Neuroscience **September 2013**

• Lately I've been watching videos of brain surgeries. I love it. SO fascinating.

  I feel the call to succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

  I have wanted to serve in the Alaska Air National Guard as a Pararescue Specialist. As a Pararescue specialist, I would parachute, scuba dive, rock climb, snow machine, hike and fly into hostile territory to get to a wounded Airman who needed my help.

  This is still an incredibly passionate subject of mine. One of those aspirations you can't give up over a month or two.

  But as I come to understand some things about the life of a pararescueman, and think more intently about my future family, I realize that maybe going to school, and becoming a medical doctor, specifically a surgeon and more specifically, a neurosurgeon, I realize I might be on to something.

  I'd go to BYU (Unless I get married quickly. Then the options for a university are better.) and get an undergrad. Ive always been interested in either studying Neuroscience or a Humanity in college. Ive lucked out. Neuroscience would give me all of the science I'd need to get into medical school.

  I would get into Harvard Medical. Which means I'd need to get a 4.0 in college. And do some serious extracurriculars.

  I'd graduate from medical school at 28. Do an internship for a year and then spend the next 7 years in residency learning everything I'd need to.

  And what better career than to help people, perform incredibly precise surgeries, be a leader on the stage of neurology and neurosurgery. It would be challenging, demanding and I'd be able to provide well for my family.

  Neurosurgeons are also in high demand right now and many people sponsor them through school.

  I might also be able to do it through the Air Force for a few years and they would pay for everything. I'd have the pride of being an Officer, serving my country, get the benefits of a military career and be able to get advanced training as well.

  Ive looked at residencies around the country. The largest medical center in the world is located in Houston, Texas. Texas is one of my favorite states. Theres also an incredible residency program in Seattle Ive looked into.

  Why Neurosurgery? Its helping people in the broadest scope. It requires complete attention to the smallest details. It is rapidly changing and evolving which requires constant learning and growth. You perform surgery, so I'd get to operate a lot. Its a small, super specialized career field, which would allow me to stand out. It requires perfection, which…I'm fairly adapt at providing. It requires seeing a problem, making a quick, educated decision and then sticking with that decision. I'd be able to help those who cannot help themselves. Who literally have no more options. I'd be helping the "weak, who's hands hang low and who's knees are weak."