Tanisha Hossain

Whenever I tell people I’m a Boy Scout, they tend to look at me with confusion and disbelief. It’s not that I don’t possess the scouting values (“good conduct, respect for others, and honesty”), but more so that I am not a boy. In the fall of 2016, I was given the opportunity to participate in the Medical Explorers Program, a program for high school students interested in pursuing a career in health care. Medical Explorer Post 540 is sponsored by Gwinnett Medical Center and is a youth organization under the Boy Scouts of America. My experience as a Medical Explorer and Boy Scout provided me a unique hands-on learning experience by allowing me to explore different units of the hospital, speak to medical students and professionals, and commit to service through volunteer opportunities. As a Boy Scout, I’ve decorated the Children’s Emergency Center for the holidays and made personal care bags for Faith Community Nursing Programs. As a Medical Explorer, I was able to observe the doctors and nurses in action as they treated all of their patients. The experience helped reveal my passion towards serving my community and helping those in need. It also verified my decision to pursue a career in the medical field, and is the reason I am on the pre-medical track studying biology at the University of Georgia. Overall, being a Boy Scout and being able to participate in the Medical Explorers Program has impacted my life tremendously. I live up to the Boy Scout’s motto to always “be prepared” as I pursue my endeavor into a career in medicine.