My earliest
impression of medicine occurred when my mother repeatedly required the
assistance of physicians in dealing with her chronic migraine headaches. Her
doctors were always there for her, day or night. The respect that my parents
bestowed on doctors, and the doctors' ability to ease suffering, sparked a
desire to one day become a physician myself. This was an ambitious goal for
someone coming from a family in which no one had obtained a professional
degree. However, my traditional family-oriented culture, emphasizing doing good
for others, contributed to this decision to pursue a career in the medical
field. Furthermore, the American individualistic spirit gave me the confidence
and opportunity to undertake a challenging medical career.
I also had
the chance to gain some firsthand experience in the medical profession when I
volunteered for over a year in the emergency room of a regional hospital. From
my volunteer experience, I learned the importance of organization and effective
communication skills, and I was exposed to the diversity that exists in my
community. It has also demonstrated to me why the American health-care system
is the best in the world; I saw some knowledgeable minds using some very
sophisticated equipment. But I also saw many ways it can be improved. For
example, uninsured homeless and immigrant people would often come in,
complaining of problems they had been having for a long time. Although we would
treat these people as best we could, a health-care system that intervenes in
such sicknesses earlier would have minimized costs associated with treating
diseases in their later stages.
As a
doctor, I hope to participate in these changes in order to benefit more people
than are currently being served. Doctors should be able to serve people of all
different races, ages, backgrounds, and cultures. I intend to use my skills and
unique experiences to achieve this vision of what I think a doctor should be.
