I'm getting closer to graduating into the work force.  I'm going to college to be a board certified Clinical Lab Technician...basically a diagnostic tech.  My job entails phlebotomy, pathogenic microbiology, hematology, urinalysis, chemistry, serology, blood banking, and immunology.  

How did I decide upon this career?  Well, I was working on getting my Biological Sciences degree (in fact I only lack 12 credit hours to get it) so that I could get into the Forensic Science program at UCO, when my husband was diagnosed and almost died with a subependymoma/mixed ependymoma brain tumor.  Because of the size and location of this tumor, the surgery saved his life but not without permanent disabilities.  He is totally disabled and drawing social security since the age of 37.

I needed to get out of school and go directly to work.  The director of the CLT program came into my microbiology class one day and told us of her program and the opportunities that came with it.  It required applying for the program, and people with health care experience were given first consideration.  Because of everything I'd done to take care of my husband at home (the rehab wanted to place him in a nursing home but I couldn't allow that...he was still of sound mind, it was his body that needed work) and my grades I was accepted in.  I can still do my forensics dream through lab technology, it's just taking the longer way around :-}