Atlantis Project: European Pre-Health Shadowing

I was an Atlantis Project fellow in August of 2015 in Terceira, Portugal. This experience was one of the most influential for me both personally and in my career endeavors. I traveled out of the country for the first time and was able to experience a new and fascinating culture. The shadowing opportunities were such an inspiring opportunity that in this past semester when I really struggled, they were my reason to keep pushing. It gave me sight of the end goal and reminded me why I want to pursue my career. While there I gained about 20 hours a week of shadowing with doctors, nurses, surgeons, specialists etc... In my free time I was able to go hiking, explore a volcano, go cliff diving, swim with wild dolphins, go whale watching and overall learn about a new culture. This was one of the best experiences as I not only gained observation hours and educational information, but I also gained a new sense of independence and a more diverse outlook on life. I'd highly recommend this to anyone interested in the medical field and/or going abroad.