Why I Came to the United States
I have experienced a great many things that I believe make me well prepared for the challenges and trials of attending David & Elkins College. I grew up in Saudi Arabia; there were not many people where I grew up, and as such I got to know the few people around me very well. In my country, there are quite a few people who struggle every day to get the primary health care that they need; even more struggle to become educated on health-related matters. Watching all of these people around me work so hard for what should be easily provided to them, I resolved myself to increase my involvement in the lives of the people around me. To that end, I decided to move to America in order to study biology; by understanding the world around me that much better, I can help to discover new things that will benefit those around me and the world at large.
The most important life experience for me was moving from my home country of Saudi Arabia to the United States. The process of moving was hard for me; I felt a great connection to Saudi Arabia but yearned for the opportunities present in America. Once I got here, I started to acclimate myself to the unique nature of American culture, bettering myself through this exposure to different cultures. As a result, I have a great deal of experience in multiple cultures, having learned about improvisation, learning on the fly, and becoming an in-depth observer of those of different backgrounds. I became a self-starter, motivating myself to work harder to adjust to this new environment, and I feel this sense of initiative will help me immensely in medical school.
There are three people in my life who have greatly influenced my sense of self, my character and my decision to attend Davis & Elkins College. First and foremost is my mother; she taught me the meaning of self-sacrifice and doing for others, among other amazing traits. My mother, being the good mother she is, always put what we needed before what she wanted - this allowed us to have the good lives that we have so far. From her, I learned that giving yourself for the sake of others is one of the best things that you can do; following suit, I started to help people around my community with volunteer work and outreach programs, as well as collecting items and money for orphans during the holidays.
Last but not least, my last influence is not a specific person, but a group of people as a whole: children. When you observe children, especially in the first two years of their lives, there is an innocence and a perseverance to them that I find admirable. Seeing just how many times it takes them to master even the simplest thing - eating, sitting, standing, walking and talking - made me realize that every new task is just like that, no matter how complicated. You have to keep trying and dedicate yourself to the task. The skills we learn as a child help us cope with the more complex challenges of life and work, and I hold to that philosophy in my own efforts.
There are a number of qualities that I feel makes me stand out in terms of my applicability to Davis & Elkins College. My volunteer work has also provided me with a lot of experience in charity and medical-related work. I have worked in charity institutions to support orphans in need, and helped medical students in Saudi Arabia secure summer internships. I also promoted health among college students during my undergraduate work, and supported health education for pregnant women in an underserved area. I was very proud to help those in need, and I believe this demonstrates a strength of character which is sorely needed in such an important issue as health care. These activities permitted me to practice good ethics and volunteer practice to populations that sorely needed it.
Considering my applicability as a student for universities, particularly one as prestigious as Davis & Elkins College, has made me heavily contemplate my strengths and weaknesses as a student. My greatest strength is my dedication - I fully commit to whatever I set my mind to. From childhood, I have carried the same dream as I have now: to be a doctor. To that end, I attempt to manage my time as best I can to balance my studies, my life, my work and my son. Sometimes this does not work as perfectly as it could, but I do my best to try nonetheless. I am fully committed to the things I set my mind to, and I do not back down easily from a challenge. Sacrifices, in my mind, are necessary in order to accomplish goals; I never shirk from them just because the sacrifices are inconvenient. I can confidently say that I do not easily back down when I dedicate myself to a cause, a goal, or a career.
One of my greatest areas of weakness, it must be said, is my need to develop greater coping skills for stress. Because of a certain obsessiveness that occurs when I try to dedicate myself to something, I will often ignore or downplay the consequences of the sacrifices I make. As a result, I realize I need to start realizing when I am taking on too much at a time; I have to recognize that taking it easy for a bit is not a weakness, but a way to recharge and tackle the subject with renewed vigor. With that in mind, better coping strategies for stress can help me to further my dedication to my goals without taking as big an emotional and physical toll. With these things in mind, it is very important for me to pick a goal and apply myself to it 100%. I have learned the dangers of letting one's motivation fall apart, and is a character flaw I recognized in myself, and have adjusted, long ago.
Finally, my academic achievements of note include my presence on the honor's list throughout the years I spent in my previous education. These accomplishments highlight the strong dedication I have to my schoolwork. Unlike some who may emphasize either their academics or their extracurricular activities, I strive for excellence in both - I want to back up my own passion for medicine with the expertise and knowledge to help my patients. With these traits in mind, I believe I have cultivated a strong set of skills and sufficient character to benefit greatly from admission into Davis & Elkins College.
