Hello, my name is Sarah Merrill and I graduated from Little Elm High School (LEHS) in February of 2019. During my first semester of senior year, I learned about Lobo Academy, a program used to help kids catch up on their credits, or in some cases, allow students to accelerate through classes to graduate early. I was one of those students who was interested in finishing high school early.

经过申请和面试，我被录取了。 After a month of hard work and perseverance, I finished the rest of the required classes I needed to graduate. I was grateful for this opportunity through LEHS because it afforded me the opportunity to explore different career options that would help me focus on a major in college.

In the fall of 2019, I began my studies at Collin College, still unsure of what I wanted to do as a career. I chose to pursue an associate degree in science and enrolled in courses like math and economics. Then COVID hit midway during my second semester, and like many college students, I had to make a swift adjustment to my college learning experience.

金沙博彩的技术校区于2020年秋季开放，这引起了我的兴趣。 就在那时，我发现了生物医学设备技术（BMET）项目。 A BMET’s job is to ensure that medical equipment is working properly, whether that be through preventive maintenance or answering a service call. Something that I really like about this career is that it can lead to many different paths such as radiology, anesthesiology, cybersecurity, information technology (IT), or becoming a department supervisor, manager, or director.

我们班的六个人是这个项目的先驱。 Our classes were small, primarily due to the pandemic, but needless to say it has been a great experience. We each have a designated desk and workbench in the lab, along with our own sets of tools. I think one of the coolest things was getting to see a big, mostly empty room gradually turn into a compact hospital. There’s a makeshift intensive care unit, operating room, and a section for natal/birthing.

I was introduced to the vast range of technical healthcare topics when a few of my classmates and I attended the MD Expo in Dallas. I was able to interact with a variety healthcare professionals who specialize in medical technology. It was exciting to learn from them.

I am proud to say that in the spring of 2022, I will be one of the first graduates with an Associate of Applied Science in Biomedical Equipment Technology from Collin College’s Technical Campus. 我期待着看到这个职业将把我带向何方。

当我回顾到目前为止的旅程时，它把我带回到LEHS。 Timing is everything in life. I am certain that if it wasn’t for the opportunity to accelerate my learning, I wouldnt be where I am today, and for that I am grateful to Little Elm ISD for allowing me to be engaged, equipped, and empowered to realize my full potential.

A version of this story will be published in the August edition of the Little Elm ISD Magazine. 这篇报道是经区政府许可发表的。