In desperate need of feedback! - Personal Statement

[futureERPA]

Hello everyone! I finished editing my personal statement but I don't know if it's there yet. Does it show who I am? Does this essay make me an ideal candidate? I have a thick skin so be as critical as you can be! Please and thank you!



"Sana, sana, colita de rana; si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana." It means “heal, heal, little frog's tail, if you don't heal today, you'll heal tomorrow." My mother used to sing this Spanish children's rhyme to me whenever I got hurt, and as an energetic and hyperactive kid she sung it to me often. I would get scrapes practicing karate, burns baking a cake, or bruises playing volleyball. The activities were meant to help my boundless energy and yet despite them all it was the aftermath of these activities that would keep my attention; the scrapes, cuts, and bruises. Curiosity always took over and I began to wonder what could be done to heal my injuries. Do I need an ice pack? Band-Aid? A children’s rhyme? Regardless of the injury, I knew that I would always recover and that fact fascinated me, ultimately leading me to pursue a career in medicine.

 

As a graduate of the University of California - Irvine, I studied a variety of subjects including physiology, ecology, evolution, microbiology, and anatomy. My thirst for learning in these areas pushed me to explore clinical aspects of medicine and I sought a position as an emergency room volunteer. It wasn’t until I volunteered at the St. Joseph Hospital of Orange that my desire to become a physician assistant (PA) solidified. As an emergency room volunteer I had the opportunity to shadow a PA. One moment that stands out in particular was when he dealt with a patient with a large abscess on her right armpit. Maintaining his professional calm, the PA carefully started the procedure and soon asked me to assist. I jumped at the chance, nervous and tense at my first time actually working with a patient. I did my best to emulate the PA’s attitude and watched as he finished the procedure. I couldn’t help but admire the PA and note how the success of the procedure not only relied on the wide variety of medical skills of the PA but also his attitude. The ability to be calm, courteous, crack jokes, and inspire these feelings in your patients and coworkers is something I deeply respect and hoped to achieve. That same PA suggested that if I wanted to gain more experience with direct patient care with patients, I should become an EMT.

 

As I started working as an EMT alongside the Santa Monica Fire Department, I was excited to go on calls and demonstrate, mostly to myself, what I am capable of. It was during my first critical medical call when I was truly able to see what that would entail. A call went out for a 68-year-old female with an altered mental status. Upon arrival at the patient’s residence, I immediately noticed her pale skin, sweating, and confused expression. The patient’s vitals were within normal range but my gut feeling told me otherwise, due to her staring at nothing in particular. While en route to the hospital, the patient suddenly displayed a glazed look to her right side and eventually became unresponsive. Her blood pressure decreased, respirations became minimal, and her heart rate skyrocketed. As the paramedic began intubating the patient, I took on other responsibilities: spiking an IV bag, placement of 12 EKG leads, obtaining vitals, and so on. The paramedic handed to me the bag-valve-mask and with no hesitation, I took the bag and began ventilations.  Once we arrived at the hospital and patient care was transferred, I was finally able to take a deep breath and stretch out my cramped hands, knowing I trusted my instincts and medical knowledge, doing all I could to assist in saving the patient. 

 

I am glad I followed the PA’s advice about becoming an EMT as I am more confident in myself and my patient care skills. As I continue to develop my abilities and knowledge in the field, my interest in medicine only continues to flourish. After working for almost a year, I still love taking the initiative to help sustain a patient’s life and the feeling of accomplishment that comes when patients’ express their gratitude for our services.

 

I found that the PA profession has many advantages that the physician profession does not. The versatility in my education and healthcare experience is more in line with that of a PA, who has the ability to transfer their expertise and skills from one specialty to another. The frenetic pace of PA life and the versatility of their skill set connects me to my childhood of ever rotating activities. My experience as an EMT has further served to reinforce the notion that managing large skill sets is something I excel at, as well as something I am thoroughly engrossed by. While my interest lies mainly in emergency medicine, I am someone who is interested in all aspects of medicine and being a PA gives me the flexibility to work in other specialties. I want to utilize my current and future medical knowledge and experience to educate, advocate for, and treat my patients to the best of my ability. Whether I was inspired from my cuts and bruises as a child or a simple children’s rhyme, I can not wait to continue on my path to become a PA.

[Raynet]

I should be able to help. Email me at rsnettles7414 at gmail dot com.