Personal Narrative: Daundre Barnaby As A Role Model

On March 27, 2015, Facebook and Twitter were inundated with the message, “Daundre Barnaby, An Olympic Sprinter from Weaver [High School] Drowns.” When I first read this, I was heartbroken. I desperately wanted it to be a mistake. Daundre was my role model. On the track, we trained daily together, and I learned to believe in myself, work hard and enjoy life. The attributes that I admired the most and have tried to apply to my own life show themselves as unwavering honesty, a strong work ethic, and a love of family and community. But as the story stated, Daundre was swept out to sea by a strong current and I was overcome by grief and was consumed with anger, frustration, and remorse. The abrupt, untimely end of my friend’s life caused me to reexamine

So, when given the chance to volunteer in the Heart and Cancer Treatment Department at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT, I was consumed with excitement. I was impressed at the amount of respect and admiration patients exhibited toward their doctors. One particular incident that still resonates with me involved an elderly woman with a heart condition. Her skin was so fragile it could rupture from anything beyond the softest touch and her eyes were so obscured with cataracts it was difficult to tell their color. Her hair was wispy over a scalp that shows signs of pressure sores, pink from constant contact with the pillow. Nervously I asked, “Miss, would you like a book or magazine?” “It depends on the type of books you have,” she replied. From there, we engaged in a lively conversation about books that she had read. In the end, she gently held my hand and said, “Thank you.” Over the coming weeks, I witnessed her losing her battle, not only with her illness but the lack of support from others. Yet my presence had caused her to smile and regain some happiness. From this, I learned that all patients need support, and I realized that even the simplest things can change a person’s outlook on life. It also became clear to me that a patient’s emotional comfort is as important as her physical health, and it is essential to consider this when treating

This understanding has allowed me to grow tremendously. Without a doubt, this process of maturing has prepared me for the rigors of medical school. There will be many new challenges even some of the worst of experiences or things will fall apart, but I know that things will get better if I take them one step at a time. With this in mind, my aim is to become a doctor who is able to stand in her patients’ shoes and be sensitive to their symptoms and try to meet all of their needs and particularly those beyond their illness. I look forward to making my dreams a reality and await with pleasure the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to improve the lives of others through