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.