Second draft! Any feedback is helpful!

[la03]

As a six-year-old, I remember playing with my dolls on the foyer floor of my childhood home. My dolls were my patients and I worked overtime to rush them to the emergency room, cure them of their ailments, and send them home feeling better than when they arrived at my “emergency room”. There was always something about the medical field that intrigued me.

 

As an adolescent, I never directly interacted with my physician but always met with the physician assistant, who remains a huge inspiration to me. She was always extremely knowledgeable, made me feel comfortable in the office, and was a fantastic role model. I will never forget how she made me feel like a part of the healthcare team by allowing me an active role in my treatments. As a result of her compassion, my trips to the office were laced with anticipation. All of these qualities are ones I hope to emulate as a physician assistant.

 

Throughout my teen years, I excelled in the sciences in high school. After doing especially well in my AP Chemistry class, I did some research and believed I would make a great pharmacist. However, it was not until I took AP Biology and Human Anatomy as a senior that I felt true passion for a subject. I would study for these classes during all my free periods; I loved the intricacies of the human body, the wonders of our world, and learning about how even the most seemingly insignificant parts of nature work together to produce life. At the time that I took these biology classes I was already enrolled to begin at UConn as a pre-pharmacy major. Despite my newfound passion, I went ahead with my initial decision.

 

I did not feel fulfilled as a pre-pharmacy major. I realized that I wanted to have a more hands on role with patients in my future career. It was then that I acknowledged what I had already known for a couple of years: I wanted to be a physician assistant. This brought me to UMass Dartmouth as a Biology major with a pre-health track and I absolutely loved it. The most fulfilling years of my life were spent here and I feel lucky that I was able to learn from some of the greatest minds in the field.

 

Desiring the chance to work with patients, I pursued classes to become a certified nursing assistant. Between studying, classes, and working another job, I tried to get as many hours in as possible as a CNA. I have been able to work closely with my coworkers, nurses and visiting physicians to provide exceptional patient care which has further convinced me I am pursuing the right career. Recently, my hard work has earned me a promotion to medication manager, a position in which I am responsible for the administration of medications to all residents at the facility, discussing medications with their families, and working closely with the pharmacies. I perform these duties in conjunction with my nurse aide duties. More valuable than the medical experience, however, is the life experience I have gained working as a nurse aide. I have watched residents whom I have worked closely with pass away, I have washed their paper-mache skin, and I have listened to their stories of times past. This, more than anything, is what great healthcare is about. The healthcare skills I have accumulated as a nurse aide and the opportunities to connect with patients and their families will be crucial as a physician assistant.

 

My story would not be complete if I did not cite my grandfather, who is my greatest inspiration. Just after beginning my job as a nurse aide, I lost him to a heart attack quite unexpectedly. The day before he passed away, we spent the afternoon working on my car and spent the evening relaxing. When I received a phone call the next morning telling me he had had a heart attack, I was devastated. The loss of him was extraordinarily difficult for me but my grandfather knew what my dreams for the future were and he was always so proud of me. He is a primary motivating force in my life and I will honor him by never giving up on my desire to become a PA.

 

Today, these are my motivations. After successfully earning my bachelor’s degree, working as a nurse aide, and experiencing what great healthcare is, I know I am ready to take on the challenge of beginning the physician assistant graduate program. I am so excited to continue my education and begin a fulfilling, challenging, and exciting career. I am sincerely committed to becoming a physician assistant and will face any challenges that present themselves along the way. As Confucius once said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

 

Thank you for considering me as a candidate for your program.