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Porter Ridge High senior prepares to make her mark in the medical field
When you were in high school , what was your dream job ? Perhaps some kind of professional athlete or a musician , or maybe an actor or a pilot . For the past four years , Porter Ridge High senior Dakota Douglas has been laser-focused on taking the necessary steps to reach her dream job : a pediatric oncologist .
“ I ’ m really interested in health disparities because I have a grandmother who is blind and an older brother who has autism , so I ’ m really sensitive to the different social issues and stigmas that they can encounter ,” Dakota said , sitting at a table in her school ’ s media center . “ In the best capacity , I can serve as a provider who is aware of these issues and make a direct impact by being a leader over different teams that help to serve different populations .”
Also , she added with a hint of a smile , working with children would be pretty interesting because the psychology of the child mind is so fascinating .
It ’ s a pretty specific goal for anyone , let alone a 17-year-old high school student who is only days away from graduation .
But her uncanny ability to set and achieve goals is what landed Dakota among the top of her high school class and earned her the coveted spot as her school ’ s sole nominee for the Charlotte Observer ’ s All-Star Scholar program .
It ’ s also what helped her earn acceptance to Duke University this fall , where she will major in biology and minor in global health and Spanish – a move that she hopes will ultimately put her one step closer to her future goals and possibly Harvard Medical School .
As a high school senior , Dakota built an impressive resume that boasts a 4.79 GPA , leadership roles in school clubs and participation in a large number of extracurricular activities . Thanks to a number of scholarships , her college education will also be completely paid for at no cost to her family .
While you may catch the outstanding senior tutoring her peers and middle school students or volunteering with children who are served by the nonprofit The Sandbox , Dakota says the key to managing her busy schedule is time management and always being cognizant of not over-committing herself .
4705 Indian Trail-Fairview Rd . Indian Trail , NC 28079 www . xicenter . com ail 704-882-1830 , NC 28079
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Dakota said she will always treasure the many experiences afforded to her by Porter Ridge High ’ s extracurricular and academic opportunities .
However , she can ’ t shake her excitement as she prepares to leave for Duke University this fall – a place she refers to as a collaborative , non-competitive environment where she will have the opportunity to be surrounded by “ brilliant minds who are passionate about their work .”
As she reflects on her time in high school and looks towards the future , Dakota said she knows Duke University will put her on a path of continued success in her personal and professional life .
“ Ten years from now , after I ’ ve graduated from undergrad and medical school , I just want to be the person that I ’ ve always seen myself being – really independent and really sure of herself ,” she said . “ Changing lives and making a difference – when I look at my future , that ’ s what I see myself doing .”
18 • Sept / Oct 2018 • Parent Teacher Magazine