PA draft #3 (hopefully, last!!)

[muchi]

Soooo i read the writing tips that are posted and cleaned up my essay a little more. Hopefully, my final draft so ANY advice has my gratitude. Thank you!!

 

It seems like yesterday, we were in the endocrinologist’s office, waiting anxiously with numerous troubling thoughts running through our heads. (i know, kinda corny. any alternate suggestions?) My brother was gaining weight uncontrollably. We were told his bone age was delayed and an autoimmune disease was suspected. The only autoimmune problems we knew of were devastating diseases and this put Mom beside herself with worry. In walked the woman who would be our “go-to” person for the next several years: a physician assistant (PA). Though I did not realize it then, this experience served as the catalyst for my interest in medicine and my current aspirations.

 

During my first two years at Loyola, I also worked to pay for my expenses. Though having a job caused my grades to be lower than desired, the experience was invaluable. I have always considered myself a team player and this job helped me hone that skill. Being a sporting goods store, employees were put into teams and team members would constantly change. This helped me become a dynamic and flexible person. I realized that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and the most effective way to get things done is to work together. The saying “two minds are better than one” took on meaning for me. Although I learned a lot, it made me realize I did not want a future in the corporate world. There was no room for personal growth or the chance to make a difference in someone’s life.

 

As I contemplated a career choice, the best advice I received was that I needed to realize who I was first and then look for the job that fit, not look for the “perfect job” and then force myself to conform. I have always felt that compassion and helping one another is essential to our humanity and this guided me towards the medical field. Being a biology major, I noticed I always found the “relation to health care” parts of our textbooks absolutely fascinating. I remember the excitement I felt when I learned why the tetanus vaccine is given every ten years.

 

I decided to go out and observe what the medical field was about so I began volunteering at ZA Medical Center. At first, I only aided the staff in office duties but I would get continuous glimpses into the doctor-patient interaction and my curiosity was piqued. I began to shadow the doctor and witnessing the doctor’s passion and what she meant to her patients made me realize that I needed to be in the medical field. Once, a patient came in with a possible ACL tear but due to financial hardship, he could not afford any imaging tests or medications. The doctor spent hours calling every hospital and imaging center in the area until she secured the best care for the patient. To call this selfless effort my job would be truly gratifying.

 

I then began to research medical careers; doctor and pharmacist were a few but none completely “clicked.” Some had scarce patient contact and others left little time for family or personal growth. But when I came across PA, my mind instantly went back to sitting in that endocrine clinic with my brother. What had impressed me most about the PA was how sincerely she cared for our family. We called her for any health problem my brother had, whether it was related to his hypothyroidism or not, and the support and expertise she provided cannot be understated. She gave us medical support as well as emotional support and being treated like people instead of just patients made the experience manageable. That is what I want for my future; giving everything I have to make someone else’s life a little bit better.

 

To understand the profession, I shadowed two PAs at Rush University Hospital. Discussing the profession with them and witnessing their work first-hand thoroughly convinced me this was the profession for me. The way the PAs and the physician complemented each other was enjoyable to see; what the physician would forget the PA would cover and vice versa. Also, the PAs did not seem like “assistants” as they ordered labs and conducted physical exams independently. I saw the frustrations that come up, like non-compliant patients, so I realize that the job is tough, which is attractive. Both PAs agreed that the best part of their job was ‘putting together the puzzle’ as a team and thus providing the best possible care.

 

I believe there is more to a career than money or prestige. The PA profession requires sincere compassion for humanity and will allow me to act upon my ideals. The time I have spent shadowing PAs has strengthened my conviction that I fit this profession. It encourages things I value, like teamwork, critical thinking, and cooperation; all things this world can use a lot more of. Few people can make the entire world a better place for everyone but everyone can try to make the ‘little world’ around them a better place. I know that being a PA will allow me to pursue my own interests and give me the opportunity to care for and give back to my little world. Hopefully, I can become that “go-to” person for someone.