Personal Statement

As a child, I was always interested in science. Specifically, I was fascinated by the amazing ways in which the human body works. Each new topic I learned about heightened my interest further. Continuing through school, I began to take more and more biologically centered courses and took several of the healthcare oriented classes through my high school. It was becoming very evident to me that my life would include a career in some form of healthcare. It wasn’t until my mother became ill; however, that my passion for practicing medicine manifested. In 2013, my mother was diagnosed with a grade IV brain tumor and later on developed a therapy-induced blood cancer. This diagnosis started a very long journey and learning experience that lasted until October 28th, 2017. At the beginning, none of the information I was hearing made any sense, which made me feel helpless in many ways. I wanted to understand the information so that I would be able to help my mother in any way possible. I decided to make each doctor’s appointment, lab visit, chemo or radiation treatment, biopsy, and transplant a learning opportunity.

After observing nurses, doctors, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, etc. it became clear that I wanted to be a medical provider. Like all those who don’t know much about the roles of the different types of providers, I pursued medical school thinking it would be the best choice for my life. However; as the years went by, my personal life began changing. As my mother’s health began to deteriorate, I took on more responsibility in her healthcare. I was also married and started many new adventures with my husband in August 2016. All of these changes opened my eyes to the fact that medical school and becoming a physician would take me away from the many aspects of my life that I