Dr. Shashin Doshi, a radiologist

in Chicago welcomed the students in a keynote address. He told the students,

"I strongly encourage you to explore the opportunities available

to you through this program in order to gauge whether or not medicine

is for you. As a student, I really wanted to go into business or law,

but it was my experience at the inaugural National Youth Leadership Forum

on medicine in Boston that opened my eyes to the medical field."

Likewise, the experience helped

Colon decide which direction to concentrate on.

"We went to a dentistry

school and observed. It was the highlight of the trip," said Colon.

"I really want to be a pediatric dentist and work with the children."

Colon is a junior at Fayette

County High School. Her parents are Kathryn and Hector Colon of Fayetteville.

The NYLF is a nonprofit, education

organization. For more information on NYLF programs, visit www.nylf.org.