Karolina Kaczmarski
Senior Biological Sciences Major, Pre-Med
I get off the school bus, make my way home, and sit on the living room couch, anxiously awaiting the sweet smell of mom cooking dinner. Yet, today feels different. There are no pots nor pans, and mom’s apron hangs on the door, untouched. I spot her tucked behind the China cabinet. She cries, speaks frantically in Polish, then cries again. I gather that my grandfather is dying. He was a victim to alcoholism fueled by his destitute past. In learning this, I could only wish I had been there for him. I longed to have been older so that I might have been able to provide aid in his time of need. While I could not help him before his death, I knew from then on, I would dedicate myself to fulfilling my promise by aiding others. I did not know how at the time, but as I progressed in school, I knew I would have to learn more about medicine and gain experience to excel in healthcare, being sure to concentrate on research and physician observation.
While I unveiled this passion at a young age, I truly started taking significant steps toward this goal upon attending the University of South Carolina. Here, I was exposed to learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom that helped me grow as an individual. My name is Karolina Kaczmarski and I am currently a senior at USC. I am a biological sciences major on the pre-med track. I hope to demonstrate the knowledge I have gained during my time at the university by graduating with Leadership Distinction in Research.
Here you will a find a rare picture of all three of us! (My mom hates taking pictures)
Early Years
I largely attribute my outlook on life to the experiences I had growing up as a first-generation American. Upon leaving Poland, my parents made their home in Hainesport, New Jersey, following my dad’s sister. When I was about eight years old my aunt passed away, leaving me with a very small, intimate family unit consisting only of myself and my parents, the rest of the lot still living in Poland. Thus, my “family” were friends of Italian, Irish, Ukrainian, and Puerto Rican descent. I gained knowledge about various cultures and traditions. While certainly influenced by each culture, I maintained a strict connection to my Polish roots, celebrating both Polish and American holidays, conversing in both languages (Polish at home, English at school), and visiting as often as possible.
Looking back, I realized how much my childhood differed from the typical citizen’s as getting acquainted with the States became a collaborative effort. I aided my parents in their professional endeavors until they became fluent in English, often translating documents, bills, and even laws. I am grateful for this experience as I feel more equipped to address similar issues when working with a diverse patient population, factoring in aspects such as culture, race, ethnicity, spirituality, and family context. Working alongside doctors both in New Jersey and South Carolina has granted me the opportunity to encounter diverse patients in preparation for said occurrences.
High School
Before my time at the University, I began working as a medical technician for cardiologist Dr. DePace back in New Jersey. In this same office, I also worked on the research team. I have also taken steps to explore various health needs for differing patient populations by following Dr. Michelson in Turnersville, NJ. During this experience, I observed the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of family medicine. Time and time again, I witnessed patients express concerns about symptoms that could present as any illness. Nonetheless, Dr. Michelson was able to attend to their needs and order tests that ultimately confirmed his diagnoses. I did not witness this on merely one or two outlier occasions. Just recently, my father felt extremely ill, and everyone dismissed his condition as the mere stomach flu as his symptoms were severe but non-descriptive. Upon conversation with Dr. Michelson, he further questioned my dad about additional symptoms which led him to believe that my father had acute Prostatitis and was in danger of becoming septic. Sure enough, blood work confirmed Dr. Michelson’s diagnosis. I stood in awe as he knew what questions to ask to get the most pertinent information as efficiently and sensitively as possible! How rewarding it must have been for him to offer hope, help, and a solution in a time of utter uncertainty and panic. I hope to provide the same for my future patients.
And here you will see a picture of Dr. DePace and I when I first started learning from him.
Here you see my friends and I volunteering at Saint Thomas More, sweeping the porch so it looks nice and clean for our weekly "Sunday Supper".
And here you see me interacting with some lovely boys and girls at Suzzy's 4th birthday party. (Certainly, different to my encounters with my classmates!)
College
I am fortunate enough to return to both of these practices when I travel home during breaks from classes. Thus, I have consistently been gaining experience while in college. Though, my knowledge is not limited to the patients of New Jersey. Upon attending the University of South Carolina, I deeply fell in love with the South and knew I had to engulf myself in the healthcare space here, as I hope to further my career in South Carolina in the future. Thus, I started volunteering at Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital as a Personal Touch Volunteer. Not only have I obtained knowledge directly from the teachings of doctors and nurses alike, but I have gained valuable insights into the shortcomings of the healthcare system.
Aside from working directly in hospital settings, I recognized the potential for growth in population communication among healthcare workers via collaboration with older individuals in the nursing home as well as younger children at day camp and working as a birthday party entertainer. Both these opportunities provided the occasion to engage unique communication strategies that I had previously learned about in my psychology and sociology courses. I continue to employ these skills in my work with the basketball players, parents, and coaches in my position as a basketball attendant at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, as well as my volunteer work at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church as an activities volunteer. Engaging with the communities at both these churches has allowed me to grow further in my faith, another aspect of my life that I wish to prioritize on my journey to becoming a physician. The lessons I have learned in the Bible exemplify steadfastness and perseverance, teachings that I have also recognized within the classroom, which my portfolio will demonstrate.
Now
This ePortfolio goes far beyond a mere statement of facts. In navigating these tabs, I can ensure that you will learn about me, my story, and the people and encounters that constitute who I am as a person. You will learn about the importance of making simple but influential changes in my first key insight entitled "Minor Adjustments, Major Outcomes", the significance of persuasive speech in my second key insight entitled “The Art of Persuasion”, and the value in being able to gather constituents to produce a whole image in my third key insight entitled "The Mosaic Mindset". Each of these insights gives a glimpse into my growth and development here at the University of South Carolina and will continue to influence my journey toward my future career in medicine. I hope reading the words on these pages might prompt you to learn something about yourself as well!