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Originally Posted by QuikSilver This really means a lot to me... Flame it as much as you like in the asylum...but dont post it up!
“There is one more child in there”, yelled a bystander. "Nobody go in there! It is too risky", said the firefighter. Without hesitation, I dashed into the building searching for the child. As the heat began to engulf the entire building, I found the stranded child and swung him over my shoulder. Just as the ceiling began to collapse, I kicked down a flaming side door and exited to safety. After having performed a tracheotomy on the child with my pocket knife and a drinking straw, the ambulance arrived to take the child to the local hospital. This event, however, did not happen (fortunately for the child). Instead my evolution of coming to terms with wanting to become a doctor has comprised of many experiences and personal revelations, rather than one dramatic moment in my life.
I presume I was first drawn towards the field of natural sciences when I was a high school sophomore in Lebanon. After having finished studying for a biology test, I opened the text book and began to question the basis of all the theories I had just learned. How did the scientists deal with their hypotheses? How did these theories come about? Mr. Abi-Rashid, my high school biology teacher, put it best, “Science never answers a question without posing ten more.” My increasing interest and curiosity led me to further probe the broad field of science in order to find my niche.
I then left Lebanon and came to the United States in order to complete my final year in high school. Many things were left behind; however, I still had that passion for science. “Blood is pumped from the left atrium to the right ventricle where it is later delivered to the rest of your body via the aorta” said my high school anatomy and physiology teacher. I was moved by the intricate workings of the human body. Understanding human anatomy and physiology reminded me of playing a piano sonata; where each note meant very little alone. It was, however, the collection of notes played seamlessly that held significance; just as the details of anatomy are truly significant when taken as a whole. Towards the end of my high school senior year, I was introduced to Dr. Shebaya, a cardiologist, who allowed me to shadow him for a day. It was a new experience for me because I had never before visited a hospital without the intent of seeing an ill friend or relative. It was truly eye opening to see how he utilized his medical knowledge to tackle real life scenarios.
Until then, I had viewed a doctor as a medicinal expert whose only role was to dish out medical advice and write out prescriptions. However, the comfort and friendliness with which Dr. Shebaya dealt with his patients immediately changed my outlook; I had now truly appreciated the social aspects of being a doctor. My mind was finally set on becoming a doctor; however, there was still much to learn about the demands involved in the role.
My first two years of university were very demanding because I had to juggle my heavy job workload with my classes. Because of this, I had little time to devote to my extracurricular endeavors. However, as soon as I had some leeway with my financial burdens, I began to volunteer at various clinics and hospitals. It was these experiences that allowed me to fully appreciate the demands that are placed upon a doctor and at the same time gain valuable insight into the medical profession.
A particular experience at the urgent care clinic I volunteered at had a profound impact on me. Everything seemed to be going well that day; only a handful of patients with minor injuries had visited. However, before I knew it, a young teenager barges in with his mother yelling: “He ate some walnuts. I think he is having an allergic reaction!” Suffering from anaphylactic shock, the boy’s head had swollen up like a balloon. I immediately summoned the doctor and tried to calm the mother and the child. When the child was seated, I was instructed to get epinephrine. I dashed to get the epinephrine shot, and handed it to the doctor. The doctor skillfully administered the shot, while constantly reassuring the mother and keeping her son calm. This is a prime example of the skills that I want to acquire as a doctor; which is the perfect balance of physiological knowledge and social ability or awareness.
My evolution of deciding to become a doctor has taken a path of many experiences. These experiences have been surmised into one idea; the bridging of two worlds in medicine. I now realize that science complements the social aspect of medicine. I have constantly had a spirit of diligence and success, which resonates throughout my academic, personal, and social experiences. Therefore, I am confident that I have the dedication, and personal experience to become a great addition to your school. |