LOWER LAKE — Lower Lake High School 2002 valedictorian Sarah Spriet recently made a return visit to the campus where she shared with students the journeys of her continued studies. Spriet is a fourth year medical student, en route to proving that area students can achieve their goals with a bit of support, guidance and determination.
It”s strange being back at campus and seeing all the changes. I find it really uplifting” Spriet said. “I have so much credit I have to give to mentors and friends and family that have helped along this road; I have to give back in any way I can. If (the students) have a better understanding of the course and some of the qualities to pursue, I would consider my time well worth it. It is also important for students to see someone from here make it.”
Spriet is due to graduate May 2011 from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. Her studies emphasize pediatrics. “I”ll finally be a doctor. Basically, I started sitting here where you guys are now. This is where I found my interest,” Spriet said to the students in the library at LLHS, adding that every path is unique. “You guys can do it. You have to have enthusiasm. You have to work hard everyday. But, you can do it.”
Spriet described her studies thus far to the students. She said she attended four years of college at Johns Hopkins in Maryland prior to moving on to medical school. She described a rigorous and challenging path including two years of book study culminating in board exams and followed by a year of hospital rotation and finally fourth year residency where she said students get to specialize more.
“Obviously the work load is difficult, but it is all manageable in the big scheme. It”s about making the choice and recommitting yourself everyday,” Spriet said. “There is a lot of sacrifice and challenge you face along the way. You definitely learn to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Being far from family is difficult but I”m making some tough choices for what I view as a greater cause.”
Spriet said she is getting assistance in paying for her education through the U.S. Military through the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). “They pay my for my tuition, books and fees and provide a monthly stipend in return for 45 days active duty while I”m in medical school each year and then a year-for-year active duty commitment after my residency. I will owe the Army four years active duty when I become a doctor,” she said. “It”s nice to have the Army reimburse those costs for you along with the stipend.”
Spriet continued, “There are a lot of options out there. I didn”t hear about these things until I was in college, so it”s nice to get a heads-up now.”
Spriet is also satisfying clinical rotation requirements during her winter break back home in the south county. She is spending the four weeks with family practitioner Dr. Michael D. Shepherd in Clearlake gaining hands-on experience in seeing patients, taking history, assisting in physical exams and helping to formulate plans of treatment.
Spriet said she enjoys family medicine and plans to focus on pediatrics as she said it provides an even bigger opportunity to help families. “I really enjoy working with families. It is interesting, when I started this whole journey I thought about family medicine but working with pediatrics, I realized there was more of an opportunity to work with families,” she said. “I really like primary care where you can develop those relationships and watch patients grow.”
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
