As I talked about in a recent article, I have always had a bit of anxiety when it comes to things related to the medical field. Although I have overcome a lot since recognizing this issue, I still do my best to avoid them if I can.
For example, I avoid going to the doctors until I know I am actually sick, I look away when I get a shot, and I hold someone's hand when I am getting blood work. But there are some things that are simply unavoidable, and you just have to grin and bear it.
This summer, I was so thrilled to be working at an advanced studies summer camp that I went to myself not long ago. As a student, there was one class I avoided for sure — forensic science. I knew the basis of the class and that I was too faint of heart to handle it.
As a proctor at the camp, I got to express my preferences for which courses I wanted to intern in, but of course, there is no guarantee that you will get your preference since each class needs at least one intern. I was nervous when I saw that I would be interning in forensic science since it is the very class I avoided as a student.
My first instinct was to talk to people who took or interned in the class in the past, particularly to find out about the content that is taught and the nature of the person who teaches it. I was mostly trying to find out just how gory it is, and if it would be a major problem or something I could work through. After receiving varying opinions, I had no clue what to expect but decided to work through it.
On the first day of classes, the teacher said that if you are squeamish, this is probably not the class for you. I knew this was a fact, but as an intern, there was nothing I could do about it; I could not simply switch classes like the students do.
I decided to warn the teacher that I am squeamish, but that they really do not need to be worried about because I am aware of my limits and know when I need to step out or look away, and that I would be glad to assist any kids who feel the same way I do. To my surprise, the teacher was not only fine with it, but he also warns me prior to anything too gory so I can look away. However, in five short weeks, there have been many instances where the teacher cautions me about something and I decide that I want to try it despite their worries.
Maybe it is the fear of missing out on what the students are experiencing, or maybe it is me being braver than I thought and testing my limits. Either way, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn about forensic science and to go outside of my comfort zone every single day.
