Hello. I am a 35 year old Registered Nurse. I am finishing my bachelor's degree in biomed this summer and am getting ready to apply to MD/DO programs. I need to revise my personal statement and would like some feedback.
For starters, I have been a nontraditional student my entire college career. I was kicked out of highschool as a result of my struggles with addiction and alcoholism and the resulting pattern of behavior. I struggled with this from the age of 12 to 21, finally overcoming it and getting clean, which I have been for the last 14 years, still very active in my ongoing recovery. I got back into school at 22 and became a Certified Nursing Assistant, working full time for 7 years and putting myself through school. I became an RN at 30 and then continued to pursue my bachelor's degree.
Since a very young age I have had the dream of becoming a doctor and helping people heal. Because of my choices during my pre-adolescent and adolescent years, I thought that dream was dead. However, my desire, my confidence and my belief in that dream were rekindled during my work as a CNA and have only been fueled by my continued patient contact and increasing clinical experience. The dream is very much alive and the desire is stronger than ever.
I am here at the behest of a physician colleague of mine. He is of the opinion that my story should be shared in my personal statement as a testament to my determination and resiliency in the face of adversity. However, another physician, of an older generation, believes that i should briefly mention difficulties I have faced and not elaborate on them at all, focusing primarily on my clinical experience while maintaining the theme of determination.
My question is, how much of my story should I share, if any, in a personal statement? I am compelled to share it because it is what makes me unique and has played a central role in my development and character. It is part of what makes me who I am. I don't want to omit it, nor do I want to trivialize it.
I appreciate any and all feedback.
For starters, I have been a nontraditional student my entire college career. I was kicked out of highschool as a result of my struggles with addiction and alcoholism and the resulting pattern of behavior. I struggled with this from the age of 12 to 21, finally overcoming it and getting clean, which I have been for the last 14 years, still very active in my ongoing recovery. I got back into school at 22 and became a Certified Nursing Assistant, working full time for 7 years and putting myself through school. I became an RN at 30 and then continued to pursue my bachelor's degree.
Since a very young age I have had the dream of becoming a doctor and helping people heal. Because of my choices during my pre-adolescent and adolescent years, I thought that dream was dead. However, my desire, my confidence and my belief in that dream were rekindled during my work as a CNA and have only been fueled by my continued patient contact and increasing clinical experience. The dream is very much alive and the desire is stronger than ever.
I am here at the behest of a physician colleague of mine. He is of the opinion that my story should be shared in my personal statement as a testament to my determination and resiliency in the face of adversity. However, another physician, of an older generation, believes that i should briefly mention difficulties I have faced and not elaborate on them at all, focusing primarily on my clinical experience while maintaining the theme of determination.
My question is, how much of my story should I share, if any, in a personal statement? I am compelled to share it because it is what makes me unique and has played a central role in my development and character. It is part of what makes me who I am. I don't want to omit it, nor do I want to trivialize it.
I appreciate any and all feedback.
