A toneless rush of air exited my fife for about the hundredth time that Saturday morning. I began to get frustrated. When will I ever get this stupid instrument to make the beautiful notes that the more experienced fifers produce? Maybe it’s broken, I thought to myself. An older member of the Corps who, unbeknownst to me, was quietly observing from afar finally came over and offered to help. “Blow across the hole like you’re spitting a sunflower seed. That’s how you get air down into the hollow shaft so it can make a sound!” I tried that, and was delighted with the result. My first note! It seemed so easy and made all the sense in the world when explained to me in such a simple manner. Learning and teaching are things that I value and appreciate …show more content…
It became abundantly clear to me that I found much of the material easier to learn and understand if I was able to tie it to its functional role in the body. It was at this point, too, where I began to take my own health and nutrition more seriously, understanding it in the context of what I learned in the classroom. In addition, I joined Big Brothers Big Sisters because I missed connecting with people younger than myself. I became a hospice program volunteer because I wanted to devote some time doing other important work in the community: namely being there for people who wanted someone to spend their days with as they neared the end of their lives. I also began tutoring fellow students. As time passed, things began to come together. I realized my interactions with fifes and drums recruits, my “little brother”, hospice patients, and fellow pupils had elements of the interactions that effective physicians must …show more content…
I believe few other careers have the potential to quench my thirst for knowledge like that of medicine. That being said, I realize that there is far more to being a good doctor than just being intelligent. It is the ability to use this information to try and understand what is wrong with a patient and how to promote better health, to read verbal and nonverbal cues, and to develop an intimate, trusting, and personal rapport with the patient. The prospective of working together to find a solution to an underlying problem fascinates