Part A
Since my arrival in the United States from Nepal in (Insert year here), I have worked very hard to overcome the cultural and language barriers that initially confronted our family. Due to financial difficulties and my mother’s illness, it became necessary for me to leave high school and study independently at home in order to provide care for my mother. I found that the independent study was not challenging enough so I undertook extra classes at a local college so that I did not fall behind academically. As my mother’s health improved I was able to commence work in 2011 as a research assistant under Mehrdad Ariani M.D. at the Northridge Hospital Cardiac Research facility, where I observed clinical procedures and did clerical work. I eventually returned to high school to complete my Senior year, where I graduated with (insert results here).
I find that I have a passion for people and and have worked as a volunteer in various organizations helping others to a better life. I am a member of Global Medical Brigades, an organization that allows students to shadow local and foreign physicians and volunteer abroad. I was a part of the Spring 2015, Nicaragua brigade. During this period, I worked in a several mobile medical clinics with a few physicians. I also took part in a project that involved building a few houses for Nicaraguan families. I also belong to Compassion Project, which organizes various community service events throughout the year, such a feeding the homeless. I sponsor and attend a few events every year.
I have also worked as a volunteer with Jayanthi College, Colombo where I taught and tutored English; with the Woodland Care Center where I assisted with patients who required long term care; and with the YMCA where I worked with children and assisted with reception and clerical duties. I was the founder and the President of the now defunct Love Yourself Club, which was a community service club that encouraged children and teenagers to be confident in their abilities and have a positive self-image.
Throughout the years, I have explored different fields of science and done research on the neurobiology and behavior. The passion I have for neurobiology has led me to investigate and explore the field of neurosurgery. For the past twelve months, I have been working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of California Irvine where I am assisting in the investigation of long-term white matter tract pathology associated with repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, under the supervision of (Insert research director’s name here). I am almost convinced that I’d like to pursue neurosurgery; however, I wish to keep an open mind and explore other surgical subspecialties before I make a final decision. This the reason why I want to explore the field of Cardiothoracic surgery.
Since 2013 I have also been volunteering at the UCI Medical Center where my duties are mostly administrative and clerical, but I have also had the opportunity to to observe clinical procedures and interact with patients. Since January 2015 I have had the opportunity to shadow and learn from Dr. Leonoid Groysman, Dr. Cyrus Dastur and Dr. Yama Akbari at the same facility. During the summers of 2014 and 2015, I worked as a research assistant at Northridge Clinical Research Inc. where I had the opportunity to interact with patients and observe clinical procedures, as well as undertaking some clerical work.
Through these experiences, I have had the privilege of working with amazing individuals and learning about subjects that interest me. All of these events have exposed me to a vast array of human experience and have consolidated my intention to pursue surgery as a career. Overcoming the barriers of language and culture has made me very confident and optimistic. Having taken care of my mother and worked in many clinics and hospitals, now I am certain that I want to pursue a career in medicine. Life has challenged me in ways that I could have never imagined. I have fallen and struggled, but I have not given up. My experiences have taught me to appreciate the victories and learn from the defeats. I don't strive to be perfect, but simply to be the best I can be. So, I make every defeat a motivation, every fear a challenge and keep moving forward because I am capable of excellence and great success.
Part B
My understanding of the Leadership Alliance goal of developing a diverse research workforce is that the Alliance seeks students from underrepresented groups to provide then with a rigorous and intensive research and training experience, in order that they may have exposure to professional scientific research opportunities and experiences. By being a participant in such programs, students are able to access higher degrees, and will gain practical and theoretical training in research. Graduates of this program will then go on to higher degrees, and to mentor others who come after them in the program. By participating in such a program, students will then go onto further research, educational or mentoring opportunities, thus expanding the network of well-trained researchers in their particular fields, and helping to create a diverse research workforce.
