Secondary response idea

[gabid2b]

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I wanted to get some opinions if my ideas for these secondary prompts are effective

(1) Interacting with someone different from you

I was going to reflect on a professional situation here. Working in computational clinical research, I was the only member with a strictly BME background and not computer science. So we had very different ways of approaching some of the clinical questions we wanted to investigate. The experience challenged me to reach outside of my skillset and develop programming skills by working with one of our institutions CS professors. Big takeaway: Learned value of interdisciplinary teams and knowing when to reach out for guidance. Note: Would it be better to reflect on a more personal situation and not profession here?

(2) A time when you asked for help

During college, I had multiple family deaths as well as parents go through a tumultuous divorce. I realized once my grades declined that semester that this grief was contributing to being withdrawn socially and academically. I went to my advisor at school who helped me develop a new strategy for successfully navigating my classes. I also shared my family situation and my advisor suggested that some type of counseling may be useful. I suggested this to my family and we all ended up going to family counseling which tremendously helped us to establish a new normal and stability as my parents established separate households. Big takeaway: asking for help is not a point of defeat nor weakness. Knowing when to do so is an extremely useful skill. Doing so efficiently requires a lot of self-awareness that can be useful for approaching unique personal and professional challenges in the future

@Goro @Faha

 

[Med Ed]

#1 should definitely focus more on a personal situation than a professional one. This question is rooted in the fact that medical students (and then physicians) will invariably have to interact with patients, peers, and colleagues who are quite different from them. The tale of an engineer interfacing with a computer scientist does not really get at what they're asking for.

#2 is good, IMHO.

 

[LindaAccepted]

I wanted to get some opinions if my ideas for these secondary prompts are effective

(1) Interacting with someone different from you

I was going to reflect on a professional situation here. Working in computational clinical research, I was the only member with a strictly BME background and not computer science. So we had very different ways of approaching some of the clinical questions we wanted to investigate. The experience challenged me to reach outside of my skillset and develop programming skills by working with one of our institutions CS professors. Big takeaway: Learned value of interdisciplinary teams and knowing when to reach out for guidance. Note: Would it be better to reflect on a more personal situation and not profession here?

(2) A time when you asked for help

During college, I had multiple family deaths as well as parents go through a tumultuous divorce. I realized once my grades declined that semester that this grief was contributing to being withdrawn socially and academically. I went to my advisor at school who helped me develop a new strategy for successfully navigating my classes. I also shared my family situation and my advisor suggested that some type of counseling may be useful. I suggested this to my family and we all ended up going to family counseling which tremendously helped us to establish a new normal and stability as my parents established separate households. Big takeaway: asking for help is not a point of defeat nor weakness. Knowing when to do so is an extremely useful skill. Doing so efficiently requires a lot of self-awareness that can be useful for approaching unique personal and professional challenges in the future

@Goro @Faha

#2 works.

For #1, the details will make it work or fail. You will have to describe more the differences you faced and how dealing with those differences led you to value interdisciplinary teams and seeking guidance. Furthermore, since that's part of your takeaway from #2, I think you'd have to go more with the first take away. Finally multi-ethic is not the same as multi-disciplinary so you'll need to align that part of the essay too. Basically, this one needs some more thought to make it work. It has potential, but it's not there. And there might be something else that works better in the context of that particular secondary.

 

[gabid2b]

Thank you all for your responses, extremely helpful

 

[gabid2b]

#2 works.

For #1, the details will make it work or fail. You will have to describe more the differences you faced and how dealing with those differences let you to value interdisciplinary teams and seeking guidance. Furthermore, since that's part of your takeaway from #2, I think you'd have to go more with the first take away. Finally multi-ethic is not the same as multi-disciplinary so you'll need to align that part of the essay too. Basically, this one needs some more thought to make it work. It has potential, but it's not there. And there might be something else that works better in the context of that particular secondary.

Thank you. After some reflection I have another idea for #1.

I work in a very conservative area which was highlighted when all of the events of 2020 transpired. These events inspired a lot of important conversations in many workplaces across the country. I did not want our team to miss out on an opportunity to broaden our cultural/social awareness by not having these conversations. However, I was initially reserved in doing so because many had alluded to being against the protests. As the only Black person on my team, I spearheaded discussions about all of the recent events and cast a spotlight on how people who were interested in getting involved could practice active allyship. I was actually pleasantly surprised at everyones empathy and many requested further resources from me to help them learn more. Big takeaway: Realized how important engaging with individuals from different backgrounds is to the collective movement towards greater social equity.

I guess my hesitation with this route is referencing politics especially in the workplace which may be inappropriate to do.

@Med Ed your further input would be appreciated as well!

 

[LunaOri]

I like that new idea!

 

[LindaAccepted]

Thank you. After some reflection I have another idea for #1.

I work in a very conservative area which was highlighted when all of the events of 2020 transpired. These events inspired a lot of important conversations in many workplaces across the country. I did not want our team to miss out on an opportunity to broaden our cultural/social awareness by not having these conversations. However, I was initially reserved in doing so because many had alluded to being against the protests. As the only Black person on my team, I spearheaded discussions about all of the recent events and cast a spotlight on how people who were interested in getting involved could practice active allyship. I was actually pleasantly surprised at everyones empathy and many requested further resources from me to help them learn more. Big takeaway: Realized how important engaging with individuals from different backgrounds is to the collective movement towards greater social equity.

I guess my hesitation with this route is referencing politics especially in the workplace which may be inappropriate to do.

@Med Ed your further input would be appreciated as well!

Much better approach. You have the foundation of a strong response there.