Medical School Personal Statement

Along my path to discovering what it means to be a physician, I have experienced great doubt that this is the right profession for me. I knew I could be a successful student, but I was terrified that I lacked the confidence to take charge as a leader. I explored the medical field in various ways to find clarity. Ultimately, my decision to pursue medicine was solidified by my experiences shadowing, becoming a leader on my campus, and volunteering as an EMT. I gained insight into the profession and developed confidence in myself. I can now definitively say that this is the field to which I am called to devote my life.

For much of my life, I was successful in school but I often held myself back. I was never a leader because I never saw myself as one. I lacked assurance in myself which made my transition into college difficult. My belief that I was unprepared to confront the challenges I faced prevented me from being happy at Cornell. Transferring to Fordham did not improve how I was feeling as I had hoped it would, and I felt defeated. I came to the conclusion that I could continue getting by, or I could learn to face new experiences and embrace them as opportunities to make myself better. From that point, I devoted myself to confronting the new and uncomfortable experiences that scared me most. Eventually, I grew in ways that I never had before and found myself more fulfilled than ever.

My love of medicine was the dominant motivator for bringing about change in myself. I began to shadow and this reignited my passion for the field when I saw the impact of healthcare on both the patient and the physician. Viewing medicine from the perspective of the provider helped me realize that this is what I am meant to pursue. I used my new understanding to actively explore the medical field and motivate me to cultivate the leadership skills I lacked. I pushed myself to be more involved in my community by pursuing what I was passionate about and I emerged a more confident student and leader.

I expanded out of my comfort zone by founding the Fordham Surgical Society and establishing its presence among the student body. I completed months of paperwork, drafted a constitution, and worked with university officials to create the organization. From there, I amassed club members, garnered funds, and planned workshops. The most difficult part was finding the confidence to lead the club. There were times I considered abandoning my efforts because I was afraid that I was not fit to be a successful club president. My passion for my project helped dispel unhelpful thoughts about my abilities. I worked hard to develop the strength and skill set of a leader. This was difficult and the transition did not occur instantaneously, but I became increasingly better at making decisions and running events. More importantly, this process helped me realize that I am capable of adapting to new roles and able to work on my weaknesses and turn them into strengths. This discovery helped me develop greater confidence in myself which has translated to other activities.

I began expanding into other leadership roles, particularly by volunteering with Fordham’s EMS. Working as an EMT was instrumental in the development of confidence as a medical decision-maker. I discovered that not just knowledge makes a competent provider, but the ability to command a situation. Although I was gaining confidence in my skills, being a leader in a medical context was uncomfortable at first. I was doubtful that I could exert my authority to make decisions on demand. I turned to the leaders around me and devoted many hours to improving my competence. Within a few months, I not only made progress through my Crew Chief training, but I was feeling more capable. I learned to constructively and calmly deal with challenges and became capable of managing a scene, providing patient care, and delegating tasks. I became an officer, first as the Medical Executive of Supplies, and then the Associate Director of the organization. I only recently recognized how far I have come during this process. I never thought that my once timid personality would allow me to excel as a leader. My tenacity allowed me to develop skills I once lacked. I learned to cope with challenges and manage various responsibilities, making me a more confident decision-maker.

My decision to apply to medical school was strongly affirmed through my exploration of the field and leadership experience. At this point, there is simply nothing else I can see myself doing. My active involvement in patient care has shown me where I belong. I could pursue other similar interests, but nothing does what medicine does for me. No other subject ignites my desire to be challenged and to be better in quite the same way. With medicine, I know I will always be pushed and captivated. I am able to appreciate the difficulty that I will face but see it as a way to always be improving myself. Though my periods of questioning were difficult, I came through with more confidence in my abilities and the passion and tenacity to be successful. I want to become a doctor because I have found myself through my pursuit of this career and nothing excites me more than devoting my life to medicine.