It is the result of a remarkable collaboration between Children’s Memorial Hospital, GEAR UP, and the Chicago Public Schools. Initiated by the hospital, this program is aimed at exposing interested Latino high school students to a career as a health care professional.

The students come from 7 high schools across Chicago: Wells, Kelvyn Park, Roosevelt, Foreman, Hyde Park, Mather, and Clemente. Over and over these students have testified to the change in their lives that came through their participation in the program.

“When I found out about the program, I thought, okay, here’s a job I can do for the summer. But after a week in the program, I realized this wasn’t just a job. It was an experience, one that unveiled my eyes as I became part of the daily life of the hospital.” – Patricia Y.

“I started the program thinking of just being a nurse, and am leaving with motivation to continue and to become a pediatric doctor. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for the chance to experience this program.” – Brenda P.

“This program has made me realize that I want to become a doctor and work with kids who have cancer. I went from wanting to be a nurse, studying to become a doctor.” – Elizabeth A.

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