Why Medicine For Me Personal Statement Examples

My passion for medicine was developed through the hope of a young girl. “Put on the scrubs,” the Psychiatrist told me as we entered the sterile hospital room of a sixteen-year old girl. I stood next to the doctor as she talked to the girl, a girl whose face and body were so completely wrapped in gauze it would have been difficult for her to cry. “Will my skin go back to normal?” she asked. The physician answered honestly, “I do not know for sure, even though the flesh-eating bacteria that deprived you of your skin is gone, it could leave scarring--but there is always hope.”
Watching the doctor’s exchange with the young girl made me think back. As an obese high school student, I spent years of my life struggling with my body image. As that same obese student in March of 2008, in all my plus sized glory, I took the stage in a one-piece, blue swimsuit and high heels in front of family, friends and a couple hundred strangers at a pageant. Looking at this young girl, I remembered the years I didn’t value my body, let alone appreciate the fact that I had skin; this brought back memories of my own journey and brought me to appreciate the body I was in. Being a great physician is about more than having a strong understanding of disease, but also about being able to relate to and comfort people, in some of the most difficult and most vulnerable times of their lives. My desire to learn more about the field I am enamored by is what fueled my decision to shadow a Psychiatrist.
Eager to obtain as much experience in the medical field as possible, I decided to volunteer at the Berkeley Free Clinic. My experiences interacting with patients and observing procedures helped solidify my attraction to medicine. I will never forget how it felt to sit with the first client that told me they were considering suicide; they were a student at the time, like me, struggling with their realities. Without a medical degree, I could provide them with a space to listen, I could connect with them, and provide an assessment of their potential to harm themselves, and then give them a set of steps that would help me protect them and others. Working through this type of emotional struggle with someone was the most rewarding experience I have ever had volunteering.
One year later, seeing this same person happy and healthy, showed me the power of listening, connecting, and providing those steps for one person, could make a difference. Having lost members of my family to suicide it was difficult to sit with someone while battling the urge to jump up and protect them from themselves; but, this also gave me a sense of power within the practice of medicine, being able to apply what I had learned in my personal and professional life to help people with emotional battles create a better future for themselves and their loved ones.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I wanted to gain further experience in the medical field and apply the skills I learned in medicine as a volunteer. I landed a position working at a Lesbian friendly, non-profit Sperm Bank; and, working at a Sperm Bank was unlike any previous clinical experience. On the first day that I walked into the office, I was unsure of what to expect. A rush of questions ran through my mind: Is this the right job for me? Will I be effective in helping these women? Will I enjoy what I do?
A couple of hours later, these questions were largely forgotten as I shadowed a donor within his health history, and listened to why he wanted to be a donor after having been the child of a donor himself. Soon afterwards, I was discussing the legalities of sperm donation. As I shadowed the genetics counselor, she analyzed a four-generation health history, looking at tiny sperm swimming through a microscope. By the end of the first week I realized how much I could aid women in the creation of their own families traditional or otherwise. The importance of counseling, listening and patiently explaining for a client had become clear; this made me realize how much I enjoyed the whole experience. Teaching women, first-hand, how to take charge of their fertility was empowering, and asserted that the medical field was for me. People can be empowered to take charge of their healthcare and their lives and giving them more knowledge and resources can empower them. Sometimes it takes working at a lesbian non-profit sperm bank to really understand what empowerment can mean in healthcare.
Finding myself torn between these two types of medicine has left me with a passion for both. I believe attending medical school will give me the well-rounded education to fulfill my dream to become a Psychiatrist or Gynecologist. With the variety of programs, flexible schedules and affordable payments I will be able to pursue many options. Medical school is my dream, and I believe it can make that dream a reality. My interest in medicine arose with an enjoyment of science. Over and over, people ask why I want to become a doctor. Having the ability to help others, especially diverse people, provides me with an incredible fulfillment; this, helps me see my life entering a more positive and fulfilling career path.
The program I so wish to be a part of will exhibit a strong social justice. I hope to attend a medical school with a "Prime" program that has a focus on creating physicians that would work in low income or disadvantaged communities. I really want to work with people that may not have access to quality healthcare, and attend a school that focuses on serving minority that are often discriminated against in health care settings. The volunteer work I’ve done, with different communities, my entire life has meant so very much to me; it has shaped me into the person I am today. I’m looking for a teaching program, a medical school or program that is patient, not just research focused, and one that is challenging, but encourages students to work cooperatively instead of competitively.
A lifelong dream, I am prepared to dedicate myself to achieving my goal of practicing medicine. To start experiencing the fun, yet academic, college experience, gaining knowledge and skills, and enhancing my career and professional life overall would mean the world to me. There are several things that shaped my decision to pursue my life long goal of practicing medicine; situations that lead me to make a life-long commitment of helping and empowering others, while making the world a better place one person at a time. From a young girl with a flesh eating bacteria, volunteering at Berkley Free Clinic and a unique clinical experience, I have realized my passion lies in practicing medicine. I would love the opportunity to use my dedication, passion and eagerness to devote my time to pursuing a well-rounded, knowledgeable, practical and compassionate study into medicine.
I have come to see medicine as my ultimate education and career goal, the culmination of my experiences in public service, shadowing physicians, and serving as a resource and guide to women and families has made me realize my dream lies in practicing medicine. In many ways, my heart never wavered from that small hospital room with that 16 year old girl, her skin disorder and the compassionate doctor. Becoming a knowledgeable, caring, responsible physician who others trust is without a doubt a challenging and arduous journey; yet, I am excited, because it is the most worthwhile journey I will have ever embarked upon and I embrace it with the same passion as every patient, clinical study and volunteer opportunity I have had to date; it would be an honor to study medicine with doctors and mentors who exhibit the same passion for medicine as I do.