personal statement for medical school

As professionals climb up their way to success, a wide gap is created between them and the larger part of the society who benefits most from their expertise. As more professionals reach higher qualifications by specializing in their own fields, these pedigreed members of the society command exorbitant salaries, and thus, the average and the less fortunate service buyers became alienated from the much needed expert services. Medicine is one such field, and the irony is most aspiring students build their dream upon a noble cause of service the less privileged and the needy. Whatever happened to the Hippocratic Oath today is a mysterious phenomenon that ethics should investigate. My intent in starting this journey to the medical field is founded on two things – mastery of the medical sciences and dedication of my acquired skills to those left out by the current practice.

I grew up in Mexico with a brother and a hardworking single mother. Early on, I appreciate the true value of education, and that opportunities for those left out in the race is narrow. I see this social picture is being faced my many people in Mexico, and possibly the rest of the United States. Our life went on by making the most of what is available because we were not socially affluent enough to launch a platform of success from what we had. After high school, the thought of migrating to the United States haunted me, and this is the easiest yet most difficult decision I have in my whole life. I know that the best opportunity and quality of life is waiting for me in the land many dreamed to step on, but my attachment to the family, friends and the unique culture back home pulled me on the other end. Nevertheless, I took the leap to follow my dreams, and I don’t regret it.

Four year had passed and the change in my life began an irreversible trend leading to what I earlier planned. My dream of practicing medicine born to me slowly began to take concrete shape. I was fortunate to special access to friends and family in Mexico who are involved in medical practice, and this meant opportunity to volunteer in some positions that allowed me to test my interest in the field. During my high school days, I spent holidays and summer vacations in emergency rooms and operating rooms of our local hospital. My enthusiasm and sense of comfort was noticed by others, and soon my reputation grew up and was treated like a medical student. They allowed me to assist with sutures, x-rays, and other medical procedures involving patients. I am thrilled by this experience which somehow made me secure of the path I have chosen for my future.

I did not mind language and cultural barriers as a new immigrant, having been in the honor roll after admission to a community college in New York. The vow I made to reach out the least fortunate remained alive, and I found myself in the board of directors of a prominent community service organization. Despite hectic time limitations, I use my time outside of studies to community service: residential care centers, beach clean-up, troubled adolescents and orchestration of alcohol awareness week in my campus.

I am proud to have stayed in the roll of excellent students. While qualifying for the University Honors Program, I also served as a Vice-President of the American Medical Association’s student chapter. This initial success is my passport to enter special graduate level courses, which gave me a wonderful insight in shaping my future interests. I have been conducting a research work, as part of my honors thesis, with three prominent Cardiologists and the ________ Cancer Center. My part is focused on transnational studies along the line of engineering new and more effective cancer drugs.

I have to work full time to fund my four years in college and my living expenses since my family is unable to support me. But financial deficiency turned into a tremendous opportunity to spend those paid working hours with medical professionals. At the ______________ Medical Center, I was admitted as a laboratory technician in the Oncology Department. My experience there taught me that a physician would be doing great if the staff providing support are also doing good, and that given the hierarchical structure and politics in the medical world, there is no substitute to a good team to provide the best care possible to a patient.

I have given enough sacrifice to achieve academically while pursuing the career of my life – which is to be a future physician-scientist here in America. My passion for research has driven me fascinated to the study of genetic engineering. But what keeps me inspired is that obligation I volunteered to take on to share my ability for the benefit of everyone in the society, most especially the underprivileged segment where I belong.

Photo Credit : sohum