Before I came here, I thought Mayo Clinic was a place for straight arrows. I didn't think Mayo employees had any fun. When I got here, I found out that Mayo was serious about care, but also allowed fun. There is a real sense of family.

I work in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We insert slim tubes called catheters into people's hearts. Sometimes this is for testing. We put the catheter in various chambers of the heart and measure blood pressures in those areas. This helps the doctor diagnose some of the problems that may exist. We also perform angioplasty and stenting procedures to open up blocked arteries in the heart. We have to be able to perform CPR and defibrillation (shocking a patient) ... it gets exciting once in awhile when somebody goes into arrest. Most patients are nervous about our procedures, so we try to greet them with a warm, friendly smile and make them as comfortable as possible.

This occupation allows me to meet people from all over the world. There are always new technologies surfacing -- we are constantly learning new methods and procedures ... it is very exciting. There is never a day that is the same. You have to be able to deal with change and go with the flow. You also have to be a caring person in this job. You need to be aware of patients' body language. If patients tell you that they are not in pain, but they are grimacing, you have to be able to read that and wonder if they are telling you the truth.

My advice to all students is to explore your interests. Talk to someone who does the job you're interested in. If you want to be a banker, talk to a banker. If you want to be a nurse, talk to a nurse.