Personal statement on faith-based curriculum
Religion and spirituality are often contentious issues because they are held so closely to people’s hearts. I grew up in an extremely open but spiritually-rich environment, and I have seen firsthand the ways that religion and spirituality can be positive experiences in people’s lives. As I have progressed along my academic and personal journey, I have come to acknowledge that both religion and spirituality have an incredibly important place in my life, and I hope to attend an institution that places the same value on religion and spirituality that I do.
Academically, I have found that an exposure to a variety of different cultures and life experiences has made me a much more well-rounded and empathetic individual. I am hoping that I can continue my education in an environment where different cultural experiences and viewpoints are not only expected, but required; I feel that this can only further my academic and spiritual experience. Meeting and mixing with new and different types of people will be very beneficial to me, and I am hoping to find myself in an academic environment that encourages this blending.
Sometimes people question how I balance my religious and spiritual life with my obvious love for the sciences and medicine. This is a question that I have spent much time considering, because on its face, these two different facets of my personality do seem opposed. Medicine allows me to help people treat their bodies and maintain their health, and I rely upon science and reason to provide me with the best way to do so. However, I have come to realize that people are more than just their bodies, and that providing good health care involves soothing the mind as well. The mind and the spirit are important tools in recovery, and the healthcare professional who cannot relate to people on a personal or spiritual level may find that his or her treatment of his or her patients is not as effective as it may otherwise have been.
Exposure to people with different religions, cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds has been one of the fundamental pieces of my academic journey. I believe strongly that being in an environment where differences are both welcomed and celebrated will be good for me, but for the students around me as well, as my upbringing has been somewhat unique. I hope to find an academic environment that can support the differences that I have experienced in my life, while exposing me to different types of people and their backgrounds. Learning to adapt well within a team is an often-under-taught aspect of medicine, and I believe being in a culturally-rich environment can help me develop and hone those skills to make the field of medicine a better place.
Finding a balance between religion and medicine has not been a difficult task for me. I have found that the empathy and understanding that my spirituality has gifted me with has allowed me a way of connecting with people and patients on a different level. I hope to attend an institution that allows and encourages me to cultivate and expand upon this experience, rather than forcing me into a cold and clinical medical environment. Discovering a program that allows for a balanced approach was a blessing, and I hope to be able to experience and contribute to the wonderful work done on the LLU campus.
