PA Personal Statement Workshop: Essay 7, “I Want to Take People From Dying to Living, I Want to Get Them Down From the Cliff.”

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1. Alicia says

   April 8, 2020 at 3:09 pm

   Hi. I would really appreciate some feedback on my personal statement please and thank you! (I know I’m about 100 characters over the limit)

   My whole life I have been searching for my purpose. I remember being a child and having these ambitious dreams of changing the world, but I never knew how. First, I wanted to be an astronaut, then a fashion designer, and even wanted to join the Peace Corps. As I grew older I was still that uncertain child swaying from one career choice to the next. I entered college as an undecided major, considering several majors before finally settling on exercise science. Little did I know this major would reveal a vast curiosity about science and the complexities of the human body that I never knew I yearned for. My love for science, my desire to learn, and passion for helping others solidified my decision in wanting to work in healthcare. Through research, and patient care experiences I have decided the physician assistant profession is right for me.

   After graduating from High Point University, I began working as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) in a hospital in an oncology unit. One night, as I was helping a patient back into her bed, she began to cry as she told me about having to tell her kids about her terminal cancer diagnosis. As she laid her frail hand on top of mine, she said to me “don’t you ever come to this hospital thinking you’re here just to do a job, because you never know when you’re making a difference in someone’s life.” For the first time in my life, in that very moment, I felt purpose, a feeling I had been craving my whole life. Although I thought the tasks I was doing for this woman were trivial at the time, she valued them, and that fulfilled me. From then on, I experienced fulfillment from my duties as a CNA, helping my patients in their most vulnerable times. This feeling of purpose and fulfillment is something I desire to feel everyday. At last, I was no longer uncertain. I knew this is where I wanted to be. The only thing missing was being able to help my patients medically. I desire to expand my knowledge, to diagnose, treat, and provide excellent patient care. I know I belong at the forefront of medicine.

   Through my patient care experiences I have learned to work both independently and as a member of a team. One night, I walked into my patient’s dimly lit room, and could see her face peeking from under a mountain of blankets. She was shivering uncontrollably, and I immediately knew something was wrong. I notified the nurse and took the patient’s vitals which were extremely abnormal. I had a feeling the patient was going into septic shock. The rapid response team rushed to the room, and after working together the patient was transported to the ICU. In this case, no one person was responsible for saving the patient. Every person within the team played a vital role in getting our patient the immediate care she needed. I’m a firm believer that no one person has all the answers. As a PA I would enjoy autonomy but would also be able to continue my love for working as a team and practice collaborative medicine.

   Working as a CNA has afforded me the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my patients, and has shown me how much I enjoy patient care. Whether my time is spent listening to my 97 year old patient tell me how he met the love of his life, comforting my cancer patient while she grieves the loss of her once long blonde hair, or helping my patient with their personal hygiene my time is valued. Being able to spend more time with patients is an aspect I admire about the PA profession. I have always been impressed by my primary care PA, who does not just complete an exam then leave but takes the time to thoroughly discuss my health, educate me, and makes sure I’m really doing okay. A patient knowing they have someone to talk to and someone who genuinely cares is equally important to health and any healing process.

   Although I work in an oncology unit, I’ve also encountered other areas of medicine. I find myself intrigued not only with the process of chemotherapy treatment, but pain management in my sickle cell patients, the precision of the sutures in my surgical patients, the complexities involved in an ectopic pregnancy, and cases that could have been avoided with better lifestyle choices. Being able to smoothly transition from one specialty to the next is a unique characteristic of the PA profession I value. As a person with a diverse set of interests, having lateral mobility is important to me. I want to continue the mission of the PA profession and improve healthcare access, and specifically to those in underserved communities. I want to work in primary care, but knowing there are always other specialities waiting is a satisfying feeling.

   I may not be living out my childhood dreams of changing the world, but as a PA I will have the opportunity everyday to change each and every one of my patient’s world. Each patient I have had the privilege to take care of has taught me what it feels like to be fulfilled and have a purpose, and for that I am thankful. I am ready and dedicated to take the steps to help my patients further, and I know that day will come. I know I will become a PA.

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2. Kim says

   October 24, 2015 at 8:49 pm

   I plan to submit this on my CASPA form any feedback is appreciated.

   Everyone has something in their life that opens their heart and mind to helping others. The desire and yearning to help others is an essential trait for a potential physician assistant. For me it was apparent with the introduction of fibromyalgia into my daily life. Fibromyalgia has become a rosebush in our family. There are many thorns and blossoms. Thorns we are sure to encounter and blossoms we intended to enjoy when they bloom.

   I am determined not to let the thorns get in the way. During my career in healthcare insurance, while working a case that included a clinical study I saw symptoms that exemplified the same symptoms my husband was experiencing. During this time, I was able to attend a fibromyalgia seminar designed for clinicians. I learned of a doctor in our area who was studying this syndrome. I managed to get my husband in for an appointment with one of his associates. After many tests and ruling out other potential diagnosis, his diagnosis was fibromyalgia.

   We were relieved to know what the problem was. This diagnosis came at an age ten years younger than his mother’s diagnosis for the same condition. A rheumatologist later diagnosed my daughter with fibromyalgia at the mere age of sixteen. This was at the height of her athletic ability and ten years younger than her father was diagnosised. Understanding the problem has allowed our family to stay away from the thorns in our rosebush and we can stay closer to the actual blossoms.

   Understanding the underlying parts of the syndrome of pain and triggers for different symptoms allow us to stay closer to the actual roses in our rosebush. There currently is no cure for this syndrome. The treatments for each individual are different. We have cultivated treatments, which allow my husband and daughter to function a somewhat normal life. Just like a rose, the underlying thorns are there but we see more of leaves and smell the fragrance of the rose.

   This chronic condition is a part of our family life. We believe the treatment will produce many roses in our rosebush. As a physician assistant, I believe it is possible to nurture our rosebuds to flourish and mitigate the presence of the thorns.

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