Student Spotlight Jade Stark

I never planned to major in Health and Well-Being. I originally came to WVU to study nursing, but once I started taking my core Health and Well-Being classes, I realized that I would rather pursue a career in that path rather than nursing. I’m glad things turned out this way because I have discovered so much about myself.

As an MRI Tech Assistant, I deal with a lot of patient care. A big part of my job is bringing patients into their rooms and screening them. Since an MRI scanner is a large magnet that takes photos of the inside of the body, it is crucial that the techs and I identify all objects implanted in someone’s body. I also have every patient change into a hospital gown to avoid hidden metals that might be in their clothing. For an MRI scan, a patient may or may not receive contrast, which is injected through an IV and helps create a clearer view of what the doctors are looking for. A big part of my role is doing IVs on patients. When the techs are scanning, they cannot leave the computer, so I get the patients ready. At first IVs made me very nervous, but with practice I eventually grew confident in my skills.

I was very nervous to take on a role in the healthcare industry, especially because I was a freshman and barely had any experience. My team took me in and trained me well. It took some time to get used to, and I remember when I first started doing IVs on patients, I would get nervous and doubt myself. However, I learned that I have to be confident in my skills, and it will be reflected in my work. Once I was 100 percent certain that I could properly identify a vein, it was pretty simple to do.

My most memorable moment from this position was being able to work full-time in the healthcare industry. I didn't have housing for the summer, but thankfully, my supervisors connected me with the Ruby Commuter Nursing program, and I was provided an apartment. This allowed me to keep supporting my team while gaining the practice I needed to grow in my role.

Through this experience, I discovered a real passion for patient care and confirmed that I want to continue on this career path. Being hands-on has shown me what day-to-day life in a hospital looks like and has helped me build confidence in interacting with patients, working alongside healthcare professionals, and understanding how a team functions to provide care. Overall, this opportunity has eased my worries and motivated me to keep pursuing my goals in healthcare with a much clearer sense of direction.

Honestly, I was surprised by how quickly I was able to move into my role without any prior experience. This experience has shown me that the healthcare field can be more accessible than I thought. It’s opened my eyes to the different opportunities available and how valuable hands-on learning can be.

I encourage other students to take advantage of hands-on learning opportunities. I was nervous at first, but once I began, I discovered a true passion for helping people and watching them heal. This position has taught me valuable skills and placed me in many situations where I was able to connect with a wide variety of people. One of the most meaningful parts of my job is participating in Alzheimer’s treatment days. Dr. Reazi was even featured on 60 Minutes for his work using a Functional MRI scanner to study potential treatments. 

Experiences like these have confirmed that I want to continue in this field, and I couldn’t imagine where I’d be without the training I received. My advice is to seek out every opportunity you can and track your hours because they will add up and help you around graduation time.

This experience has shown me that healthcare isn’t just made up of the surface-level positions most people think of. There are career ladders you can climb, and with each step, your role and responsibilities can completely transform. That makes me hopeful because I’m someone who thrives on growth and change. It’s reassuring to know that my degree in Health and Well-Being at WVU can open doors to a wide range of opportunities, not just one set career path.

I encourage other students to take advantage of hands-on learning opportunities. I was nervous at first, but once I began, I discovered a true passion for helping people and watching them heal. This position has taught me valuable skills and placed me in many situations where I was able to connect with a wide variety of people. One of the most meaningful parts of my job is participating in Alzheimer’s treatment days. Dr. Reazi was even featured on 60 Minutes for his work using a Functional MRI scanner to study potential treatments. 

Experiences like these have confirmed that I want to continue in this field, and I couldn’t imagine where I’d be without the training I received. My advice is to seek out every opportunity you can and track your hours because they will add up and help you around graduation time.

I have always loved how the College of Applied Human Sciences goes out of its way to host amazing events that bring students together. Having someone who’s doing the same coursework as you can make a huge difference because it's motivating to have people around you who are striving for the same goals. Not only can you relate to each other, but you can also give that little push of support when it’s needed most.