Myrah Sheriff

Senior Myrah Sheriff visited the Dell Children’s Hearing Center during COOL Week. When she was there she stood in on therapy sessions and got to see doctors, nurses and therapists give aid to deaf children.

“I wanted [to be in a career center] that was smaller,” Sheriff Said. “In this one, we actually got to interact with the therapy and be in the therapy sessions with kids so it was more personal.”

Throughout her high school career Sheriff knew she wanted to be a part of the medical field. Science classes sparked her interest and shed a light on the career path that she wanted to follow.

“I found my interest in the medical field, pretty much in highschool,” Sheriff said. “I guess because we have so many classes about science. I took anatomy which really helped interest me and biology that’s also been really inspiring.”

Learning about a new form of pediatrics opened Sheriff’s eyes to a different realm of fields that she could pursue later on in her professional career as a pediatrician. The practice takes up to eight years after college to become certified, but it is something that Sheriff is passionate about pursuing.

“There are so many diseases that you hear about, you hear about the common ones,” Sheriff said. “You never really hear about deafness and deaf culture, so just to hear about cochlear implants and the science behind therapy after getting the implants, it’s just something I would want to pursue [further] in the future.

While Sheriff was at the Dell Children’s Hearing Center, she met pediatricians who gave her first-hand accounts on what it was like to work with deaf children. Their stories brought insight into the different routes that one can take during their career and theories on aiding the deaf as well.

“Two of the members of the hearing center told us their stories with deafness and working with children,” Sheriff said. “It was really interesting and enlightening, to hear how everyone has a different path. One of [the group members] was born deaf, and the other got it when they were older. It was a really different perspective on cochlear implants and the options you have.”

After COOL week Sheriff recommends others take advantage of the COOL week program.

“Definitely do COOL week because it was a really good experience,” she said, “Get connections, get involved. Make sure you are attentive the entire time so you can get the most out of the experience.”