I have fond memories of my grandmother. Whenever I arrived for a visit, she would welcome me with a huge smile and open arms. We would laugh for hours and when it was time for me to leave, she would send me on my way with lots of love and snacks to hold me over until our next visit. Then, my grandmother suffered a major stroke and was left partially paralyzed and demented. I came to realize that those fond memories of laughter and enjoying each other’s company would have to hold me over for much longer than I imagined. Witnessing her recovery process was difficult; while I was intrigued by the complexity and malleability of the brain, it was still heartbreaking to see a once vibrant woman succumb to massive brain damage and lose many of the wonderful traits that …show more content…
I have always had a natural curiosity about the complicated nature of our brains and its impact on our behaviors and personalities; my grandmother’s stroke intensified that curiosity and prompted me to consume as much information as I could and strengthened my resolve to explore neurology more deeply. During medical school, I found the neuroscience coursework particularly interesting. I was enthralled by the sophisticated structure of the brain and its complex pathways along with the functions and disorders of the nervous system. My neurology clerkship further affirmed that neurology requires superior analytical skills and eye for detail, both qualities I value and continue to hone. My neuropsychology residency cemented my passion for moving forward in the advanced study and research of neurology. I worked with exceptional