bismah
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2025
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 1
Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals:
After emigrating to the United States, my family of five lived in a two-room basement apartment, surviving on my father's meager annual earnings as a taxi driver. My sisters and I received SNAP food cards every three months to cover our food expenses, and our first home was cited for a fire hazard during a code inspection, forcing us to relocate immediately. These early experiences motivated me to work harder and volunteer in my local community, allowing me to make meaningful connections and engage with others who faced similar challenges. They also inspired me to pursue a clinical job as a polysomnographic technician, which allowed me to support myself and contribute to my family's finances, while continuing to support patients who may be facing physically and emotionally vulnerable moments.
Additionally, during my freshman year of college, I received heart-dropping news after my mom went in for a physical check-up and was told to get a mammogram and a thyroid ultrasound. Two weeks later, her test results came back, and they were not good. Her mammogram showed abnormalities, and two large nodules on her thyroid required further examination through needle biopsy to check for potential cancer.
My mom has always been my biggest supporter. She helped me with homework, taught me how to walk, worked two jobs to support our family, and inspired me to become a physician. Just the thought of losing her consumed me. As a freshman adjusting to new classes and trying to keep up with extracurriculars, this news became a heavy emotional burden.
Little moments would trigger memories: my mom cooking dinner for our family, giving me a kiss on the forehead before bedtime. The thought of losing her, with only those memories left, was unimaginably painful.
Though this was a difficult time for me and my family, being part of the Rutgers community, volunteering at the farmers market, shadowing physicians, and meeting patients at Bayonne Internal Medicine Clinic gave me strength. Taking vitals or observing physicians interact with patients allowed me to connect with people who may have been going through similar emotional turmoil. These experiences gave me purpose and reminded me that even small actions, like listening or offering care, can be deeply meaningful.
This time in my life highlighted the fragility and value of health. It taught me the vulnerability that patients, especially those facing life-altering diagnoses like cancer, experience. It taught me humility and appreciation for life. Now, when I meet a patient, I do not just see a diagnosis or a medical history. I see a human being a mother, wife, a sister, a daughter. I try to understand the emotional toll they may be carrying behind their illness.
Despite these obstacles, I have continued to persevere through financial hardship while living, working, and growing alongside the Rutgers University community. My education and volunteer work in the heart of New Brunswick have allowed me to become deeply integrated into its diverse environment, giving me a broader perspective on poverty and the health disparities that affect my community. This understanding has profoundly shaped how I will approach patient care and advocacy as a future physician.
After emigrating to the United States, my family of five lived in a two-room basement apartment, surviving on my father's meager annual earnings as a taxi driver. My sisters and I received SNAP food cards every three months to cover our food expenses, and our first home was cited for a fire hazard during a code inspection, forcing us to relocate immediately. These early experiences motivated me to work harder and volunteer in my local community, allowing me to make meaningful connections and engage with others who faced similar challenges. They also inspired me to pursue a clinical job as a polysomnographic technician, which allowed me to support myself and contribute to my family's finances, while continuing to support patients who may be facing physically and emotionally vulnerable moments.
Additionally, during my freshman year of college, I received heart-dropping news after my mom went in for a physical check-up and was told to get a mammogram and a thyroid ultrasound. Two weeks later, her test results came back, and they were not good. Her mammogram showed abnormalities, and two large nodules on her thyroid required further examination through needle biopsy to check for potential cancer.
My mom has always been my biggest supporter. She helped me with homework, taught me how to walk, worked two jobs to support our family, and inspired me to become a physician. Just the thought of losing her consumed me. As a freshman adjusting to new classes and trying to keep up with extracurriculars, this news became a heavy emotional burden.
Little moments would trigger memories: my mom cooking dinner for our family, giving me a kiss on the forehead before bedtime. The thought of losing her, with only those memories left, was unimaginably painful.
Though this was a difficult time for me and my family, being part of the Rutgers community, volunteering at the farmers market, shadowing physicians, and meeting patients at Bayonne Internal Medicine Clinic gave me strength. Taking vitals or observing physicians interact with patients allowed me to connect with people who may have been going through similar emotional turmoil. These experiences gave me purpose and reminded me that even small actions, like listening or offering care, can be deeply meaningful.
This time in my life highlighted the fragility and value of health. It taught me the vulnerability that patients, especially those facing life-altering diagnoses like cancer, experience. It taught me humility and appreciation for life. Now, when I meet a patient, I do not just see a diagnosis or a medical history. I see a human being a mother, wife, a sister, a daughter. I try to understand the emotional toll they may be carrying behind their illness.
Despite these obstacles, I have continued to persevere through financial hardship while living, working, and growing alongside the Rutgers University community. My education and volunteer work in the heart of New Brunswick have allowed me to become deeply integrated into its diverse environment, giving me a broader perspective on poverty and the health disparities that affect my community. This understanding has profoundly shaped how I will approach patient care and advocacy as a future physician.
