Medical School Personal Statement
The motivation story that has pushed me immensely to become a medical student is founded on a passionate personal history. I was 14-years-old when my family decided to migrate to the United States. At that time, I was unaware of the challenges that would come my way. I found myself in a situation where I had to be fully accountable for our day-to-day needs. I had to look for an apartment, register my brother in school, and take a part-time job for financial support. To say the least, it was overwhelming as a young immigrant who barely could speak English. When I finally entered school, it a drastic change from what I used to; this proved to be even more of a challenge. The weight of the challenges often made me question whether this was the right choice, but I pushed forward and convinced myself that I needed to be resilient.
My enthusiasm at a young age led me to acquire a job working in an ambulance. Before acquiring this job, I did not believe it was possible. I was a mere young female immigrant who could barely communicate; and yet, I knew that I had to prove my place and worth in society. These challenges encouraged me to strive better. When I got that job, I knew I was on the right path. It was unbelievable that I was the first high school student to be employed in that position. I did not want to waste the trust that was given to me, which is why I wanted to prove that my background is a positive attribute and not a hindrance. To do this, I had to be competent.
My eccentric background has led me to become a significant member of the medical team. I was fluent in Farsi and English, whereas I had a grasp as well as Spanish, Turkish, and Arabic. Later on, I realized that my multi-lingual capacity helped me transcend language barriers with other patients. Patients who were unable to communicate in English relied on me; on the other hand, I tried my best to provide comfort and reassurance that they are in the right hands. I witnessed how invaluable my contribution is to the patients. I identified their concerns and assisted them when it was possible. It also opened up my eyes to the importance of clear communication between a physician and her patient. More importantly, I learned that patients have to be treated with compassion and respect for this would be the only way that they would trust us to provide them with care.
The experiences I had during my time in that clinic also immersed me in the power of human connection. I eventually developed tools that would allow me to bridge the world between patient and healthcare provider. Due to my pursuit of getting to know the medical field more, I volunteered in an addiction treatment clinic where I faced patients who had truly lost everything. These were patients who have gone through countless deep traumatic experiences, causing them to be trapped in their predicaments. It was fulfilling providing them with sympathy. Getting to hear about their stories made me realize that being part of the medical sector was more than just writing down prescriptions: it is about bringing back the humanity we have to lose throughout time. The addiction treatment clinic taught me to value the profession from an empathetic level and to listen intently to the patients when they speak.
Looking back, these experiences merged altogether served as my guiding lights to where I am now, and why I am applying to medical school in the first place. When we pay intensive attention to the needs of others, we touch their lives and give hope. Throughout time, I have learned to extend patience. When I recall all of the people I have met, I am only even more convinced that I am to pursue medicine with no failure. There is no other profession that I could explore my passion for service than medicine. In medicine, I can interact with people face-to-face. I can utilize my extensive background and multi-cultural experiences to make even immigrants feel at home in their respective healthcare institutions. I am determined that I want to be a physician no matter how rigorous the process is. I will continue to listen and share stories as a physician who is compassionate and strong-minded.
