My only source of light was the flickering of the street lights as we sped down the highway. I was facing down in the back seat because sitting had become unbearably painful. As I later found out, I had a pilonidal cyst. Hospitals always made me feel uneasy and I did not have health insurance therefore I avoided going to the hospitals. Because of the nature of my condition, the doctor’s observations made me feel even more uncomfortable than usual. He must have sensed this because he reassured me every step of the way. After his observation, he gave me his diagnosis and said “These things are a real pain the butt.” His comedic attempt resonated with me really well. I was much more comfortable around him during that visit and throughout my operation. This laid the framework for my interest in medicine.
Unlike many aspiring doctors, there have been no medical disasters in my life that have swayed me in the direction of medicine. All of my grandparents are healthy. There are no physicians in my family who are pushing me to do medicine; none of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, or parents even graduated high school. Instead of having a moment of complete self-realization, my decision to go into medicine has been the result of a series of events and decisions that have collectively guided me in that direction. My interest in medicine was intensified by volunteering in the community. I have volunteered in a local food pantry, a battered woman’s shelter, and a homeless shelter. I
My interest in medicine first stemmed from my freshman Biology class and my Nutrition class. I was intrigued by our studies of cells, genetics, and disease. Both courses incited a sense of awe and curiosity within me. Dissecting a frog, was the stepping-stone for my interest in medicine. Seeing the frog's heart made me wonder how the human heart worked. My research into the human heart inspired me to learn more about the medical field. I sought out volunteer opportunities that would give me insight into a doctor’s typical day. During my volunteer experience, I learned that as a doctor you experience many obstacles, including patient compliance and insurance approval issues. In my journey to pursue medicine, I learned that becoming a doctor means more than helping people, it means being the team leader, being compassionate, and most importantly being committed to the patient’s well being.
I’ve always had an interest in becoming a Doctor. Even as a young child. Unfortunately, I lost my grandpa January 23, 2016 to a Lung Disease. He and I had a great relationship. He inspired me to be the best that I can be. Through his battle with Lung disease, I saw how the Doctors cared for him in a special way. My father suffered from a stroke that nearly changed his life. Watching him progress and get treated from amazing Doctors opened my eyes. That’s when I realized becoming a Doctor would allow me to care for people the same way my loved ones were cared
I first realized my passion for health promotion and disease prevention the summer following my first year of college. I had the privilege of attending the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), which introduced me to numerous healthcare professionals. During the program, many of the professionals shared their stories about why they choose the profession, and with each story, I began to reflect deeply on my own background and what drew me to medicine. It was not until an emergency medicine physician spoke about his experiences, that allowed me to fully understand connecting my background to my future. The physician mentioned growing up in D.C., which brought to mind my family in D.C. It had been almost a year since my grandmother
My decision to pursue a career as a physician was not a blinding revelation, being the daughter of two immigrant parents the thought of becoming a physician seemed distant. In high school I pursued to obtain what for me was then the highest education I perceived I would be able to achieve which was going to college and obtaining a bachelor’s degree. As the quote by Ralph Ellison highlights, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free”. This quote resonates with the start of my second year in college, as I have been able to find my passion for medicine. More specifically, I explored my values and how I wanted to shape my future. I reflected upon the encounters and dramatic effects that physicians have had with my own family. The most impactful
For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. These interests were most likely brought to life from my desire to want to help people and learn more about the human body. The experiences I’ve had throughout my life have brought me closer to the belief that I can one day make a difference in the world through medicine. All though I am not completely decided on what I would like my future career to be, I have been able to narrow my options down to a few of the many choices available.
Initially I was preparing for pharmacy school, but I realized that it was not an active profession and the only way I could work with patients is to distribute prescribed drugs to them. I was young and immature and chose a profession based on financial benefit. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in biology, I decided to explore the medical field by applying for a volunteer position supporting direct patient care at a hospital.
Adversity has only improved my tenacity, focus, endurance, and problem solving abilities. Various circumstances have affected my academic performance negatively, but I use that as motivation to continually improve myself. I want to be a part of the solution to the family physician shortage and serve the community in the most effective way. My drive to improve the lives of others will help propel me through the difficulties of medical school and beyond. The personal experience I have with my immersion in the field of primary care gives me unique characteristics that will translate into creating a successful physician that focuses on building meaningful relationships with patients. I continually witness how my grandfather is positively impacting the community through medicine and it is my goal to be granted an opportunity to do the same. My belief in lifelong learning and continual self-improvement consistently drives me towards the study of medicine. Because of my life experiences, I now have the balance, endurance, clarity, and tenacity needed to be a successful medical
During my undergraduate career, I discovered further inspiration to pursue medicine while founding Texas Healthy Habits, a student organization. As an officer, I created engaging lesson plans and traveled to local elementary schools to teach children the importance of public health. When I revisited the schools, I was delighted to see that my lessons stuck with the children and they were already applying them to their daily lives. It became apparent that my lessons were helping kids make decisions that had a positive impact on their health. This opportunity revealed to me that I am drawn to a career in medicine because one of my long-term career goals is to be in a position that allows me to
Dr. Nelson, the general practitioner for whom I volunteered for two and a half years, had always told me that the desire to become a doctor must come from deep within. In his office, I took patients’ vital signs and helped them feel more comfortable. I also spent a significant amount of time with Dr. Nelson learning about the physician’s role. He became my mentor. I learned of
Since I was a kid, medicine has always had my attention. I remember that I used to watch documentaries about surgeries and since then I decided that I wanted to be a Doctor when I grow up. Since day one of my decision I knew it’ll take a long time and a lot of determination, and like I managed myself back in high school to learn English and succeed in my classes; I have set my mind to do the same until I reach my goal and become a Doctor. My plan is to Major in
I became captivated by the opportunity to apply my knowledge of the biological and chemical sciences in a way that one day may save a life. Though my interest stems from my experiences, my passion to pursue this field lies elsewhere. Growing up in a family of low socioeconomic status in an area with few sources of acceptable health care, I saw my parents struggle as they aged to provide my siblings and I with a proper education. There were times they would ignore their own illness in order to save funds for an emergency for us. Observing this, I knew that no matter how difficult of a path I picked, regardless if it was pharmaceutical sciences or the medical field, my parents had concurred greater difficulties. Growing under such conditions, I began to realize the disparities in quality of treatments my parents received compared to those who of a higher socioeconomic status. This motivated me to pursue a career where I would be given the chance to offer care to individuals through unbiased views. Of course, there are a plethora of careers that can fulfill this but medicine has presented itself as very unique to me. It promises a lifestyle devoted to empathetic patient care, direct patient interaction, and a boundless opportunity to learn and experience something new. As the end of my undergraduate experience is forthcoming, I look forward to taking on the next phase of my life, endeavoring to join the ranks of tomorrow’s
To say that this incident was the defining moment as to why I chose medicine would be an exaggeration, but it had undoubtedly been an affirmation of my decision. To embark on a career in Medicine was not an easy decision, and it was certainly not something that I had aspired to be from a young age. In fact, it took nearly half a decade of careful consideration and exploration before I reached this conclusion. My motivation to become a doctor stems not only from my love for science, but also from the special connection that is established between a patient and a doctor during diagnosis and consultation. The opportunity for devoting a lifetime to alleviating illnesses stands as my inspiration. I believe that there is no other profession that can be compared to one which utilizes one’s acquired abilities to bring about a more immediate impact on someone’s life, just as this experience had
Serving as volunteer at Baptist Medical Center East played a large part in my decision to become a physician. I spent 17 months volunteering with the surgery department. In that time, I saw many patients and was able to observe the interaction of nurses, techs, physicians, and patients. As a volunteer I did a lot of cleaning and organizing, however I had the opportunity to meet with patients and show them to their holding room. I saw many patients come and go, from emergency surgeries to common everyday procedures. All of these had the same things in common, family members who are worried about their loved ones. As a volunteer, I was able to witness the worry and hesitation as families walked back to the waiting room. I was also able to witness
From the start of high school I knew I wanted to go into a health related field of study. The path to become a physician is going to be strenuous but even as the little freshmen I was, I understood what it would take to achieve my passion of helping people. I started off my journey with volunteering at the local health fair held at my local mosque; for the past three years I have been attending the fairs and helping as best as I can, as a translator. Most of the people living in the community that go and have their health screened do not speech English so I serve as a translator between the medical professional and the patient, during the fair. After that, I decided to take a chance and apply at Cook Children's hospital for a volunteering spot
I have taken stock of myself, considering my skills, experiences, and goals. I have looked to family and friends, some of whom are doctors, for advice. Because of this self-examination, I have decided to pursue a career in health care. The process has been difficult at times but always illuminating. Throughout it all, I have never lost confidence - the confidence that I will actively absorb all available medical knowledge, forge friendships with fellow students, and emerge from my training as a skilful and caring physician.