Life Reflection Paper

Though life review and ordinary remembering seem synonymous, the two share very compelling and diverse similarities and differences. Life review and ordinary remembering are similar in that they both deal with recollections of the past from the onset of adolescence. The pivotal difference is that a life review takes a further step and helps the older adult recollect past memories by search for meaning within each experience and tapping into the emotions of those experiences. Ordinary remembering refers to a more informal and objective recollection of past experiences, while life review is the more formal, structural, and subjective examination of past

For as long as I could remember, I have seen my father rushing to the hospital in a white coat, answering pagers in the middle of important family conversations and attending night calls even in the most terrible weather. I had always wondered; what could be so important that it belittles every other responsibility in his life. It was only after many years of anguish and protests that it finally made sense to me. This defining moment of realization occurred when I first met a patient in his office. I saw how the gratitude in the patient’s eyes can provide a sense of fulfillment that triumphs all other feelings in the universe. It was human life that was most important. Being a doctor does not make you a mere healer but also gives you the responsibility of a caregiver. I had never felt more proud of my father and that was the day I felt the urge to relive this feeling many times over. It was there in that moment that I decided to pursue a career in medicine.

After beginning medical school, I quickly realized that for every one question we could answer there were about a dozen that could not be answered. I delved even deeper into my studies, determined to learn all I could to help my patients to the best of my ability. Suddenly, two of my close family members died, and with this my determination to find answers increased again. Something else awoke within me during the morning of these loved ones, as well. I truly understood what families were going through while watching their loved ones suffering, and my empathy, compassion, and bedside manner became even stronger.

Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care, the words of Theodore Roosevelt written in the radiology department at Good Samaritan Hospital, where I work as a Radiologic technologist. These words are a constant reminder of why I choose to pursue a career in medicine. Growing up in Haiti, I was an underweight, mal nourished child with a weak immune system. Sick days seemed to occur every other day. In a country with limited resources, I remember traveling with my parents to different towns in search for medicine and the right physician. We would walked miles, but no miles was ever long enough to stop my parents from getting their son the proper treatment. At a young age my parents showed me the true meaning of altruism and empathy, necessary skills needed to make a great physician. Living in poverty can have major consequences on one’s health. I witness this in my own health and those surrounding me. To survive these harsh conditions, as a community we had to stick together, we had to care for one another. We shared everything with our neighbors, from clean drinking water, food supplies, to natural herb treatment and medicine. From observing the change in lives in the community when treatment was provided, I quickly learned to values the benefits of good Health and medicine.

    Ever since my childhood, I have always found medicine to be intriguing. My interest first sparked when I learned about my cousin’s, Austin, illness. Austin was born nearly four months early and was diagnosed with an underdeveloped trachea and COPD. Within Austin’s first moments of life, doctors had to perform a tracheotomy. As I observed my cousin’s suffering over the years, my desire to help others was ignited. Since then, my will to help people has only grown immensely. From playing doctor to caring for my family when they are sick, my caring nature and love to help people has always been evident. All I want is the ability to help others and to make a difference. Now, my cousin has miraculously lived

Health complications in my youth and the frequent hospital trips from my vesicoureteral reflux that ensued showed me the fear that patients feel. This allows me to relate and understand what others are going through. This empathy will help me to maintain a desire to serve them, even when they are being difficult. It became my goal to become a physician and help patients like me to reduce the suffering and live healthier lives. This constantly motivates me and instills in me a desire to serve.

My goal of becoming a doctor was reinforced when I received shocking news that my grandfather has passed away from a heart failure. The feelings of emptiness consumed my inner being upon hearing the sad news. As a twelve year old immigrant, bilingual of Vietnamese American, I fully experienced the sadness and hardship caring for an old age family member that now has passed away. He was my beloved grandparent and was always there to raise me. I felt completely helpless and powerless, unable to prevent my grandfather from passing away. I became frustrated and started to ponder if the turn of events would have been any different if I had better insight to what medical care had to offer. I would have been able to advise my grandfather about his condition and perhaps his problem may have been preventable. I vowed to become a competent doctor to better understand my grandfather 's death, and to make a real impact on preventing others’ loved ones from passing away due to my lack of medical knowledge.

I was born in a small town in Sudan, where there are limited resources for people to receive medical care. When my grandfather required hospitalization for severe dehydration and the experience of pain and the hardship of travel just for him to receive IV fluid and seeing him subsequently improving thereafter made me realize how the doctors can have a great impact upon someone’s life, not just their physical self but their emotional self as well. My grandfather falling ill made me question the fact that without our health we are nothing. I therefore decided to go into the field of medicine to better people’s lives.

Initially, I wanted to immediately impact people’s lives like the miraculous surgery that had saved my mom’s, but I found myself frustrated with filing paperwork, walking patients to rooms, and distributing pillows or snacks. It was not until I shadowed a physician that my perspective changed entirely. I discovered that medicine went beyond just treating a disease: it was relational. Dr. Seese knew his patients by name, without referring to a chart or his notes. Whenever he greeted his patients, the exchanges resembled two good friends reuniting. When a woman came in with a recurring stroke, he did not just prescribe medications to treat her blood pressure, but spent time talking to her about barriers that impacted her health. Understanding her stressful circumstances, he offered counseling to help her cope and was there to listen and comfort her. I finally saw that medicine was completely patient-centered and that I could make a difference in someone’s day or life by doing something as simple as handing them an extra pillow or snack. Whether volunteering or shadowing, I whole-heartedly welcomed my role as I now understood the interactions with patients were more important than the tasks

Many activities are offered at Sidney High School. I have participated in numerous of these ranging from National Honor Society to basketball. An abundance of the programs I have been involved have taught me lessons on becoming a better student and member of the community. Teachers have come and gone, some leaving a large impact on my life. These experiences and relationships are ones that I will hold with me as time goes on. These teachers have influenced the way my life has taken shape. Being in all these activities does not only leave an impact on my life, but the community and school as well. They have taught me right from wrong and I believe I would not be the person I am today without many of these activities and/or teachers.

Invidious comparison and vicarious traumatization are two things that most people will experience in their lifetime. I know for I personally have experienced both during my 28 years of life. Invidious comparison and vicarious traumatization can both be damaging to yourself and other people involved. That is why I'd like to take the time to explain a few important topics on invidious comparison and vicarious traumatization, such as; how to stop invidious comparison, identify strategies that I currently use to avoid vicarious traumatization in my personal life, how those strategies will help me avoid vicarious traumatization as a human service worker and what strategies I could develop to avoid it as well.

'Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.’ - Hippocrates It is my love of humanity that spurs my passion for medicine. My goal in life is to practice medicine to help others. In my early childhood, I looked upon “people in white” as heroic figures who could solve all problems. I often watched while they helped to relief my father’s distressing symptoms during his asthma attacks. I was curious about the medications that they prescribed for him, and spent long hours trying to read about them. Tragically, he lost the battle, and I have always wondered whether I could have saved him, had I been the doctor who looked after him. The sad experience of my dad’s death along with the memories of his chronic suffering enhanced my desire to be a doctor in

The first exhibit that caught my eye was “Gymnast with Organs” with its dynamic pose and ease of balance, the palatinate shows the perfect interaction of the muscles just below the skin. Our lives are juggling acts that demand balance, focus, and coordination. More then ever before, people play many different roles in their lives. They must also make room in their lives for taking care of their own physical and mental well-being. Not surprisingly, achieving balance among all kinds of competing priorities can be difficult. No matter our circumstances, life balance is an important factor of feeling satisfied in our lives. When our life balance is out of kilter, we might feel resentful, disappointed, and burnt out, and our physical and psychological health may suffer. This exhibit stood out to me because it shows how our life are not prefect, and how we have to stretch ourselves to complete everything society has set out for us. I also like how it shows that our well being should not only be the way we looks but also the way of minds feel. Gymnast with organs was one of the first exhibit that caught my eyes because of how the strong the make the human body look, which took me by surprise. The exhibit was a great example the nervous system. Its shows how the body can be burn out if we don’t give it the proper care, and how important its nutrient your body. Sleep is something many of us don’t get, but it’s a very important step in helping our body recovery. We should be getting at leat eight hours of sleep a night. Its important to make sleep a pripoity in our life, because its what is going to keep us going. Wr need to take care of both of mental and physical health. Writing down how you feel, or talking with someone can redue your stress, and help you sleep at night. Life is too short to continue with a life full of misery, so it is up to us to change our lifestyles, and live a balance, and happy life.

Fate is a short and powerful four-letter word that most people enjoy believing in. However, other’s may believe it isn’t possible for events to happen without a logical explanation. For years, I was that type of person. I had a very hard time believing that there was a type of higher power controlling the destiny of my life. I challenged every situation I could by finding a way to prove, logically, on why it had happened. Whether the situation was good or bad, I chose to look at it short and sweet, with fear of becoming overly attached and focused on the situation. There were multiple events that had occurred in my life that lead me to think if I believed in fate, it would seem to be out to get me. However, when I was eighteen, my life did a complete turn around and so did my perspective on fate.

One's dream and aspirations to supersede in life must be stronger and greater than limitations set forth by others. The experience that were bestowed to me during my short life has elevated me to the woman I am today. Please walk with me as I give you the opportunity to see the world from my eyes: