My 11th grade year I began working at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My last rotation I worked in reasearch and technology. My preceptor, Kevin, was teaching me how to count monocytes. It was interesting, but could be very tedious... For my other 2 rotations I was in patient care. I worked with Dr. Rogers, a pediatric endocrinologist (he specializes in hormone disorders, especially diabetes), and with Dr. LeGrand, who worked in palliative medicine (they treat the patients' symptoms rather than attacking the disease). The palliative care rotation was the hardest for me, because all of the patients I saw were terminally ill, meaning that their disease was going to take their life. I was there for a few patients' deaths, and it was very emotional for me. I cried a lot at home, and being in such a sad environment was reflected in my school work and writing. It was really beneficial though. It taught me to value life, and family, they are the ones who will be there for you... This past school year I stayed at one site the entire year, and went for 3 days a week. I worked with Dr. Rogers again doing a research project on acanthosis nigricans. I also held a job after school working in BME at the Clinic, doing research on mammograms and breast images and how to diagnose a mass or calicifications earlier in life.