Need Help Developing a Personal Statement Topic

[EmmaPrePA]

Hope someone can help me get my personal statement off of the ground! I have a gripping but very personal topic that I want to use for my personal statement when I apply this spring. 

 

Emotional/Verbal Abuse: 

 

I was emotionally/verbally abused by my boyfriend. We dated for 3 years, lived together, and even adopted a dog together. He drew me in until I was attached, I was then verbally/emotionally abused for the next two years. I was constantly told I was not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or driven enough. One of the hardest things to hear from him was that I would never become a PA because no school would ever accept me.

It took me a long time, sometimes I think it was too long, to leave. But I did. Even though was the most difficult and emotional period of my life, I really believe it made me a stronger person overall and will help me help my patients in the future. I would love to one day be able to share my story of emotional abuse, especially with teens and young adults. 

 

I really would like to develop this topic further and think I could create a really great personal statement. I do have a few questions though, opinions are encouraged and welcomed!

1. Is this a good topic for my PA school application?
2. How can I bridge my experience so that I sound strong and empowered? The last thing I want is to sound like a victim.
3. How can I relate my experiences to becoming a PA?
4. Any other advice? Opinions? Comments? or Questions?

Thank you (in advance) for those of you who comment for all of your input and support. 

[hustleforthePAC]

Hi Emma, turn his I can't into an I can and keep doing what you're doing to prove to yourself you can. Don't let anyone tell you you can't, hope to see you post your success story on the forum soon.

 

 

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[cop to pa]

From the CASPA website:

"Essay Topic

 

In the space provided write a brief statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant."

 

While you have the makings of a compelling essay, I'm not sure that, as is, it addresses the above topic sufficiently.

[paproof]

Yeah it'd be difficult to include this information with the tone you write with here.  While discussing struggles may be appropriate for your essay, you must be tactful in HOW you present that info.

[Gallant]

First, I would make clear that you feel waited too long to leave.  No abuse is tolerable and you don't want the admissions committee any reason to question your judgment.  I don't mean to be judgmental.  I understand people get trapped in awful relationships, but I am trying to see this from the standpoint of the admissions committee.  Frankly, we have to play the game to be admitted.   

 

Otherwise, this topic has the ability to really stand out as a deeply personal statement.  If you craft it correctly it will possibly be the most memorable of all submissions.  I think you should explain what drew you to be a PA in the first place.  It sounds like you planned to be a PA before meeting him, or perhaps after you started dating.  Either way, you intended to be a PA before you ended the relationship.  Talk about what drove you to pursue a PA degree and how your interactions with him reassured you that you were making the right choice. 

 

You have the framework for a dynamite essay.  I'll be following this topic rather closely.  I'm a survivor of sexual abuse and have similar questions about how to address it during my application. 

 

Good luck!  Please keep us posted.

[EmmaPrePA]

First, I would make clear that you feel waited too long to leave.  No abuse is tolerable and you don't want the admissions committee any reason to question your judgment.  I don't mean to be judgmental.  I understand people get trapped in awful relationships, but I am trying to see this from the standpoint of the admissions committee.  Frankly, we have to play the game to be admitted.   

 

Otherwise, this topic has the ability to really stand out as a deeply personal statement.  If you craft it correctly it will possibly be the most memorable of all submissions.  I think you should explain what drew you to be a PA in the first place.  It sounds like you planned to be a PA before meeting him, or perhaps after you started dating.  Either way, you intended to be a PA before you ended the relationship.  Talk about what drove you to pursue a PA degree and how your interactions with him reassured you that you were making the right choice. 

 

You have the framework for a dynamite essay.  I'll be following this topic rather closely.  I'm a survivor of sexual abuse and have similar questions about how to address it during my application. 

 

Good luck!  Please keep us posted.

 

Thanks for your response. 

 

No need to explain yourself, I ask myself the same thing everyday!

 

Not that I need to justify myself, but the thing about emotional/verbal abuse is that YOU feel like the failure or that you aren't good enough. You can't tell it is them, everything is made to be your fault and you often feel that way for a while. Until you gain some perspective, you see the light, you figure it out, and get out of there. 

 

I appreciate your input, I haven't told my friends or family what my essay is going to be about, so this forum is my first round of feedback even though this is just my topic and not the actual essay. 

[Hendrixrrt]

Hope someone can help me get my personal statement off of the ground! I have a gripping but very personal topic that I want to use for my personal statement when I apply this spring. 

 

Emotional/Verbal Abuse: 

 

I was emotionally/verbally abused by my boyfriend. We dated for 3 years, lived together, and even adopted a dog together. He drew me in until I was attached, I was then verbally/emotionally abused for the next two years. I was constantly told I was not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or driven enough. One of the hardest things to hear from him was that I would never become a PA because no school would ever accept me.

It took me a long time, sometimes I think it was too long, to leave. But I did. Even though was the most difficult and emotional period of my life, I really believe it made me a stronger person overall and will help me help my patients in the future. I would love to one day be able to share my story of emotional abuse, especially with teens and young adults. 

 

I really would like to develop this topic further and think I could create a really great personal statement. I do have a few questions though, opinions are encouraged and welcomed!

1. Is this a good topic for my PA school application?
2. How can I bridge my experience so that I sound strong and empowered? The last thing I want is to sound like a victim.
3. How can I relate my experiences to becoming a PA?
4. Any other advice? Opinions? Comments? or Questions?

Thank you (in advance) for those of you who comment for all of your input and support. 

 

Im really new to this, and I am working on my statement as well, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. But I would approach this like a story, make it compelling. What you have so far does make you sound like a victim. Open up more and tell how the abuse empowered you and made you stronger. But don't tell it like it is just information on a page, invest yourself into it and make it read like a story. 

It think you could turn this into a really great statement.