R
Riley
Guest
((Hello. I'm in the process of applying to medical residency programs, and I've written my personal statement, but I don't really like the way it turned out. Can anyone please give me feedback on it? Also I feel like it could be longer, but I have no idea what else I could write that wouldn't be just a bunch of fluffy nonsense.))
When I was twelve years old, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Without even a moment of hesitation, I answered that I wanted to be a physician. Since then, I haven’t wavered in that decision. Everything I have done in my life has been with that goal in mind. In high school, I had the opportunity to join a 3+4 affiliation program between Slippery Rock University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. I entered the program immediately, knowing that this would help me reach my goal even faster.
Although I knew I wanted to be a physician, I didn’t have a clear idea what that really meant until my third year of medical school. One of my first patients on my very first rotation was a middle aged man who presented with jaundice. The next day an abdominal CT scan showed a mass in his pancreas, and an ERCP confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It was upsetting to me that a patient I had grown so fond of had such a poor, and probably fatal, prognosis, but that was the moment that I really understood what it meant to be a physician. It’s not about being able to solve every medical mystery. To me, being a physician is about having not only the knowledge, but also the compassion to help people through the most difficult times of their lives.
When going through my third year clerkships, there was nowhere that this principle felt more important than in obstetrics and gynecology. Being able to have a lifelong relationship with patients was always very important to me. In obstetrics, I found that I was able to help, not only with the most difficult parts of patient’s lives, but also with the happiest. The first time I delivered a baby, I knew that this was the right field for me. This was only confirmed later that day when I assisted with a D&C. That small, simple procedure was enough to convince me that I wanted to be in a field where I am able to use my hands. Obstetrics and gynecology is the perfect mix of surgery and medicine.
My hard working nature along with my strong sense of empathy will allow me to grow into a capable obstetrician, and I hope to have the opportunity to pursue my love for this field through residency and into my career as a physician. I am looking forward to developing the clinical skills and knowledge base necessary to provide the best care for my patients. It is my dream to enter this unique and challenging field which combines the ability to perform various surgeries and procedures with clinical knowledge and compassion. I know that when I achieve this goal, I am going to have a rewarding and fulfilling life.
When I was twelve years old, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Without even a moment of hesitation, I answered that I wanted to be a physician. Since then, I haven’t wavered in that decision. Everything I have done in my life has been with that goal in mind. In high school, I had the opportunity to join a 3+4 affiliation program between Slippery Rock University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. I entered the program immediately, knowing that this would help me reach my goal even faster.
Although I knew I wanted to be a physician, I didn’t have a clear idea what that really meant until my third year of medical school. One of my first patients on my very first rotation was a middle aged man who presented with jaundice. The next day an abdominal CT scan showed a mass in his pancreas, and an ERCP confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It was upsetting to me that a patient I had grown so fond of had such a poor, and probably fatal, prognosis, but that was the moment that I really understood what it meant to be a physician. It’s not about being able to solve every medical mystery. To me, being a physician is about having not only the knowledge, but also the compassion to help people through the most difficult times of their lives.
When going through my third year clerkships, there was nowhere that this principle felt more important than in obstetrics and gynecology. Being able to have a lifelong relationship with patients was always very important to me. In obstetrics, I found that I was able to help, not only with the most difficult parts of patient’s lives, but also with the happiest. The first time I delivered a baby, I knew that this was the right field for me. This was only confirmed later that day when I assisted with a D&C. That small, simple procedure was enough to convince me that I wanted to be in a field where I am able to use my hands. Obstetrics and gynecology is the perfect mix of surgery and medicine.
My hard working nature along with my strong sense of empathy will allow me to grow into a capable obstetrician, and I hope to have the opportunity to pursue my love for this field through residency and into my career as a physician. I am looking forward to developing the clinical skills and knowledge base necessary to provide the best care for my patients. It is my dream to enter this unique and challenging field which combines the ability to perform various surgeries and procedures with clinical knowledge and compassion. I know that when I achieve this goal, I am going to have a rewarding and fulfilling life.
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