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So I thought I'd post a rough draft of my Personal Statement which "outs" me to the med school admissions committtees. Hopefully those who don't understand why my sexuality is relevant might understand in this context. Then again, you still may not understand, but either way, I would love to hear some comments, and those who want to post similar gay essays, I'd love to read them as well. Thanks all!
TD
I have never wanted to be a teacher, architect, or businessman and ever since I was five, I could not see myself doing anything else with my life other than medicine. Though at such a young age it was difficult to explain my reasons for it, as I grew up every subsequent experience with medicine thereafter simply confirmed this desire and helped to further my understanding of it. Some of the most influential experiences drawing me to medicine were ones I had during my many travels abroad. By being exposed to societies and people in developing worlds from Africa to Asia to South America who lacked access to basic health care and knowledge, I was able to sculpt my goal into one that had a more specific purpose. While working as a nurse's aid at an inner city hospital in Dakar, Senegal, I endured the patients' environment and their sicknesses including the ubiquitous and potentially devastating malaria. I also shared in their love of music, dance, their graciousness and importance of family. Thus, I gained a rare opportunity to reach a higher level of understanding of the people and the need for more doctors who were affordable, accessible, and who truly cared for them. I also developed a strong sense of the importance of continuity, perseverence, and a sense of humor in spite of my environment. As a volunteer at the free clinic for the homeless youth, I was exposed to the realities of young people living on the streets. Many were there at no fault of their own, including being banished from their homes for being gay. My perspective about the homeless changed greatly and I vowed to return one day to care for them as a doctor.
Finally, my most significant experience in medicine has been working as a Clinical Lab Technician at Swedish Family Medicine where I work in the inner city of Seattle with the poor, indigent, and immigrant populations. Such a diverse clientele was a joy to work with as I felt as though I was helping to provide care to a population that was in desperate need of it. It is here that I learned through my own experiences with the patients, in shadowing the director, Dr. Tuggy, in clinic and a few residents while on rotation in the main hospital about the finer points of being an excellent physician. The doctors and residents here have been amazing examples to me of people who have dedicated their lives to community medicine by providing high quality care in an underserved area. They have taught me that a key to practicing medicine is establishing a rapport with each patient by gaining their trust through a combination of professionalism, warmth, sincerity, following through on promises, listening, and a sense of humor. When performing phlebotomy, it is essential that I have the patients' confidence that I am capable of drawing their blood efficiently, causing the least amount of pain. Fortunately, I have been able to use my travel experiences and language skills to create an instant connection with the immigrant population, while integrating the aforementioned characteristics in establishing confidence with all others.
One of the most trying, yet amazing events in my life was one that I could never have planned or foreseen. The last two years since college forced me to face myself more than ever and come to terms with my lifelong struggle against my own sexuality. When I finally accepted myself as being gay enough to expect others to do the same, I had gained a great appreciation for the importance of maintaining my integrity, in being true to myself as well as to others. I also gained a clearer sense of what being tolerant truly means. In acting as a part of the majority population my whole life, I was only sympathetic to the plight of the minority populations and I never truly understood or empathized with what they were and are forced to endure. Now that I am part of a very controversial minority, my tolerance, empathy, and compassion for these people have grown exponentially. I have felt and endured discrimination because I am simply being who I am and have witnessed its tremendous injustices.
To this end, the last few years have greatly influenced my intention to practice medicine in that I want to serve communities both internationally and domestically that have the greatest need for physicians; especially those who are impartial to the social situations of the patients, the low compensation provided by Medicaid and Medicare, and who truly care for their well-being both during and after their treatment. More importantly, I want to be a voice for the unheard and persecuted in the medical field. As a physician, I would provide a haven for those in communities which are heavily discriminated against for being poor, immigrants, minorities, or gay because I would deliver a high level of quality of care to all patients, blinding myself to my own personal feelings and prejudices. I want to be there so that they will have a provider who speaks their language, has an understanding of their culture, or is open to discussing any issues involving their alternative lifestyle. I only hope that by being an outspoken and upstanding physician, that I may break the stereotypes and create a bridge between those who are intolerant and those who are intolerated.
TD
I have never wanted to be a teacher, architect, or businessman and ever since I was five, I could not see myself doing anything else with my life other than medicine. Though at such a young age it was difficult to explain my reasons for it, as I grew up every subsequent experience with medicine thereafter simply confirmed this desire and helped to further my understanding of it. Some of the most influential experiences drawing me to medicine were ones I had during my many travels abroad. By being exposed to societies and people in developing worlds from Africa to Asia to South America who lacked access to basic health care and knowledge, I was able to sculpt my goal into one that had a more specific purpose. While working as a nurse's aid at an inner city hospital in Dakar, Senegal, I endured the patients' environment and their sicknesses including the ubiquitous and potentially devastating malaria. I also shared in their love of music, dance, their graciousness and importance of family. Thus, I gained a rare opportunity to reach a higher level of understanding of the people and the need for more doctors who were affordable, accessible, and who truly cared for them. I also developed a strong sense of the importance of continuity, perseverence, and a sense of humor in spite of my environment. As a volunteer at the free clinic for the homeless youth, I was exposed to the realities of young people living on the streets. Many were there at no fault of their own, including being banished from their homes for being gay. My perspective about the homeless changed greatly and I vowed to return one day to care for them as a doctor.
Finally, my most significant experience in medicine has been working as a Clinical Lab Technician at Swedish Family Medicine where I work in the inner city of Seattle with the poor, indigent, and immigrant populations. Such a diverse clientele was a joy to work with as I felt as though I was helping to provide care to a population that was in desperate need of it. It is here that I learned through my own experiences with the patients, in shadowing the director, Dr. Tuggy, in clinic and a few residents while on rotation in the main hospital about the finer points of being an excellent physician. The doctors and residents here have been amazing examples to me of people who have dedicated their lives to community medicine by providing high quality care in an underserved area. They have taught me that a key to practicing medicine is establishing a rapport with each patient by gaining their trust through a combination of professionalism, warmth, sincerity, following through on promises, listening, and a sense of humor. When performing phlebotomy, it is essential that I have the patients' confidence that I am capable of drawing their blood efficiently, causing the least amount of pain. Fortunately, I have been able to use my travel experiences and language skills to create an instant connection with the immigrant population, while integrating the aforementioned characteristics in establishing confidence with all others.
One of the most trying, yet amazing events in my life was one that I could never have planned or foreseen. The last two years since college forced me to face myself more than ever and come to terms with my lifelong struggle against my own sexuality. When I finally accepted myself as being gay enough to expect others to do the same, I had gained a great appreciation for the importance of maintaining my integrity, in being true to myself as well as to others. I also gained a clearer sense of what being tolerant truly means. In acting as a part of the majority population my whole life, I was only sympathetic to the plight of the minority populations and I never truly understood or empathized with what they were and are forced to endure. Now that I am part of a very controversial minority, my tolerance, empathy, and compassion for these people have grown exponentially. I have felt and endured discrimination because I am simply being who I am and have witnessed its tremendous injustices.
To this end, the last few years have greatly influenced my intention to practice medicine in that I want to serve communities both internationally and domestically that have the greatest need for physicians; especially those who are impartial to the social situations of the patients, the low compensation provided by Medicaid and Medicare, and who truly care for their well-being both during and after their treatment. More importantly, I want to be a voice for the unheard and persecuted in the medical field. As a physician, I would provide a haven for those in communities which are heavily discriminated against for being poor, immigrants, minorities, or gay because I would deliver a high level of quality of care to all patients, blinding myself to my own personal feelings and prejudices. I want to be there so that they will have a provider who speaks their language, has an understanding of their culture, or is open to discussing any issues involving their alternative lifestyle. I only hope that by being an outspoken and upstanding physician, that I may break the stereotypes and create a bridge between those who are intolerant and those who are intolerated.
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Is it such a good idea to paste your PS into a forum?
