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portraits
» AMARILLO ISD
PRO, or Pursuing Real
Opportunities,
is a collaboration
of AISD, the Amarillo Economic
Development Corporation and Amarillo
College. High school seniors who
choose to become PRO interns are
matched with positions in their area of
interest. The remainder of their time is
spent in the PRO classroom, focusing
on soft skills the 21st century
scholar needs to master: work ethic,
punctuality, time management, team
work and etiquette.
Interested in grooming high school
students to one day lead your
business?
Business and community leaders can
mentor high school seniors through
the PRO internship program. Once your
business has interviewed and selected
an intern, you can expect them to
work four to six hours each week
during the school year. Contact Janice
Harsch, PRO internship coordinator, at
806-206-9100 for more information
about hosting an internship at your
business.
she immediately found both. “It’s nice to go to sleep and not worry about my
house being bombed. I sleep and I know I’m going to school and going to come
home safely.”
That calm and peace allowed Dina to immerse herself in the American
education system. She took summer school to catch up with her classmates and
translated children’s story books word for word until she learned English. In just
three years Dina has come so far she plans to take certifi cation tests for emergency
medical technician (EMT-basic) and electrocardiogram (EKG) technician this
summer. On a recent pre-qualifying exam for the EKG certifi cation, Dina made
a 93, something she credits in part to the study guidance of Amarillo cardiologist
Dr. Anthony Agostini and his nursing team.
When she’s not studying, Dina is observing. As a Pursuing Real Opportunities
(PRO) intern for Dr. Agostini, Dina soaks up every second of her experiences,
taking in the tiniest details. It’s a dream opportunity for a high school student
who can’t wait to be a medical school student. “I am so lucky to have Dr. Agostini
because I know a lot of medical students don’t have the opportunity to do what
I’m doing or watch what I’m watching,” says Dina. “Dr. Agostini will explain
everything to me, what it is and why he’s doing it, and then he’ll go and do it.”
On Tuesdays, Dina joins Dr. Agostini in the cardiac catheterization lab.
Wednesday is clinical day and the duo sees patient after patient. Thursdays
take Dina to the hospital for more heart cath procedures, to make rounds, and
sometimes, to the holy grail of her internship, the operating room.
“I just can’t wait to graduate and be a surgeon and start doing it myself,” says
Dina, well aware of the 12-plus years of medical school and residency which await
her. “We didn’t really have enough good doctors and surgeons in my country, and
there was a lot of death,” she says. “I really want to do something that saves people.”
For now, Dina is content, yet unmistakably eager to learn all she can from Dr.
Agostini and his team. “I’ll be so much better off than most students because of
this experience. I’m prepared,” says Dina, more confi dent than ever about the
future. “When I came here, I didn’t speak English at all. Now I watch surgeries and
understand what is going on. It’s amazing. It’s my life.”
“I am so lucky to have Dr. Agostini because I know a lot of medical students don’t have the opportunity to do what I’m doing or watch what I’m
watching,” says Dina. “Dr. Agostini will explain everything to me, what it is and why he’s doing it, and then he’ll go and do it.”