Medical School Personal Essay: My Experiences in Life and Why I Am a Fit for Medicine
My interests in medicine stem from when I was a child, my parents would tell me stories about my late grandfather who was a kind doctor that took care of everyone in his village as well as distant villages. That mentality of helping people who truly need it has been instilled in me, as well the kindness associated with it. Since those stories I have always pushed myself to succeed, whether that be with sports or academics, the competitive drive to want to become better in all aspects of life has been instilled in me and will undoubtedly help me on my journey in learning medicine. Athletics have played a significant role in my life, as they required a competitive attitude to succeed. I was placed in soccer for several years of my youth starting from 8 years up until I was 13 years of age. In this time frame I had won 4 first place
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However, my heart was set on medical school so I started my university career at the University of the Fraser, but felt unfulfilled there as I needed to grow as a person, the decision then came to leave and study further away from home, hence why I transferred to the University of Victoria. It was here that I had made life long connections as I joined a fraternity that contributed well to the community and had academic excellence. These connections allowed me to meet very successful individuals including doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, and even a supreme court judge. Meeting these successful people only furthered my drive as I wanted to become one of them, providing the community with a service that will better their lives on a daily basis. Even today, I am supporting my community with services, such as volunteering at soup kitchens, donating blood, or raising money for cancer
I am excited to be submitting my application to Georgetown University School of Medicine, as this school’s mission and values reflect my own beliefs on the role of a physician. I believe that there is no fixed template to healthcare; medicine and health will vary across time, regions, and individuals, and as future physicians, it is crucial for us to recognize that. While standard science education is certainly critical, a broadened approach that draws on other knowledge and our own life experiences is just as essential to delivering quality healthcare. I believe that Georgetown Medical School’s tradition of “Cura Personalis” and its
As a student that is currently seeking a career in the medical professions, I have had to routinely contemplate my reasons for pursuing such an extensive education program in a field that is constantly demanding excessive time and effort. I know of students—many friends and acquaintances of mine included—that have the most sure-fire, inspirational stories that align with their desire to become doctors, surgeons, physician assistants, etc. They always seemed to have a story that emphasized their desire to “give back” what they have received from the medical community. Because of that, ever since the beginning of high school, I have been trying to find an extraordinary reason, a purpose for my medical pursuits. Perhaps I could justify my passion for
1. Please briefly share the influences on your decision to pursue the field of medicine, including shadowing experiences and other medical related activities.
It took me ten years to beat my friend in the game of tennis, who gave me his tennis racquet after the game. While I might not be the most talented person in sports, I knew that if I wanted to raise to the next competitive level, I would have to build on my fundamentals, work hard with persistence and constantly keep up to date with the latest advancement of the tennis world. I share similar passion in medicine and multiple aspects of my life. Passion and persistence were part of the major reasons for me to receive straight A's in my clinical rotations during the 3rd and 4th years of medical study in the US.
My perseverance has prepared me for a career in medicine. The path towards becoming a physician can be long and challenging, necessitating the ability to endure. My ability to bounce back from setbacks and mistakes has solidified throughout my journey. One of the cornerstone experiences of my personal development occurred during high school. My determination led to me my graduating as valedictorian of my class, while balancing three varsity sports and several extracurricular activities. In addition, I worked on weekends to help support my family financially. This persistence resulted in scholarship awards that made higher education a possibility.
I began my college career unsure of the path ahead of me. I knew I had a passion for medicine, however, I did not know which direction I would take. With the expansive amount of options offered within the fields of science and medicine, it was difficult to narrow down exactly what direction I wanted to take. I gained some clarity the summer of my sophomore year when I stayed at a close friend’s home, whose father, a practicing Medical Physician, became somewhat of a mentor to me. The passionate way in which he discussed the practice of medicine led me to develop an interest in pursuing a career as a physician. He explained that a career in the medical field was about responsibility, the responsibility to work with all members of the healthcare team for the well-being of the patient as well as their family
In regards to my academic and career goals, I plan to attend a four year university and eventually medical school. After medical school, I hope to become an orthopedic surgeon through residency and specialize in sports medicine. My interest in sports medicine has developed through experiences such as observing my father’s ACL surgery, having an operation on a broken hand, and caring for my grandfather who had prostate cancer. I hope to contribute to the world of sports medicine through research, either on treatments for knee ligament tears or supplement breakthroughs. Additionally, this past summer I spent most of my time at the University of Pittsburgh Health Career Scholars Academy, where I was able to explore various science-related health professions through lectures and gain insight on the medical field. These experiences have secured my interest for healthcare and medicine.
For the first time in my academic and professional career, I am sincerely interested and excited about what is yet to come. This is not to imply that I am displeased with the amount of time it took me to make the decision to pursue medical school After all, there are many people who never end up in a satisfying career. I believe my past experiences are propelling me forward with a sense of enthusiasm and conviction which will translate into the formation of a competent and humane doctor. Perhaps, someday, I will be the anonymous face that helps a twelve year old boy in his time of need.
Growing up my parents would always tell me that they knew I will become someone in life, and that they will always support me throughout any decision I made. Ever since I was a young girl, I had always been tremendously interested in the medical field. Everything about it really intrigued me. I would always see myself being someone working with patients and helping them out, to the best of my ability. One of the main reasons that I want to work in the medical field, is to help others because that brings the greatest joy to me.
The life of a successful physician is my ultimate pursuit due to its fulfilment of all of my personal desires: a complete knowledge of the human body, a desire to impact the world positively, and a yearning to lead a life dedicated to helping others. My personal drive towards medicine came about-in part -due to the passion both my parents possess for their jobs. This opened the doors of curiosity which led into further personal studies and exploration within the field. I would be an asset to medical school and the medical profession due to my absolute humanitarian motives, the profitable experiences that have helped me grow as an individual, and my passion for the sciences.
Although I have great goals to help people, my grand wish cannot be granted without a great amount of effort on my part. I decided to take part in activities that would help me reach my goals and to ready myself for that field of work. My extracurricular activities and my electives showed proof of my interest in the medical field over time. I made an extra effort to look for activities and classes that could help me on the way to becoming a doctor. My first step was
Track and field is a sport that requires mental toughness, self-belief, and commitment. Excelling in track and field is difficult, but it is the individual and team commitment as well as preparation on and off the track that makes all the difference. I learned that to be a great runner requires endurance, discipline, resilience, and a positive mental attitude. The fundamental process for success in medicine is no different. It is the preparation, inherent sacrifice, and desire to succeed that determines one’s success long before one enters into the medical profession.
I realize my lifetime goal is a little farfetched, seeing as how competitive the medical field is. I’m aware many people have failed in this endeavor, and it is very rarely achieved; however, based on the community service hours and extracurricular activities I have involved myself in, I feel my chances at succeeding are just as good as any. Becoming a doctor will be stressful and time taking (after all, it is a lifetime goal), but the reward at the end will be gratifying.
Our time is limited in this expansive universe and what we do with that piece of momentary shine will ultimately leave behind a legacy for others to follow. Graduate school never crossed my mind growing up, but as the years went by, my affection for learning grew. The curiosity to explore the unknown captured my attention in ways I never thought were imaginable. My thirst for knowledge lingers with me every day and it is why I have decided to pursue a graduate degree. Failure has been one of my greatest teachers, but it has opened so many opportunities for me.
Throughout my life, I have worked towards one goal which is to become a doctor. Medicine offers the opportunity for me to integrate different scopes of science while trying to improve human life. Medicine has intrigued me throughout all my life because it??s a never ending mystery and every answer has questions, and vice versa. Upon entering my career, I had assumed that professional and financial success would surely bring personal fulfillment. This realization triggered a process of self-searching that led me to medicine. The commitment to provide others with healthcare is a serious decision for anyone. As I examined my interests and goals, however, I underwent a process of personal growth that has propelled me towards a career as a physician. A career in medicine will allow me to integrate thoroughly my passion for science into a public-service framework. Since childhood, I have loved acquiring scientific knowledge, particularly involving biological processes. During my undergraduate studies, I displayed my ability to juggle competing demands while still maintaining my academic focus; I have succeeded at school while volunteering part time, spending time with family and friends, and working part-time. To better serve my expected patient population, I worked over my English and Korean language skills. I have come to discover that a job and even a good income, without another significant purpose, will not bring satisfaction. I planed to utilize my assets, namely my problem- solving affinity, strong work ethic, and interpersonal commitment, to craft a stimulating, personally rewarding career in medicine. 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.