Personal Statement

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.

When challenged as to why I would want to pursue a career in medicine, my response includes an acknowledgement of the realities of an intensely stressful and academically rigorous profession, but also a recognition of the rewards that come with having the ability to make a real difference to peoples’ lives. We depend on medicine in our weakest times and seek strength in those who dedicate themselves to research, prevention and treatment and I believe I have both the compassion and motivation to make a positive contribution.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a child, we have all been asked this question; and as unrealistic children, we all had dreams of being a superhero, princess, cowboy, or astronaut. Later on in life, as time went by, and as we became more knowledgeable, our answers became more serious. Some of us wanted to be teachers, business owners, or a veterinarian. However, I have always wanted to be a doctor, but not just any doctor. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a pediatrician. Now, half way through my junior year in high school, I have started to question the details of this career, and all the hard work it takes to become a part of the medical field.

I’ve learnt that being a doctor is about so much more than administering drugs. At its peak, being a doctor is about communication and compassion. I love working with people and I love science, and the more exposure I get to medicine the more confident I feel that despite its hurdles and sacrifices, there is no other career that would grant me as much fulfilment as

My whole life I have wanted to fulfill my goal of becoming a doctor. I have worked hard to immerse myself in anything vastly medical related such as volunteering at my local hospital, joining a teen health careers club, and shadowing doctors and nurses. All of these things, I believe, have allowed me to broaden my knowledge on passion for medicine. In addition, I

From a very young age, I have always wanted to become a doctor. However, over time I have learned the reality of why becoming a doctor is so difficult. I have encountered a great deal of stress due to grades and management of extracurricular activities. Furthermore, it is a very competitive field as there many individuals around me that also dream of becoming doctors. It is not only people from my school, but also individuals across the entire nation that wish to enter medical school. It is a competitive process that requires hard work and dedication. The path to entering medical is one

The career I choose to become when I’m older is a pediatrician. I choose this career because when I was in the second grade our teacher was teaching a lesson on what you want to be when you 're older. I had no clue but I always wanted to help someone or something in needed like for example a vet or doctor.

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

Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I decided to be something other than a doctor. My imagination has been plagued with thoughts of my future since I’ve been born. I was a small unsuspecting little girl. Who could have conjured the thought that I’d be pursuing medicine?

Growing up I never entertained the idea of becoming a doctor. Why? Because I was terrified of doctors and hospitals. Just the thought of visiting the doctor’s office for a simple checkup shot my anxiety levels through the roof. This anxiety stemmed from the fact that my father had been sick throughout my childhood years and would at times be taken to the emergency room, which is a scary thing for any child to experience their parent being ill. So at a young age, I associated hospitals and doctors with fear and this deterred me from having any thoughts about future careers in the medical field.

Since I was a child, I have always known I wanted to become a doctor, but I did not know what kind of doctor I wanted to become. Did I want to become a doctor to earn a lot of money and live a prosperous life, be respected in society, or so that I could simply help other people? The answer came to me not too long ago while I was volunteering at the Methodist Richardson Hospital. During my time in the children’s ward reading books with these children or even just talking to them, I felt a sense of fulfillment. Seeing these children with life threatening diseases, such as cancer, smiling happily as if nothing were wrong, living their lives as if they were not stuck in hospital beds made me just love them and their positive attitudes. Working

From the time I was four years old, I sensed an expectation from my parents to become a doctor. I was to rise to the top of the ranks and conduct research to find cures for the greatest ailments. Using pieces of information I had picked up from my parents; two doctors I admired, I enjoyed watching medical television shows and pictured myself on Grey's Anatomy as a doctor who found the cure for cancer. Yet, there was always

The journey to my decision on becoming a physician is not one people read books about. It is not a tear jerking, rising from the ashes story. I have been incredibly blessed throughout my short life to clearly see my considerable obstacles, like being bullied my entire life and being a first generation college student, as trivial matters that couldn’t be solved with a little prayer, grit, and tenacity. My decision to become a physician was not a simple choice for me, nor was the choice obvious in any way.

For many years in my college career, I depended upon another person to be my confidant and support system. I could not foresee my future without our future, and I planned my path to becoming a physician always with another person in mind. Before graduation, this relationship was severed. I had never experienced such a loss of direction as my time as an undergraduate ended. I had already accepted my position as a medical assistant and began training in an uncertain mental state. I felt as if I was experiencing a loss unlike any that I had before. What I did not realize at the time was that taking on my position at Vanguard during such a fragile time in my personal life would build a new independence and reaffirm my desire to pursue medicine.

Curious about the kind of support available to 64 million Americans living with disabilities, I decided to explore this cause and community. I applied to mentor kids as part of the Athletes for Kids’ program and was accepted. I was soon working with Michael, a 13-year-old, who was nothing like my preconception of someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As I came to know him over the next two years, Michael’s enthusiasm and energyzest for life and innate curiosity had a profound effect on my views.