5Q: Elizabeth Singleton Participates in Pikeville College’s Professional Education Preparation Program

Over the next few weeks, we’ll profile students who are participating in summer travel abroad programs, research opportunities, and internships from around Kentucky, the nation, and globe. You can check out a full list of how students are spending their summer in our previous post.

We start our “Five Questions” (5Q) with Elizabeth Singleton, a second-year student from McCreary County. Last month, she participated in the Professional Education Preparation Program located in Pikeville, Kentucky.

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you participated?

At PEPP, 45 students from all across Kentucky stayed in a dorm on Pikeville College’s campus. Every day, we went to Pikeville’s hospital to shadow in a different department. We did our shadowing in the morning, and in the afternoons, we had a three hour anatomy lecture and one of two labs that we took throughout the week. One was a Gross Anatomy lab and the other was a Functional Anatomy lab. In Gross Anatomy lab, we even dissected a human cadaver. The experiences from this program have definitely had positive impacts on my search for the perfect career.

2. What is the part of the summer experience did you enjoy the most?

Though seeing the human anatomy up close and personal was really awesome, I’d have to say shadowing was by far my favorite experience. I got to explore a different department of the hospital every day, and that really helped me to find exactly where I’d fit in. This is important, considering I want to work in a hospital one day.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

I believe that most teenagers see summer as a time to kick back and relax. Ever since I was in middle school, I have been to what my friends called “nerd camps” and I have never regretted it. An idle summer would be boring to me.

4. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

In the past year, I have come to the conclusion that I want to become a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics. Shadowing in the Pediatrics Ward during PEPP created a stronger foundation in that dream for my future.

5. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I am going to be a second-year at the Academy, and when I look forward, I see challenges – huge waves of challenges; however, I also see room to grow as an individual. I see another year of awesome friendships and crazy high-school antics, and I look forward to every bit of it.