ABOUT ME

MY MOTIVATION

Ever since I can remember, my dream was to become a physician. It was pretty set for me. I didn’t know why it was a “physician” because even my parents didn’t like the fact that I have to see blood every day, which isn’t entirely true. However, my goal to become a physician didn’t solidify until I went through several valuable experiences. Those experiences allowed me to learn perseverance, resilience, and dedication. 

Multiple challenges hit me when my family moved to America. According to my research, becoming a doctor in the United States requires almost a decade of education after college including vigorous amounts of time in challenging subjects, mental and physical stress, and heavy responsibilities. The factor that scared me the most was the lack of connection or knowledge in the field and the resulting hardships. My family and I didn’t know where to even start in a country full of uncertainties. With no experience of anything whatsoever, my perspectives toward any career path were extremely narrow, let alone in medicine.

To broaden my perspectives, I took as much advantage of the courses that were offered to me. However, it was not as simple as it seemed. A sudden move to Texas which has a different grading scale than Alabama forced me to work even harder to become competitive, taking mostly AP classes. I continued to work harder, spending hours after school to bug teachers who were gratefully willing to help. After all, I wasn’t completely new to adapting to a different environment. These continuous efforts projected to finding positions at hospitals. However, even after countless applications and emails and qualifying requisites, I was turned down. Thankfully, with the help of fellow students and professors from various organizations, I was able to find positions in hospitals. The resilience I gained from these experiences gave me the confidence to continue pursuing a study in medicine.

My motivation solidified after my experiences at a hospital. I was given the chance to attend one of the appointments. It was the first time both the patient and the doctor met. During that appointment, the doctor asked various questions pertaining to their lifestyle habits, medical history, and current illnesses. The conversation revealed extremely private information about the patient. Some answers dealt with sensitive topics that are hesitant to talk about even with a family. With a passive and indifferent response from the doctor, the patient slowly relaxed and was willing to share. The appointment went smoothly, and soon, the patient was able to leave with the prescriptions. After sharing the stories with the doctor, the patient not only seemed relieved but also brighter in such a short time. When the patient visited again, there was a certain intimate bond that existed between the doctor and the patient. The intimacy felt between the doctor and patient was completely different from the intimacy between individuals in society. The intimacy from regular interactions usually starts out with a well-presented and refined version of self which progressively becomes truer as they get closer. However, the intimacy built between a doctor and patient starts out completely raw, forcing them to reveal their darkest side. A patient is given the ultimate trust of confidentiality of their weaknesses, their vulnerability rather it is physical or mental. It is a miraculous moment where both doctor and patient do not and cannot hide behind well-crafted personas. This raw intimacy, for me, could only be found between me and my family. Being able to create and witness this relationship was incredible. 

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There was significant growth in my personality through experiences and hardship. I was pushed to refine my strengths and mediate my weaknesses. I was pushed to communicate, empathize, and understand. Being a physician requires an individual to constantly push themselves to be better, to minimize their mistakes, and to learn and adapt. Having this dream to become a doctor has led me to valuable realizations. I want to continuously grow as an individual, and a career in medicine fulfills this desire. In my opinion, pursuing a study does not only allude to academics but also to experiences in the field of medicine. Therefore, holding onto these realizations and experiences, I will continue to persevere, challenge, and overcome. I want to prove that dreams do come true.