- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
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- 11
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I am wondering how I should go about dealing with my DUI conviction when I was seventeen years old, I am twenty-two now. During my junior year in high school I was having a very low point in my life. My brother passed away from a drug overdose the year before and my mother was going through her second divorce from an abusive alcoholic/cocaine user who was my step dad. During my junior year I crashed a vehicle and broke my neck which initially caused me to fall into a deeper state of self hate because of the physical limitations this placed on me, though I have since fully recovered. I received a DUI the summer after my junior year and that in collaboration with the death of my best friend only two weeks after my DUI charge due to his father driving intoxicated shocked me into a state of self reflection and unfortunate reality.
I in no way advocate my actions or in any way am attempting to justify what happened by dismissing my responsibility. After my best friend's death I attempted to put my life back together and with the inspiration I felt from my orthopedic surgeon decided that I wanted to better myself and my community by pursuing an elusive dream of becoming a doctor. I moved out of state to go to college in order to truly start my life over and have since had no offenses or anything negative on my record. I completely changed as a person and feel like I don't even know the person I used to be; however, it is unfortunately still a part of my past. I was forced to mature at a very young age and I hope that I can convey this to an admissions committee. I am wondering how I should go about addressing this in my application since I will be applying one year before I will be able to expunge it from my record, even then it will be visible to a licensing board but hopefully they will be understanding.
Should I address it in my personal statement? I am ashamed of the DUI and regret it in many ways but am, in at least some part, thankful for it because it gave me a very harsh reality check that I needed and I would not be the person I am today having not had it and my other losses happen. This is why I am not afraid to confront my past, but I am wondering where would be an appropriate place to confront it. Like I said I have a 3.82 cGPA and a 3.79 sGPA with a 36R MCAT. Any advice is appreciated even if that is, "your chances are slim to none" because I realize the burden my actions have had and will continue to have on my life but I hope to embody my past and be empowered by my mistakes.
I in no way advocate my actions or in any way am attempting to justify what happened by dismissing my responsibility. After my best friend's death I attempted to put my life back together and with the inspiration I felt from my orthopedic surgeon decided that I wanted to better myself and my community by pursuing an elusive dream of becoming a doctor. I moved out of state to go to college in order to truly start my life over and have since had no offenses or anything negative on my record. I completely changed as a person and feel like I don't even know the person I used to be; however, it is unfortunately still a part of my past. I was forced to mature at a very young age and I hope that I can convey this to an admissions committee. I am wondering how I should go about addressing this in my application since I will be applying one year before I will be able to expunge it from my record, even then it will be visible to a licensing board but hopefully they will be understanding.
Should I address it in my personal statement? I am ashamed of the DUI and regret it in many ways but am, in at least some part, thankful for it because it gave me a very harsh reality check that I needed and I would not be the person I am today having not had it and my other losses happen. This is why I am not afraid to confront my past, but I am wondering where would be an appropriate place to confront it. Like I said I have a 3.82 cGPA and a 3.79 sGPA with a 36R MCAT. Any advice is appreciated even if that is, "your chances are slim to none" because I realize the burden my actions have had and will continue to have on my life but I hope to embody my past and be empowered by my mistakes.