Xander Hill has a heart for helping others and a good sense of what he wants to achieve. As a practicing Catholic, he was drawn 香蕉视频鈥檚 mission and the academic and social opportunities available through the and .
The sophomore biology major from Shaler, Pa., aspires to become a physician鈥攖he first doctor in his family鈥攁nd
he looks forward to partnering with faculty and classmates on research and clinical
opportunities throughout his undergraduate career.
Xander knows that good physicians think on their feet and work as a team鈥攁ll qualities
he鈥檚 developed over the past six summers as a lifeguard at his community pool.
鈥淚 love that job and it鈥檚 treated me well,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 like sitting in the sun, watching
the water and keeping everyone safe.鈥
A leader on deck
While Xander has stepped in several times over the years to help struggling swimmers
and administer first-aid, a situation in summer 2024 required him to put all of his
training to the test.
鈥淚 was overlooking the shallow water and I heard someone yelling to call 9-1-1,鈥 said
Xander.
Xander blew his whistle four times to indicate immediate danger. The pool cleared,
and his colleagues met at the site of the emergency.
Xander approached as fellow lifeguards were administering CPR. Neither the guards
nor two nurses who happened to be nearby were able to find a pulse.
鈥淚 started chest compressions, and on compression 16 he took a large, deep breath
and sat up,鈥 said Xander. 鈥淚 explained what happened and placed ice on the back of
his head and on his chest. From there, we asked questions to determine if he was cognitively
ok and waited for the ambulance.鈥
Xander notes that he was 鈥渋n the right place at the right time鈥 and his training prepared
him for this scenario. He鈥檚 thankful for his colleagues who knew exactly what to do
and for the appreciation he felt from the swimmer鈥檚 family.
鈥淲e had a great outcome from a horrible situation,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e had to do our job
right to make sure he could walk away from this.鈥
Team player, traveler and future physician
Xander acknowledges that this type of care requires the effort of a team, similar
to what he鈥檒l encounter someday as a physician.
While he was originally interested in oncology, Xander also has considered cardiology.
He鈥檚 met with individuals employed in each field to learn more about their day-to-day
and to get a running start on this meaningful career.
鈥淭here are so many options that I鈥檝e started to learn about that I could see myself
doing,鈥 said Xander. 鈥淚 just have to experience it to determine if it鈥檚 what I see
myself doing for the rest of my life.鈥
In addition to exploring his future profession, Xander is passionate about exploring
the world and learning how history can shape our future. He is determined to visit
all seven continents and has progressed toward this goal through the Duquesne in Rome program and a visit to Paris.
While overseas, Xander visited catacombs, built confidence by exploring on his own,
and observed remnants of World War II, including Parisian buildings with shrapnel-embedded
walls.
Just as lifeguarding has shaped Xander鈥檚 character and sharpened his view of the person
he鈥檇 like to become, travel has done the same. It鈥檚 shifted him to a new and clearer
vantage point鈥攂oth in terms of what he鈥檚 studying and the larger world.
鈥淢y trips were such a surreal experience and I think everyone needs to travel to understand
why we can鈥檛 let certain things happen again,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t gives a greater understanding
of the world.鈥
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