Penn State Personal Statement

In our book groups we discussed two essays “The Connection Between Strangers” by Miles Goodwin and the essay “The People Who Love You When No One Else Would” by Cecile Gilmer. In my group we said that “no matter how big or small your act of kindness is, it could change someones life” was demonstrated in both essays. In the first essay, “The Connection Between Strangers”, shows this because this little girl walked up to this solider and congratulated him. Little did she know, that the small action had changed the soldier’s life, as he said in the essay, “That girl undoubtedly has no memory of what happened years ago… It doesn't matter why she gave me the magazine. The important thing is she did” (Goodwin 83).

They have, over the years, become a cornerstone of my community, and their creed has become my cornerstone. I am perpetually working with people as individuals: I am talking to them in the workshops I run, hearing their stories at conferences, learning their lives and struggles tabling at the town fair. It is all too easy for me to distance myself from the people I work with, but it takes something else to recognize that each person deserves his or her own recognition—they are worth my time. I have carried this forward in my current involvement volunteering for my university’s hospital in my free time, a means of paying it forward and affording others the means given to my parents.

The transition from being a child, dependent upon parents for everything, to an independent adult is one of the most stressful times a person will endure. Legally speaking, 18 is the age when you become an adult but the number doesn’t describe the responsibilities and independence you must take on. College is seen as the “big step” into the real world and many people struggle in choosing where to make their transition. I would like to take my “big step” by attending Florida Atlantic University.

I decided to pursue a career in medicine when I was an adolescent. I scheduled a science-heavy course load in high school. Pursued a degree in Honours Biological Sciences. Shadowed a physician for two months. Graduated with distinction. Applied to medical schools and received my acceptance. My academic and professional career was already planned at the ripe age of fourteen. As the years progressed, my passion and interest in medicine waned. I was left feeling deeply unfulfilled. The career I was pursuing had ceased to be reflective of my interests. I struggled to procure the enthusiasm to apply to medical school, putting it off until I was in my final year of university. Every time I broached

I chose NDSU because I feel like I was pretty well acquainted with the campus during my time in high school. Each summer, for FFA, my chapter, along with others from across the state, spent a week here competing in different agricultural competitions. Also, I talked with alumni from this nursing program, and they all said it was set up very well, and also put them on a track to getting a good job afterwards. When I came for a tour earlier this spring, I got to hear a speech from the Dean of nursing, and I just sort of felt like this was the right place. On a side note, I like being here because of the agricultural side of NDSU as well, even if I’m not necessarily going into a field pertaining to it. It seems more like home to me, when the person next to me, going into Vet Tech, rides horse as much as I did.

It is without a doubt, attending Rutgers University brings prestige to your name, and distinguishes you from the competition. With over two hundred and fifty years of rich history, Rutgers has been proudly represented by alumni as they continue into their career paths. Dating back to 1766 when Rutgers was first established, notable Rutgers alumni through the years have ranged from politicians such as Elizabeth Warren or Chris Christie to businessmen like David Stern, or even athletes such as Carli Lloyd. It is without a doubt, that Rutgers provides exceptional education as seen through what these alumni have been able to achieve. It is due to the combination of history and high level of education that I believe will help me achieve my career goals.

My mother always said to my siblings and me, “Fa bibia ma Nyame na fa w’akoma to wo yɛm”, which loosely translates to ‘We must give everything to God and humble yourself’. My mother, an immigrant from Ghana, would say in her native language, Asante Twi, to us whenever we dealt with financial difficulties. Irrespective of our financial status, my mother always believed that her children would aspire to greatness by getting an American college education. Rutgers University was the only college in the state my mother knew about and wanted one of her children to attend. Although I did not initially begin my undergraduate career at Rutgers, I ended here and it helped me to truly find myself and my path.

While growing up in Mobile, Alabama, I have always dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. My mother has been very supportive of my aspirations to attend college and become a pediatrician. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school and the first to attend college, which she never completed. Before graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted to obtain a degree elsewhere and not Mobile. Many of the steps I took to achieve this goal were unfamiliar to my family and me. These experiences have taught me that working consistently to achieve my

During my first five years of practice, I want my roles to be that of helper, educator, professional, and researcher. As I progress through the profession, I will be assisting clients in accomplishing their goals while educating them in ways to do so effectively in a professional manner. In congruence with this, I also hope to do neurological research on individuals with neurological conditions and sensory integration of premature infants.

All of my life growing up I dreamt of being a physician. I wanted to be able to help individuals who like myself had never had access to health care because although my family was on the federal poverty level never received Medicare benefits. Purchasing health insurance was out of the question, because the odds of getting sick were way lower than not being able to pay the rent. To achieve this dream I took baby steps, I attended a technical vocational high school (MLEC) in which I received a vocational degree in Firefighting and

In 2012, my cousin suffered a severe heart attack which lead to heart failure. After witnessing someone I love suffer a life-changing event, it was important to find ways in which I could help. During her time in the hospital I cared for her children, encouraging them to remain positive around their mother, explaining how important their presence was to her recovery. I assisted in organizing a fundraiser that provided financial benefits for medical expenses. An extended hospital stay can create a feeling of isolation, and the fundraiser served as a physical reminder of the amount of support she had behind her during this battle. Childcare and fundraising were both pivotal ways in which I made a difference, but being present with my cousin at

It is because of this that I learned my personal definition of compassion. The cool fact of this is that it is in my leadership philosophy that we learn to be better leaders by those who we lead and the relationships we have. I learned compassion from my friends as they helped me through my rough times. When trying to buy a thank you gift for a friend, I realized compassion is all the little things you do. Compassion is carrying someone's backpack because they are on crutches. Compassion is telling someone they look good in that dress. Compassion is remembering the tiny details about someone such as their favorite gum. Compassion is showing you care and can empathized with

Nothing in my life has proved to be more rewarding and valuable than my experiences at Indiana University. From the moment I stepped foot on campus four years ago, I have been compelled to make the most of every opportunity I have been granted and build the greatest foundation for my future that I possibly could. I knew the path that I had envisioned for myself was going to be arduous and that I was going to be met with great adversity at every step I took, but each obstacle only further motivated me to exceed expectations and carve my own avenue against the grain. I finished my senior year with a B.S. in Neuroscience, and three minors in Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Psychology. These fields overlap in many dimensions, but

My dream has always been to attend Indiana University and to attend her law school. And now, after all the options displayed before me, with most being inexpensive and easy, I still find my passional compass pointing toward home in Indiana. I understand the sacrifices required and the effort that’s mandatory, yet I am qualified by my passion for persevering, I am qualified by my experience, and I am qualified by my heart for Indiana.

I know that the road that I take to become a doctor is going to be very challenging; however I feel that my past has prepared me for taking on the challenge. As a student, I am an active participant in my academic and extracurricular activities. My first priority has always been to make good grades and learn in college. Although this is important to me, I also know that by participating in clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities, I will become a well-rounded student. I have been working hard for the last 7 years, operating as an independent, responsible adult. In that time I have constantly learnt from my life experiences and developed skills in both learning and life management. I am a very motivated person with goal setting, time management and prior skills that help me achieve what I aim to do.