My Trip To The Nursing Home: Personal Statement

Personal Statement A little girl with green feet from running barefoot had the desire to serve and help others at a young age. With a bright mind and a kind heart she set out to be different, instead of following the “norm”. She sat and talked with old people when others wouldn’t waste their time. She loved being on her grandparent’s farm, learning the meaning of hard work and never being afraid to try something new whether it would be “getting down and dirty”. She thought bugs were cool and enjoyed staring relentlessly at the world in which surrounded her. The population she grew up in was little over 3,000. Her town was the typical rural Kansas town, where farming flourished and fields of wheat beamed in the sun. It was no surprise that

I vividly remember going to the nursing home on a weekly basis to see my last surviving great-grandparent, who name was “Grandpa Bill”. I was hesitate of the nursing home, but after my first visit, it didn’t take me long to make new friends. It amazed me how much wisdom a person could have and share with others. Before long, I wasn’t just visiting my “Grandpa Bill”, but also spending time visiting with Jim and Victor, residents who lived down the hall. At that moment, I realized how I could provide a positive impact to an older person by befriending them and listening to stories of the “good ole days”. The amount of stories I heard from my great-grandpa, Jim, and Victor were too many to count, but it was an experience I would never forget. The experience taught me how to truly listen and take in every word, which can be an integral part for a physician. In addition, the experience taught me how to be empathetic, and to better understand people. More importantly time spent at the nursing home taught me that people need each other and social interaction with one another is crucial to our well-being. At the age of 11, I had no idea what I wanted to be as an adult, but I knew I wanted a career where I could help others and in a sense make a difference in an individuals’