PERRYSBURG — Hope Carico is looking for a career where she can help people.

“I wasn’t ever really sure what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to help people so I thought the medical field would be the best place for me,” she said.

The North Baltimore High School senior chose to attend Penta Career Center to study medical technology.

The first thing I think of about Penta is opportunities, Carico said.

“I came here because I knew Penta would give me a great head start in my life.”

Carico originally wanted to be an oncologist, but she doesn’t want to watch all of her patients die.

Her goal is to become a radiologist.

With radiology, Carico won’t get attached to patients yet still be able help them.

“And I really like bones.”

Bones are straight forward, they never let you down and they’re very simple, Carico said.

“But there’s a lot of stepping stones along the way.”

Her plans include attending Kent State University’s regional campus in Salem as a radiology technician and earning an associate degree.

That program is not offered on the main KSU campus, she said.

Medical school would be next, she said.

“That’s the goal. As of right now I want a doctor in radiology, but things could change.”

Carico came to Penta as part of its Sophomore Exploratory program.

She said she tried small animal care, criminal justice, culinary and cosmetology. She said her mom and dad thought she was going to be an engineer.

“No,” Carico said with a laugh. “I don’t like office jobs. I like to be moving and talking and socializing.”

As a radiology technician, she will be taking X-rays, and working to prevent radiology exposure, she said.

Carico has been a member of HOSA for two years and competed in medical innovations her first year and won first place in regional competition. This year, she competed in medical nursing assistant and earned third place.

HOSA is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. It’s mission is to empower future health professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience.

She has earned her state tested nursing assistant (STNA) certification.

Carico said although she has the certification, she does not want to be a nursing assistant.

She also is working toward her phlebotomy technician certification through an after-school Adult Education program.

“After I get five more pokes and two more capillaries and take my test, I will be a registered phlebotomist.”

Pokes are vena punctures and capillaries are a blood sugar test, she explained.

“It’s not about being correct,” Carico said when asked how many times she’s missed a vein on the first try. “It’s about being confident in your skills. The less I think about it the better my pokes are.”

If she wasn’t taking phlebotomy, she would be a nursing assistant in college.

“But I think that by doing phlebotomy it will help me be more successful. It’s less stressful.”

Carico is a member of Penta’s National Technical Honor Society, participates in SkillsUSA and is a Penta student ambassador. She is a member of the National Honor Society at North Baltimore.

She is the daughter of Carmen and Pete Shepard.