The Physician Assistant Essay and Personal Statement Collaborative

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1. Kelly says

   May 30, 2016 at 8:15 am

   As I inserted the intradermal under her skin, I watched her eyes close and her breath stop. For a brief moment, I felt her entire body tense and then relax back to normal after the needle was removed. “How many more?” she said. “Only about 15,” I replied. I watched her face fall slightly in anguish, knowing the end was not quite near. I made conversation to distract her by talking with her about where she was from and what she did for a living. We chatted casually as I continued her testing, finding ourselves laughing about funny stories of her two-year old son. Before I knew it, I was finished with her testing. She looked at me, smiled and said, “thank you.” I found it hard to believe she was thanking me for inserting 40 needles into her arm, but I simply smiled and replied, “you’re welcome, this is what I do.” Because at that moment I realized she wasn’t thanking me for performing her testing. She was thanking me for being someone that she could trust during a period of uncertainty. She was thanking me for being someone that she believed was going to help solve the problem that she came into our office to fix. I’ve worked in the allergy clinic for the past nine months and I can say with whole heart that I have never felt a more fulfilling feeling than patients putting their cares and doubts into my hands, and trusting me enough to believe that I can help make their life better.

   For the past four years of my education, I’ve taken countless exams, done hundreds of homework assignments, and learned more information than I ever thought possible. During the beginning of my undergraduate career, I was unsure of the my future career path, but as I progressed through my years, my courses seemed to be getting easier, even though the subject matter was supposed to be getting harder. I found myself understanding more, being fascinated by my coursework, and even being able to apply the knowledge that I learned in the classroom into the real world; whether it be with my friends, family, or patients that I encountered. During my undergraduate career, I’ve not only learned how to learn, I’ve also learned how to work for what I want and succeed in areas that are important to me.

   I am passionately motivated with an eye for detail and precision. I am a logical problem solver that also puts an immense value on relationships. I am eager to learn and grow through the ever-changing occupation of a physician assistant. I see each day as an individual opportunity to learn from people that surround me. Whether it is the patients that I see, the physician that I work under, or my coworkers that I spend hours with working alongside, I think some of most important education you can receive is from the people around you. Being part of a team has been something that has been a part of my life ever since I first stepped onto a soccer field. I am energized and empowered by the idea of working with others for a common goal. As a medical professional, every day is a different obstacle and another opportunity to better someone else through my knowledge and education. It will take a village, a team, to ensure the best care for those who I am privileged to provide for.

   The drive to become a physician assistant is not just about the love of science or desire to help people. It’s about the having the drive to solve the problems that patients don’t think have answers. It’s about being part of something bigger than myself; being able to work autonomously but also as a collective unit. It’s a calling where my academic and professional strengths converge in order to provide care for others.

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2. Kristen Reimer says

   May 25, 2016 at 11:02 am

   My rough draft, thank you for reading!

   Sitting in the back of the ambulance, I finally had a chance to look down at my foot. I hadn’t realized how mangled it was. I couldn’t even feel it, presumably the adrenaline. I had been hit by a drunk driver, which prematurely ended my final cross country season. To a high school senior hoping to place in state, this was devastating. Hoping to speed up my recovery, I researched the human body to find some quick answers. My results turned up empty, but I realized how amazing and intricate the body is, and why I currently couldn’t get it to “work” the way I wanted it to. Little did I know this accident would bring me to where I am today.

   The next year, college became a turning point in my life. The medical field was always something of interest, but my desire started when I became part of the Athletic Training program for the women’s soccer team. From what I had learned during my prior experience, anatomy became an interest in which I had planned to further my education in. I enjoyed the conversations I had with athletes, and they relied on me to help them on the field, both physically and mentally. Knowing that I could give someone the hope and education they needed to continue was exhilarating.

   Over the next year, the Athletic Training program was cut; leaving me with the question of what was next. Emergency medical service work came into my life when I graduated. Entering the medical field, I worked as an EMT on an ambulance then as an Emergency Room (ER) Technician at a Level II trauma hospital for the past 4 years. It has allowed me to observe the teamwork and trust that exists between the physician and the PA, and it is clear that my personality and skills best fits in the role of a physician assistant. Teamwork is no foreign aspect to me. In the ER, everyone works together to achieve patient satisfaction and provide quality care. It has allowed me to see perspective from different viewpoints, from the patient with a broken limb to the chaplain who was present to console a family during a code. With this experience I believe I am fairly equipped with essential qualities for the PA profession. The skills I have learned have only supported my reasoning for wanting to continue in this direction. I appreciate the ability to specialize in different fields of medicine readily as I am interested in both emergency medicine and trauma surgery.

   Becoming a PA is more than diagnosing and analyzing. It is the chance to renew a patient’s outlook on a difficult situation. Diseases are no longer a list of diagnostic criteria in a textbook; they take on faces and names with tangible struggles and symptoms. While treating a patient in the ER that had come in complaining of numbness in her hands, she was worried that she was deteriorating quickly because she had reviewed her symptoms on the internet. After testing had been done, the PA and I were able to help explain to her the reasoning for her symptoms. The PA was attentive, personable, and informative; exactly what I aspire to be .Ultimately the patient was discharged home with carpal tunnel syndrome, and also with a new mindset. This is a typical story in the ER, but it is amazing to see the lightbulb that goes off when a patient is able to understand their condition and what makes it better or worse. This is the reason that I believe being a PA is something that I would love to continue my life and education in.

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3. Kimberly F says

   May 23, 2016 at 12:56 pm

   One night, during a sleep over, she and I were sleeping on the couch when I was suddenly awoken but severe shaking coming from Sarah. She was having a seizure. I ran to get my friend’s mom and she knew what to do…sugar, she needed sugar. She turned blue and began foaming at the mouth; thankfully, the paramedics finally arrived. This was the first of many seizures and syncope I would witness Sarah have…It all started when I went to class, like I did every other day in fifth grade, ready to meet my friends play tag, swing, and talk about boys. Today was different; today, my best friend (Sarah) came to school with news that she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Since my grandfather, Poppop, also has diabetes, I knew this meant Sarah would have to prick her finger every day multiple times a day. “No big deal,” I thought. However, it was a big deal; diabetes is a chronic illness that affected her entire life. Medicine always interested me, so I researched in the encyclopedia, yes pre internet, where I read words like autoimmune disorder, β-cells, antigens, islet cells and understood it affected her pancreas’s ability to produce insulin, I was hooked. She gave herself shots of insulin three times a day and could not eat candy. I thought it was really unfortunate, yet fascinating, that she had to be her own doctor so I frequently asked her, “Can I give you the shot this time?” She often obliged. This really helped shape and confirm my childhood dream to be in healthcare. I did the research to be informed on illnesses ranging from strep throat, to Anna needing a peripherally inserted central catheter line to treat her infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus, to now with my mom being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and idiopathic neuropathy.
   Moreover, I am confident my passion and eagerness to learn will enable me to become an enthusiastic physician assistant (PA) student and an influential PA. It is clear I have always been interested in medicine from when I was a child giving Sarah shots to being a student who worked as a MA and went on a medical mission to Mongolia to, now, I am an adult who became a phlebotomist and who volunteers in the emergency department at Maricopa Integrated Health Systems. While I shadowed I learned how much time the PA spent with the patients with multiple ailments and through early intervention and prevention she is able to prevent diseases, such as diabetes. PAs have a unique ability to change career, gain trust from the team, develop relationships with providers, and take less time going to school and more time treating patients. Today, I am a respectable team member who makes key decisions and my opinions are valued in the administrative side of healthcare. I could remain where I am and be successful but I know I want to provide quality care and be the change healthcare needs by investing time and resources into shaping a better perception of American healthcare and provide free treatment. My life has prepared me for this educational challenge by putting up obstacles that I have overcome— I was navy wife and mother and I was the sole financial provider for my family while excelling in my classwork. I have never been more ready to achieve greatness.
   Like most new college students, I had doubts in my abilities to fulfill my dreams in medicine; but I overcame those insecurities and obtained my microbiology undergraduate degree looking forward to becoming a PA. I have excelled in difficult classes in and around the science of medicine substantiating that I would be the ideal candidate for any PA program. I have continued my education, postgraduate, striving to further my knowledge and receiving A’s in medical terminology, human pathophysiology, microbiology, developmental psychology, nursing/healthcare system and culture & diversity in healthcare. I cannot wait to begin my volunteer work for phoenix allies of community health (PACH) and I continue to look for opportunities to expand my knowledge about the healthcare field by asking my family members who contribute to it. One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou states, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” The final story I have is about a child in Mongolia who changed the way I look at cultural diversity in healthcare. While traveling the countryside, the team encountered a baby with a cyanotic heart defect caused by Tetralogy of Fallot. I learned this was not the team’s first encounter with the family. Years prior, the family had been told about the diagnosis but the town shaman informed them that his spiritual powers would heal the child and they declined treatment. The defect had gone untreated for too long and the damage was too severe for surgery. The morale plummeted among the visiting team and my emotions were tested to their limits. I have learned through classes and experiences how important high-quality, culturally competent care is and I plan to provide that. This revolution could change how some view healthcare. Some people believe providers prescribe meds to make the problem or patient go away instead of listening and providing compassionate care.

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4. Jo Lynn says

   May 21, 2016 at 5:38 pm

   There has been a long winding road that has lead me to this junction in my life. My journey began with me growing up in a military family, where service to others is not something you chose to do, it is a part of who you are. Each of my family members has gone on to serve others in a different capacity and at fifteen years old, I discovered a career that seemed to bring service to others, my love of sports, as well as my desire to practice medicine, into one perfect package. I pursued athletic training with full force and a dash of stubbornness. While in college, I never allowed my eyes to stray from the path I was on or even consider that there may be other options that met my desire to work as a medical care provider in an environment that was part of a team. I continued to push myself through graduate school by obtaining a graduate assistant position as an athletic trainer. At that point in my journey, I thought I had found the perfect fit.
   As the years have rolled on, I’ve grown personally and professionally. Watching athletes overcome adversity with a little help along the way brought me such joy. But I also witnessed the changing world of athletics, a change that began to diminish the joy these athletes felt for the game as well as my love of the job. I realized there is a bigger picture outside of athletics. At twenty-five, I had my own life changing moment when I woke up to find myself on the way to an emergency room having experienced two grand mal seizures through the night. Two days and another seizure later, I found that my life felt very different. I was not a medical provider in that moment, but a patient in a gown with electrodes attached to my scalp coming in and out of a drowsy sleep. Two weeks later I was in my first neurology appointment meeting a physician assistant (PA) that woke me up to a profession I’d heard of but never took the time to look into. She eased my fears, answered every question and took the time to make sure I was well cared for. In this moment, I knew that this was my bigger picture calling to me.
   I had heard of PAs before and during my undergraduate career, I proctored an exam to the PA students as part of my work study experience. I clicked through the slides fascinated by each photograph that had a different pathology they were required to identify. And while this moment intensified my curiosity, I ignored the feeling. I didn’t want to believe that there was anything outside of athletic training. What I loved about athletic training at fifteen, eighteen and even twenty-four years old was the relationships I was building with my athletes, the coaches and my peers. I was able to be a part of a team. I thought it was exciting to travel every other weekend for six to eight months out of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed the inconsistent lifestyle that athletic training brought to me. But through this winding road, I have found that my passion and excitement for patient care hasn’t changed, but my desire to have stability and consistency has changed. I want to continue being a part of a team, and after my experience with my neurology PA, I began to research the profession.
   I discovered that the PA profession meets all of the aspects I love about athletic training, but reaches out to a wider patient population. It would also expand my skill set as well. Being a part of a collaborative environment has always been important to me as well as the ability to work autonomously. The ability to have the best of both worlds has drawn me to being a PA at this point in my journey. My epilepsy diagnosis was the push I needed to return to school to complete the prerequisites I needed to become a PA. Over the past two years, I have maintained my full time job and have been able to chip away at courses that once intimidated me. I have spent time shadowing different PAs as well as physicians and saw that my personal experience was not one of a kind, but a part of the everyday life of a PA. These experiences have led me to believe that becoming a PA is the perfect fit for me. It has been a long process to find myself at this crossroad, but I believe Robert Frost is able to say it best, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

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5. Kaitlyn Rogers says

   May 18, 2016 at 4:58 pm

   “Kaleb,” I called out as I opened the door to the waiting area. In response to his name, a small blonde headed boy slowly slid out of his chair and looked to his mother with concern. Today was Kaleb’s four year well child check and like most children in a doctor’s office, he was nervous. “That’s you Kaleb,” his mother assured him as she grabbed her purse from the floor, “It’s your turn now!” Reluctantly, Kaleb walked toward me, keeping his head down and his mother close by. As they approached, his mother laughed softly and said, “We’re a little nervous this morning.” I smiled reassuringly and continued, “Kaleb can we see how big you are today?” I pointed to a scale on the floor, “We have to see have much you’ve grown!” After looking at his mother for reassurance, Kaleb slowly climbed up on the scale. After weighing and measuring this nervous little boy, we walked to an exam room and continued with his visit. I asked him how he was liking kindergarten, if he liked his teacher, and what his favorite book was. As we continued through the visit, Kaleb slowly became less nervous. As we were finishing up, Kaleb turned to his mother and ask, “Can I tell her about the fishes and the seahorses?!” Before I knew it he was telling me all about his family’s recent trip to the aquarium and all the things he saw there. The light in his eyes as he told me his story melted my heart. He was beaming with excitement. “That sounds like so much fun!” I said as I finished taking a few more vital signs. As he finished his story I turned to his mother and said, “I’ll let Dr. Podhaisky know he’s ready ok?” She nodded thankfully and as I left the room, I felt a warmth in my heart that I have come to know very well.

   Tiny fingers, tiny toes; tiny lips and a tiny nose. So much joy and happiness, all wrapped up in tiny cloths. My favorite thing when I was little was babies. Whether it was baby dolls or baby cousins, I was always the first in line to be able to hold them. It was my love for these tiny treasure that initially drove me to want to have a career in healthcare. Even at this young age I remember telling my parents, “When I grow up, I want to be a baby nurse in the nursery so I can hold babies all day!” As I grew older, my dream to have a career in pediatrics remained strong, and through my years of education and two years of patient care experience as a medical assistant, I have decided that a career as a physician assistant is the best fit for me to fulfill this dream.

   As many students in college do, I toyed with a couple different health care careers, trying to see which one would be the best fit for me. In high school and my first year of college I was set on going to medical school to become a pediatrician. As I finished my first year of college, I started looking into a healthcare job that would be well suited for a college student so that I would be able to gain healthcare experience prior to medical school. After careful consideration, I chose to apply to a medical assisting program. Looking back now, I can say with full certainty that this decision was one of the best ones I have made since I started college 4 years ago.

   Becoming a medical assistant opened many doors for me and has enable me to learn and experience many new things. In the past two years since becoming a medical assistant, I have learned so much and have met some of the most amazing and dedicated people. Working one on one with providers and the entire healthcare team has given me great insight into what it means to work in healthcare. Mostly importantly, it is how I decided I wanted to be a PA. When I graduated from the MA program, I started working at a privately owned urgent care in my home town. At the time I was still set on becoming a doctor and going to medical school. The four months I worked at this facility that summer, however, gave me great insight into the other ways of becoming a healthcare provider besides medical school.

   At this urgent care, there were not only doctors but also nurse practitioners and PA’s. It was one of the PA’s that first taught what it means to be a PA and how they compare to other providers. Being the only MA working each shift, I was able to spend a lot of one on one time with her and see just how the PA profession works and how it compares to being a doctor. By the end of that summer I had completed a full flip, landing with a strong desire to want to be a PA. One aspect of a PA that I find appealing is the diversity that they have in being able to work in different disciplines or specialties. I love pediatrics but have also grown to like family practice and being a PA would give me the opportunity to do either of them, not just one. Secondly, I would prefer working under another provider because I enjoy working as a team and collaborating with other people rather than “flying solo”. As I have continued my schooling in Washington, I have been working as a medical assistant with all the different types of providers, including PA’s. After two years of working alongside these providers, I feel that being a PA is the best fit for me.

   “You did such a good job Kaleb, and you were so brave!” I said as I opened the exam room door. I had just given Kaleb his four year old vaccinations and was leading him to the toy chest and stickers. “You were so brave you didn’t even cry!” his mother exclaimed proudly. After picking out his toy, he turned to his mother and I heard him whisper, “Mommy I want to give her something too.” His mother opened her purse for him and he pulled out a small red rock. “I got this on our trip” he explained and his little hands reached out to give me the rock. I was so stunned by the kindness of this sweet boy that I was almost speechless. As they turned to leave that warm feeling returned to my heart once again. It is always there, reminding me time and time again that this is truly what I want to do and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how young or old, is what inspires me to continue to pursue this career and I can’t wait to begin.
   “Kaleb,” I called out as I opened the door to the waiting area. In response to his name, a small blonde headed boy slowly slid out of his chair and looked to his mother with concern. Today was Kaleb’s four year well child check and like most children in a doctor’s office, he was nervous. “That’s you Kaleb,” his mother assured him as she grabbed her purse from the floor, “It’s your turn now!” Reluctantly, Kaleb walked toward me, keeping his head down and his mother close by. As they approached, his mother laughed softly and said, “We’re a little nervous this morning.” I smiled reassuringly and continued, “Kaleb can we see how big you are today?” I pointed to a scale on the floor, “We have to see have much you’ve grown!” After looking at his mother for reassurance, Kaleb slowly climbed up on the scale. After weighing and measuring this nervous little boy, we walked to an exam room and continued with his visit. I asked him how he was liking kindergarten, if he liked his teacher, and what his favorite book was. As we continued through the visit, Kaleb slowly became less nervous. As we were finishing up, Kaleb turned to his mother and ask, “Can I tell her about the fishes and the seahorses?!” Before I knew it he was telling me all about his family’s recent trip to the aquarium and all the things he saw there. The light in his eyes as he told me his story melted my heart. He was beaming with excitement. “That sounds like so much fun!” I said as I finished taking a few more vital signs. As he finished his story I turned to his mother and said, “I’ll let Dr. Podhaisky know he’s ready ok?” She nodded thankfully and as I left the room, I felt a warmth in my heart that I have come to know very well.

   Tiny fingers, tiny toes; tiny lips and a tiny nose. So much joy and happiness, all wrapped up in tiny cloths. My favorite thing when I was little was babies. Whether it was baby dolls or baby cousins, I was always the first in line to be able to hold them. It was my love for these tiny treasure that initially drove me to want to have a career in healthcare. Even at this young age I remember telling my parents, “When I grow up, I want to be a baby nurse in the nursery so I can hold babies all day!” As I grew older, my dream to have a career in pediatrics remained strong, and through my years of education and two years of patient care experience as a medical assistant, I have decided that a career as a physician assistant is the best fit for me to fulfill this dream.

   As many students in college do, I toyed with a couple different health care careers, trying to see which one would be the best fit for me. In high school and my first year of college I was set on going to medical school to become a pediatrician. As I finished my first year of college, I started looking into a healthcare job that would be well suited for a college student so that I would be able to gain healthcare experience prior to medical school. After careful consideration, I chose to apply to a medical assisting program. Looking back now, I can say with full certainty that this decision was one of the best ones I have made since I started college 4 years ago.

   Becoming a medical assistant opened many doors for me and has enable me to learn and experience many new things. In the past two years since becoming a medical assistant, I have learned so much and have met some of the most amazing and dedicated people. Working one on one with providers and the entire healthcare team has given me great insight into what it means to work in healthcare. Mostly importantly, it is how I decided I wanted to be a PA. When I graduated from the MA program, I started working at a privately owned urgent care in my home town. At the time I was still set on becoming a doctor and going to medical school. The four months I worked at this facility that summer, however, gave me great insight into the other ways of becoming a healthcare provider besides medical school.

   At this urgent care, there were not only doctors but also nurse practitioners and PA’s. It was one of the PA’s that first taught what it means to be a PA and how they compare to other providers. Being the only MA working each shift, I was able to spend a lot of one on one time with her and see just how the PA profession works and how it compares to being a doctor. By the end of that summer I had completed a full flip, landing with a strong desire to want to be a PA. One aspect of a PA that I find appealing is the diversity that they have in being able to work in different disciplines or specialties. I love pediatrics but have also grown to like family practice and being a PA would give me the opportunity to do either of them, not just one. Secondly, I would prefer working under another provider because I enjoy working as a team and collaborating with other people rather than “flying solo”. As I have continued my schooling in Washington, I have been working as a medical assistant with all the different types of providers, including PA’s. After two years of working alongside these providers, I feel that being a PA is the best fit for me.

   “You did such a good job Kaleb, and you were so brave!” I said as I opened the exam room door. I had just given Kaleb his four year old vaccinations and was leading him to the toy chest and stickers. “You were so brave you didn’t even cry!” his mother exclaimed proudly. After picking out his toy, he turned to his mother and I heard him whisper, “Mommy I want to give her something too.” His mother opened her purse for him and he pulled out a small red rock. “I got this on our trip” he explained and his little hands reached out to give me the rock. I was so stunned by the kindness of this sweet boy that I was almost speechless. As they turned to leave that warm feeling returned to my heart once again. It is always there, reminding me time and time again that this is truly what I want to do and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how young or old, is what inspires me to continue to pursue this career and I can’t wait to begin.
   “Kaleb,” I called out as I opened the door to the waiting area. In response to his name, a small blonde headed boy slowly slid out of his chair and looked to his mother with concern. Today was Kaleb’s four year well child check and like most children in a doctor’s office, he was nervous. “That’s you Kaleb,” his mother assured him as she grabbed her purse from the floor, “It’s your turn now!” Reluctantly, Kaleb walked toward me, keeping his head down and his mother close by. As they approached, his mother laughed softly and said, “We’re a little nervous this morning.” I smiled reassuringly and continued, “Kaleb can we see how big you are today?” I pointed to a scale on the floor, “We have to see have much you’ve grown!” After looking at his mother for reassurance, Kaleb slowly climbed up on the scale. After weighing and measuring this nervous little boy, we walked to an exam room and continued with his visit. I asked him how he was liking kindergarten, if he liked his teacher, and what his favorite book was. As we continued through the visit, Kaleb slowly became less nervous. As we were finishing up, Kaleb turned to his mother and ask, “Can I tell her about the fishes and the seahorses?!” Before I knew it he was telling me all about his family’s recent trip to the aquarium and all the things he saw there. The light in his eyes as he told me his story melted my heart. He was beaming with excitement. “That sounds like so much fun!” I said as I finished taking a few more vital signs. As he finished his story I turned to his mother and said, “I’ll let Dr. Podhaisky know he’s ready ok?” She nodded thankfully and as I left the room, I felt a warmth in my heart that I have come to know very well.

   Tiny fingers, tiny toes; tiny lips and a tiny nose. So much joy and happiness, all wrapped up in tiny cloths. My favorite thing when I was little was babies. Whether it was baby dolls or baby cousins, I was always the first in line to be able to hold them. It was my love for these tiny treasure that initially drove me to want to have a career in healthcare. Even at this young age I remember telling my parents, “When I grow up, I want to be a baby nurse in the nursery so I can hold babies all day!” As I grew older, my dream to have a career in pediatrics remained strong, and through my years of education and two years of patient care experience as a medical assistant, I have decided that a career as a physician assistant is the best fit for me to fulfill this dream.

   As many students in college do, I toyed with a couple different health care careers, trying to see which one would be the best fit for me. In high school and my first year of college I was set on going to medical school to become a pediatrician. As I finished my first year of college, I started looking into a healthcare job that would be well suited for a college student so that I would be able to gain healthcare experience prior to medical school. After careful consideration, I chose to apply to a medical assisting program. Looking back now, I can say with full certainty that this decision was one of the best ones I have made since I started college 4 years ago.

   Becoming a medical assistant opened many doors for me and has enable me to learn and experience many new things. In the past two years since becoming a medical assistant, I have learned so much and have met some of the most amazing and dedicated people. Working one on one with providers and the entire healthcare team has given me great insight into what it means to work in healthcare. Mostly importantly, it is how I decided I wanted to be a PA. When I graduated from the MA program, I started working at a privately owned urgent care in my home town. At the time I was still set on becoming a doctor and going to medical school. The four months I worked at this facility that summer, however, gave me great insight into the other ways of becoming a healthcare provider besides medical school.

   At this urgent care, there were not only doctors but also nurse practitioners and PA’s. It was one of the PA’s that first taught what it means to be a PA and how they compare to other providers. Being the only MA working each shift, I was able to spend a lot of one on one time with her and see just how the PA profession works and how it compares to being a doctor. By the end of that summer I had completed a full flip, landing with a strong desire to want to be a PA. One aspect of a PA that I find appealing is the diversity that they have in being able to work in different disciplines or specialties. I love pediatrics but have also grown to like family practice and being a PA would give me the opportunity to do either of them, not just one. Secondly, I would prefer working under another provider because I enjoy working as a team and collaborating with other people rather than “flying solo”. As I have continued my schooling in Washington, I have been working as a medical assistant with all the different types of providers, including PA’s. After two years of working alongside these providers, I feel that being a PA is the best fit for me.

   “You did such a good job Kaleb, and you were so brave!” I said as I opened the exam room door. I had just given Kaleb his four year old vaccinations and was leading him to the toy chest and stickers. “You were so brave you didn’t even cry!” his mother exclaimed proudly. After picking out his toy, he turned to his mother and I heard him whisper, “Mommy I want to give her something too.” His mother opened her purse for him and he pulled out a small red rock. “I got this on our trip” he explained and his little hands reached out to give me the rock. I was so stunned by the kindness of this sweet boy that I was almost speechless. As they turned to leave that warm feeling returned to my heart once again. It is always there, reminding me time and time again that this is truly what I want to do and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how young or old, is what inspires me to continue to pursue this career and I can’t wait to begin.

   Reply

   • Kaitlyn Rogers says

     May 18, 2016 at 5:00 pm

     I’m not sure why it repeated my essay so many times. Hopefully you can see where it starts and where it ends! 🙁

     Reply

6. Emily Huse says

   May 18, 2016 at 2:17 pm

   The classic, ever enduring existential question of the meaning of life has been pondered by scholar after sagacious scholar since the dawn of human thought. While it remains doubtful that an all-encompassing answer may ever be achieved, at a more personal level one may develop a mantra that at least partially bridges the gap between eternal uncertainty and clear understanding. For me, I believe that to be a PA would provide that answer.
   During my Cytology school interviews, I was asked to describe my life, and how that chronicle would make me a good Cytotechnologist. I immediately began describing my family. I have two sisters, one older and one younger, the younger of whom has Down syndrome. Throughout my life, my perception of my younger “handicapable” sister remained somewhat constant, but my ability to work with her adapted progressively. In order to live with a person with Down syndrome, you have to have a process. Step one: understand who she is. Step two: understand why she is the way she is. Step three: understand how to work with the way she is. What I didn’t realize during this interview is that I was describing my ability to not only be a great cytotechnologist, but to be a great asset to the health field in general. My mind has the ability to take a measured, practiced approach to matters closer to my heart than anything else. Because of my sister, I have experienced caring for someone who needs my help to live comfortably. This first lead me to work with other disabled individuals, then to a career as a cytotechnologist, and now to a career of maintaining the health of people on a much broader and greater scale.
   It was actually this interview that lead to me discovering the PA field. I was well into my studies at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, balancing 8am-4pm on campus classes, 2 online courses, and a demanding part-time job, when I began going on procedures in the radiology department. I naively asked my instructor towards the person performing the biopsy, “who is that guy?”. “He’s a physician assistant.” It intrigued me that someone who was not a physician could do such an invasive procedure. My interest was caught. Shadowing, researching, and volunteering has only peaked it higher. One situation that stands out was watching a cardiology PA immediately calm an anxious patient and intimately gain their trust. It was the kind of smooth transition I have experienced time and again from working with the mentally disabled, and it allowed her to treat the patient effectively and assure that they would return for the follow up appointment needed to adjust the course of treatment. I was also impressed by the ability of the PA’s I shadowed to listen attentively and record every detail of the patient’s symptoms and history while formulating a plan of action ready to announce at the first break in conversation. Multi-tasking is an art that takes time to perfect, and luckily the practice of screening pap smears stretches that muscle. It forces you to intake what you are seeing under the microscope, what information about the patient’s age, history, and menstrual status you have available, and the knowledge of what should be seen on a pap smear of that status all in one fluid movement across the glass slide.
   I believe the PA career to satisfy all my desires for a meaningful, health-oriented, hands-on, collaborative field with the wide job field necessary to find a position quickly post-graduation. I feel that I will be successful in a field that values independent work but allows and encourages collaboration between colleagues and higher authorities, as working as a cytotechnologist carves this art to a smooth finish. It is my impression from the short time I have spent observing that the ability to develop a successful work relationship with the supervising clinician is vital to the education and practice of the profession, which is something that is implemented daily in my current field, and is one of the aspects that attracted me most. I am also very familiar with the inner workings of the health field by working closely with staff members at all levels daily.
   Maybe someday I’ll thank my sister for unknowingly imparting her wisdom in me. Certainly, if I prove successful in this venture, my personal meaning of life will become just slightly more lucid. Utilizing my tenacious, adventurous, audacious, empathetic spirit is all I crave in a career, and all I would impart into working as a PA.

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7. Jessica Lester says

   May 17, 2016 at 2:22 pm

   As a girl, my younger brother and I were playing outside in the front yard when a strange car pulled into our driveway. An unfamiliar gentleman stepped out of the car carrying a gorgeous Japanese doll. After a friendly exchange, he handed the doll to my father before driving away. When I asked my dad why he received the gift he explained that he had taken care of the man’s wife in the hospital before she passed away. At the time, it was odd to me that he would thank my dad for taking care of his wife even though she had died. The seemingly contradictory nature of the exchange made a distinct impression on me and ultimately molded my future aspirations.

   In 2006, I had the honor of travelling to New Orleans as part of a mission trip for Hurricane Katrina relief. The powerful storm devastated the area and our service in this community was instrumental in its rebuilding efforts. The project I took part in focused on removing debris from an old home so that a new one could be built. The home belonged to a woman who was living in a small FEMA trailer with her two young children. During the hot, humid summer, we tore down the hurricane-stricken walls uncovering personal items in the rubble. When we returned the pictures and children’s toys to the mother she was overwhelmed with emotion. Despite the horrible circumstances, she was able to find hope in a few small personal effects we recovered from the wreckage. I walked away from this mission trip with a sense of purpose and meaning that I had not previously experienced. It was then that I recognized my passion and desire for interacting with others on a more personal and meaningful level. I realized I wanted to have the same effect on someone’s life as my father had on the family who gifted him the Japanese doll.

   A few years later, I would explore my interest in medicine as a medical scribe. Initially, working in the emergency department was intimidating and overwhelming. However, I quickly discovered the importance of a compassionate bedside manner. I remember assisting a physician in the repair of a laceration on a patient’s eyebrow. The man was on drugs, in police custody, and clearly ashamed by the circumstances. It was obvious he assumed he wasn’t going to be treated very well because everyone was aware of the handcuffs chaining him to the bed. As the physician was injecting an anesthetic, the man appeared very tense. I gently touched his shoulder and made a joke that probably wasn’t even funny, yet I remember seeing him completely relax at the first sign of compassion.  Though it is the critical thinking, diagnostic decision making, and medical knowledge which fuel my desire to become a Physician Assistant, the personal interactions with patients remain a core component to the provider I will be. Medicine is so much more than drugs and procedures. It’s about providing quality care in a compassionate manner. I have witnessed the positive effects of a warm smile, a listening ear, and a comforting hand. Combining those qualities with the exceptional education afforded to Physician Assistants would allow me to become the medical provider I desire to be.

   I now understand, just like the woman in New Orleans who was able to find strength during a difficult time, the Japanese doll signifies the hope the man found after his wife’s death. My father treated him and his wife with the love and compassion that can only come from a genuine place. I’ve been fortunate enough to have these healthcare and volunteer experiences that have led me where I am today. As I sit and look at that same Japanese doll, I feel as though everything has come full circle. My passion for medicine has never been one that was forced upon me, rather, I feel blessed knowing that I have been able to find my own way here. As with most things, I am sure there will be obstacles and challenges, but being Physician Assistant is what I want to devote the rest of my life to and I am ready for the journey. Providing excellent medical care is rooted in human interactions and bringing a positive attitude into every situation can have profound effects. I firmly believe I will be an asset to any program and know I will be an outstanding representative of the profession.

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8. Karlee says

   May 13, 2016 at 12:22 pm

   As children, we’re all asked what we want to be when we grow up. And as children, we all have wonderful aspirations of growing up to travel the world, to be an astronaut, or a clown, or a doctor. At a young age we don’t stop to analyze this question, until it becomes real and concrete decisions must be made. As I have come to process this important decision, I have tried to imagine myself doing what I love. I know that to be satisfied in my career I want to be both creatively and intellectually stimulated but in trying to answer this question my thoughts always come back to my hands. What do I want to with my hands? Do I wish to work them manually, turning them to leather like my grandfathers, or use them as an assistant to my mind, turned soft and delicate by the mundane paperwork of a desk job like my aunt’s? Or is it a combination of these which intrigues me?
   I have found myself most comfortable when fulfilling the role of caregiver. Whether it is my friends seeking out my advice, my long career of babysitting the children of friends and neighbors, or watching over my younger brother it is a role I find myself slipping into quite easily. This is a part of myself I have sought to weave into my future career. Prior to college I anticipated majoring in English, exercising my creativity as a teacher and caring for students to fulfill this desire. After entering into college, I began to realize that teaching English would not satisfy me the way I had previously anticipated. While I have always enjoyed exercising my creativity, the analytical part of my mind craved something more, my hands craved more action. While teaching could gratify my creative, and compassionate instincts, it was not where my heart was as I had previously anticipated.
   Through this unsure moment in my life, I began further exploring my options and I learned more about physician assistants (PA). A PA uses their hands every day, to help people, both actively and passively. Their hands are used as tools: they act as first assistant in surgery, they aid in patient procedures, and support the healthcare team. PAs also are able to activate their minds ability to creatively and analytically approach new situations through diagnosis. As I began to understand the healthcare system, and all of the moving parts which are required for it to function, I found myself constantly returning to the important role a PA plays and how I could see myself easily fitting into that role.
   I first met Darren through my work at Little Angels Center for Exceptional Care. He was the first resident I met at Little Angels and he also happened to be one of the residents who I was responsible for on a daily basis. Darren is charming. Although he is not able to speak, he uses his left hand to communicate. He gives the thumb up (along with a big smile) when he agrees, and a shake of the head when he does not. He is thoughtful and persistent and enjoys both helping with his care and interacting with his caregivers. However, Darren often gets frustrated, because he no longer has the use of his speech he cannot always communicate what he wants through only the use of his hand. When his caregivers are unable to understand him, Darren becomes physically violent. He is a large man and with the use of just his left hand he can grab, slap, and push both objects and people around him with ease.
   Darren has overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. Due to a severe injury, Darren was a paraplegic at a young age and maintains the use of only one arm. When I first began working at Little Angels, Darren had recently had his tracheostomy tube removed but still utilized his gastrostomy tube for fluids and medication. After many years of being fed through a G-tube, Darren had mastered the ability to eat and his care team was considering slowly introducing thickened liquids. This was something Darren was very animated about. He hated to be woken up for his night time medications and the thought of taking his medicine orally before he fell asleep was very exciting to him. After a few weeks of consideration and meetings with physical therapists and speech pathologists it was time for Darren to try some thickened fruit punch, his first liquid in over ten years.
   Because Darren’s stability is somewhat weakened, an assistant was able to help guide his hand towards his mouth to take his first sip of juice. Again and again he reached the cup up towards his mouth, between smiles and laughter. When he finished he dropped the cup down and slammed his fist on the table in delight. This moment in time is emblazoned into my mind and strengthens my resolve to be a PA. Darren, who had overcome so many obstacles, finally drinking a cup of juice, something which was not even a goal in his care plan a few years prior. The pleasure he felt is something I always reflect back on. It easy to forget how difficult everyday life can be for Darren when he is activing violent, but to see his progress is a reminder of how much he has overcome- and with only the use of one hand.
   Those of us who are blessed with two hands determine our impact by the work we choose to do with them. When asked why I want to be a PA, I cannot help but return to this moment with Darren. The joy he felt taking that first sip of liquid- this is the joy I want to bring to others during my everyday work. Through my exposure to the healthcare system and shadowing of PA’s I believe that working as a PA would allow me to utilize my talents of compassion, leadership, cooperativeness, and patience, but also it would provide me with many different opportunities. It would allow me to invest time in my patients, working with them during their obstacles and joining them in their accomplishments, and to do so in as many different specialties as I saw fit. However, it also promises to be the perfect opportunity that embodies what I love to do most, challenging both my mind, creatively and analytically, as well as my hands.

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9. Shawn McCart says

   May 13, 2016 at 11:56 am

   “CORPSMAN UP.” My first medical experience in a combat zone, I treated a Third Country National who had received shrapnel wound to his calf from a 50 caliber Machine Gun. His calf was almost completely blown out. Adrenaline started pumping and I started freaking out on the inside, my brain racing a “proverbial 100 miles an hour”. All I could do was stop and force myself to take a deep breath. At that point in my career I had not had any experience with severe injuries, let alone combat injuries. However, what little training I had received kicked in and I was able to do what I needed to do to treat the casualty. After I turned him over to the combat hospital I walked outside and just started shaking. The adrenaline was finally leaving me. Looking back on that moment I was scared and excited all at once. The one thing I remember about afterwards, I went and asked the medical officers what I could have done better. After giving me some pointers and lessons learned, he did say something that stuck with me, “you stayed calm”.
   Fast forward to 2013, laying in my rack in the Republic of Georgia, when entered a Georgian Soldier telling me to hurry there is a person that has been injured. I race to the site of the injury, all the while my mind a blur, ticking off my mental checklist. Upon arriving on scene, the area was in complete chaos. The Georgian medics were racing around trying to treat the patient. Calmly I intervened and quickly evaluated the patient; he was having a heart attack. Without any hesitation I proceeded to deliver CPR and calling for an immediate medevac. Once the AED was delivered, I began delivering “shocks”. Utilizing the AED and CPR, we waited for the helicopter to land. His airway was starting to close and the air wasn’t being delivered properly. So I did something for the first time in my career, I inserted an endotracheal tube. Having only inserted them into live animals, I didn’t let my lack of experience stop me. First attempt was as you would expect, a jumbled mess. The second attempt I took a calm relaxing breath and I successfully got it in. For 45 minutes I performed CPR and defibrillated him, all the while staying calm. When we landed, I did one last vital sign check, no pulse, no breath signs. I assumed he had passed on. Once I turned over the patient, something didn’t happen…I didn’t shake , there was no adrenaline rush, just a calmness. Fortunately for the patient, he did survive, thanks in part to my actions. The take away from these two experiences…I improved. From day one, I have been training and still train to this day. I am always willing and able to continue to learn ways to improve my abilities. Becoming a Physician Assistant is an example of this. It is just another step in learning the art of medicine and improving my abilities. For me, my military experiences and training as a Hospital Corpsman have been the most of what I hope for in my medical career. PA is the next logical step, allowing me to continue doing what I love, patient care and teaching. Upon completion of PA school, I will return to Active Duty. I enjoy helping those less fortunate, those in war-torn combat zones, and I enjoy teaching junior Sailors medicine. The skills of confidence, honor, courage, commitment, and leadership will provide me with the tools necessary to make me an effective PA and as a Naval officer.

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10. Teddi Lamons says

    May 10, 2016 at 9:42 pm

    By the way she looked at me, I could tell the basic stretches I was teaching her were a new concept. The manual labor she does day in and day out might be a bit easier for her now, not so painful to her neck and back. As it should be. I knew this education was going to impact her life greatly. It was heartbreaking yet life giving as I met patient after patient in Haiti, providing them with medical relief they badly needed. Because they were not doing well physically, I could tell that emotionally, they were not healthy either. Facilitating physical healing provided some mental and emotional relief for the patients, and introduced to me new passions- life giving ones. Little did I know, I would continue to experience these moments right here in California.

    I have realized that the need for facilitating total wellness isn’t just in third-world countries. I live and work in Davis, central to communities with large underserved and minority populations, in need of quality medical care. Care that not just heals them physically, but restores them emotionally. I had the privilege of sharing one of these life-giving moments with a patient from a minority group. This patient’s complex past medical history was filled with chronic conditions, daily medications, and past procedures. Due to his ailments, he is disabled and not able to support himself financially. When I looked at his chart, I just wished he didn’t have to be at yet another medical appointment. Instead of viewing him as the only thing between me and my lunch, I made sure he knew I was there to help him, both his physical needs and beyond. I did not write him off as yet another chronically ill patient, but I treated him as a person, with genuine gentleness and respect. As I completed my role of care, the patient communicated to me his appreciation by saying: “Stay in healthcare. It needs more people like you.” I did not take his compliment lightly. Because yet again, I was able to help a patient thrive, both physically and mentally.

    I realize now that this desire to see people live to their full potential began early on. When I was young, my mother, a pediatric RN, would patiently sit with me after her shifts to answer my routine questions: What was wrong with your patients today? What did you do to help them? She would often tour me around her hospital and show me what life is like in the medical field. She is kind and gentle toward her patients and their families, taking care of their physical needs and more. I have always looked up to her and how she serves her patients.

    I can recall a season of life when I was not living to my fullest potential. As an adolescent, I qualified as “obese” by definition due to a poor diet and lack of physical activity. I was quiet, lacking in self esteem, and okay with having my grade school teachers as my friends. I believe it was due to how I viewed myself, both in the mirror and in my heart. I remember being in the fitting room of Old Navy, when I no longer fit into the children’s clothes. Yet, I was much too young to be leaving the children’s section. My mom said: “This is not healthy for you.” I did not like coming to that realization that I was not doing well both physically and emotionally. So I changed. I pursued a well-balanced diet and daily physical activity. In a matter of months, I lost weight. As a result, I felt healthy, both physically and emotionally.

    As I have learned more about the medical field, and about myself, I have realized that a career in healthcare will allow me to practice my strongest joys of helping people thrive in one of the most practical ways. I feel most geared toward a career as a physician assistant because it would allow me to practice my talents and interests to their fullest capacity. I am most passionate about bring patients to total wellness by diagnosing and creating treatment plans for each patient. To me, it does not matter the patient’s background or lifestyle. I am willing to take on the challenge of having more leadership in a patient’s health plan to accomplish my goals. I could pursue this calling as a medical doctor or nurse practitioner, as well. However, I desire to be in the exam room as soon as possible. Pursuing a career as a physician assistant will allow me to do just this.

    Like the woman in Haiti, I desire to satisfy patients’ physical needs, and in turn provide them with mental and emotional relief. Like the chronically ill man, I desire to approach all patients with understanding and gentleness. And like my own story, I desire to encourage positive change, so patients are able to live to their full potential. Each patient has more than just physical needs; I am eager to take care of the emotional needs as well. I am confident that as I lead patients to thrive, I in turn will thrive for not only my benefit, but for the benefit of each patient I will treat.

    (Thank you!!)

    Reply

11. Christine says

    May 9, 2016 at 1:45 pm

    Hi, I am very stuck and doing the best I can to make this strong. Please help!

    I will never forget the events that took place when I heard the sound of sirens approaching the doors of the emergency department in which I volunteered. A medical team rushed to greet the arriving patient as I observed from afar. Within minutes, the team began to clear the room, and a man in blue scrubs grabbed my arm. I can still hear the words that were spoken to me, “There is a lot you can learn in this room, would you like to join us?” Nobody had ever reached out or given me an opportunity like this, so naturally, I accepted the offer. While doing my best to control my excitement, I joined the man in the room with the patient. He then introduced himself as one of the Emergency Department Physician Assistants.

    He then explained to me what had actually happened to the patient that was lying unconscious on the table. He was a heroine addict who overdosed that morning. The physician assistant then began showing me different things to observe on the patient. As he shined a light onto the patient’s eyes and saw no change, he said to me, “this patient has no pupillary reflex, what do you think this means.” At that moment, I realized why the medical team had left the room in such a short period of time. The man admitted that morning was brain dead. The physician assistant continued to explain to me what would happen from there. He informed me about every medication that was administered to the patient, what each should have done, and even showed me how to properly vacuum and clear the patient’s lungs. He then explained that they were running blood tests to determine whether this patient could donate his organs to save the lives of others.

    After spending a great amount of time with this physician assistant, I began to develop a passion for the profession. I then decided to shadow a physician assistant in the cardio thoracic surgical ICU at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where I decided that this was the career for me. As I observed the PA go from room to room, she explained each procedure that was done, the blood test results, and the best method to get the patient’s blood levels in ideal ranges. What stuck with me the most is that she not only explained each of these things to me, but to the patient’s families as well. Aside from observing this PA, she also spoke with me about her past, family, and how genuinely happy she was with her career. She told me that her career provided her with the flexibility of having a stable life at home while being able to help serve and heal patients at work. The balance between the two made me relate this profession to that of my father’s. As a dentist, he has balanced his professional and home life as I grew up, and this is the lifestyle that I aspire to have in the future.

    After spending many years shadowing, volunteering, and working with many different healthcare professions, I have found the one that is right for me. I am prepared and willing to take each step to reach my aspiration of providing the highest quality of care as a physician assistant. From observing the roles of different physician assistants, I was able to see that working as a team provided the patients with the best healthcare possible. I am eager to take the next step toward this career and spend my years contributing to society in the most humbling way possible, serving others.

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12. Jason says

    May 7, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    Hi guys, I would really love some guidance for my essay!

    Becoming a professional baseball player has been a dream of mine since I was about seven years old. All I wanted to do was go out back and have a catch or hit a baseball around. I was not the most talented player but I treid y best to out-work and out-hustle everybody. As I started college I realized that my chances of becoming a professional were decreasing by the day. The fall of my sophomore year year was the semester that brought a new world to my eye. While playing in a game, I went to throw the baseball and felt a pop in my elbow. Later I found out I had torn my ulnar collateral ligament and I was required to get the infamous “Tommy John Surgery”. The orthopedic surgeon told me I had to sit out of baseball for an entire year, which anyone could imagine was difficult for me to process. This was an ordinary diagnosis for the doctor so he did not seem to feel any remorse. Every singe follow up appointment I went to, it was the Physician Assistant who provided care for me. That person seemed as concerning and as caring for me as my own mother had been. They treated me with a certain degree of passion that really grasped my attention. I could tell they loved what they did day in and day out and that drew extreme interest to me. In a daunting time where I was undecided about my future, a light was brought to my eyes.
    The following fall, I began full baseball activities again and everything felt great. This was until I received a call from my father that has changed my life ever since. I was told that I needed to rush to the emergency room because my older brother had overdose on heroin. He was just out of the Air Force and he had always been someone I looked up to. Thankfully he did not die from this but it has been a constant struggle for my family ever since. But with the negative, I saw the positives. When I arrived to the emergency room, my family was talking to a Physician Assistant. Once again this person was a very sincere and caring person. I found out the name of this man and decided to go to that emergency room everyday until he was working. I was eager to ask this man if I could come in and shadow him when I had breaks during baseball. The passion he displayed for all of his patients was encouraging to me because being involved in a health care field, you have to take care for people everyday.
    My past has been a blessing in disguise. Both of these incidences have encouraged me to strive to be the best person I can become. The last few years have given me so much motivation to help people get better. Although my initial plans never worked out, I am extremely proud at where I stand today.

    Reply

13. Morgan says

    May 7, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    “Someone help!”
    “Who knows CPR?”
    “HELP!”
    Approaching the beach on perfect summer day, my best friend and I noticed a swarm of people gathering by the shore. The looks of panic on strangers faces was enough to realize something wasn’t right. As we neared, we saw an unconscious woman lying in the sand. All we could hear were the shrill cries for help from what seemed to be a family member. Before we could join the crowd, another beach-goer had sprinted over then knelt to the unconscious woman’s side. She began CPR and paramedics arrived soon after. The commotion quited, but I recall feeling nauseous because I was just one more sidelined bystander. In that very instant, I realized that I never again wanted to feel helpless, but I wanted to be apart of the solution.
    That moment wasn’t an epiphany that I wanted to be a physician assistant (PA), in fact, I had never heard of a PA until the latter end of my college career. I remember the exact day I heard the title physician assistant. I was seated at the pottery wheel in my ceramics class discussing with a fellow cohort about future careers. She told me she wanted to be a PA. After asking a few dozen questions, I went home and immersed myself in research. In a nutshell, I determined the role of a PA to be a healthcare provider with the ability to work within different specialities. This sounded enticing, however, I still wasn’t fully committed to selecting a career path at that moment in time.
    I spent the first part of my college career just going through the motions. Coursework, came easy to me throughout high school and junior college, however, that all changed when I joined the university. I was now just an average student struggling to keep up, but too afraid to ask for help. My immaturity and lack of motivation outweighed my study habits. Like many other college students, I changed my major once or twice in hopes of finding my calling. I experienced many sleepless nights of soul-searching and late-night phone calls to my mother, determined to find exactly where I needed to be in this world. Though I was still undecided on a particular career, I did know a few things: I knew that I wanted to educate, be a personal advocate for the less fortunate and the have ability to provide answers. More importantly, I knew that I wanted to serve the underprivileged population. It wasn’t until my 3rd semester that I found this aspiration that I had been longing for. Having found my passion, the motivation to study was intensified and school became more enjoyable; the increasingly good grades were just a bonus.
    During my time of soul-searching, I was granted the opportunity to shadow a PA practicing at a tribal clinic and I was more than excited. To be acquainted with a population that I am more than familiar with made the experience that much more appreciative. Before this day I was still a little unsure about my future career, however, introduction to a day in the life of a PA, my decision was solidified. A PA is a perfect balance of all things that I want in life. With this profession I would be able to check all the boxes that my heart has a want for; educating, advocating, and providing answers. I felt my heart smile that day.
    After graduation I knew direct patient care was essential to attain exposure and to reinforce my desire to practice healthcare. Before the completion of my nurse’s aid certification, I was offered a full time position at Mercy hospital to work as a Patient Care Associate. Initially, I saw the job as a bridge to my future of working in the health industry, but I have soon realized the magnitude of this experience is much greater than anticipated. Personally, I was intimidated because I was aware of my impatience tendencies. I remember during my first week of orientation there was a quote on a bulletin board that still cycles through my mind daily. It read, “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” To me, those words define a physician assistant. Working at the hospital has taught me patience, as well as given me the opportunity to really appreciate my decision to apply to PA school.
    Volunteer efforts, shadowing, and post university medical experience solidified that there was no other profession I desired more. I know that I want a career that offers a lifetime of learning, a strong patient-care provider relationship, and not only makes a living but make a difference to the under-served populations. I believe that as a PA I will fulfill my personal needs, as well as for those whose needs are more intensive. My desire to advise and teach as well as my detailed-oriented personality are characteristics that facilitate my ability to better serve patients as a PA. I enjoy working under another professional; in fact, I find that I do my best work when I am anticipating the needs of a team leader and working steps ahead of them to improve quality and efficiency. Though I didn’t have an epiphany about where I need to be in the world, I did find out who I am and who I want to be. As a physician assistant, I will never again have to feel helpless and I will be a forever be a part of the solution.

    Reply

14. Alyssa G says

    May 7, 2016 at 11:56 am

    A rectangular box from Santa lies under the tree every Christmas morning. Each year, he brings a puzzle that consists of at least 1000 pieces, so the image is never easy to put together. Regardless of its difficulty, I always find it amusing to do.

    It wasn’t until high school when my hobby was first put to use. I was intrigued when my teacher announced that my anatomy class was going to dissect a rabbit. As I explored the specimen, its rancid odor overwhelmed the classroom, but I wasn’t remotely fazed by it. I was too eager, too excited to focus on the fact that I cut into the body of an ex-Easter bunny. Each organ was convoluted like the edges of a puzzle piece, yet everything melded together cogently to make the rabbit as a whole. I was hooked.

    Science quickly became a passion of mine. I found pleasure in discovering how all the pieces of the human body coalesced, just like puzzles. I started to read case studies online so that I could further understand medical diagnoses. The more I learned, the more I knew I wanted to work in medicine as a physician assistant.

    I knew right from the start that I was going to study biology in college. During my freshman year, I took a yearlong course called Integrative Quantitative Science, which provided a cohesive introduction to biology, chemistry, math, physics and computer science. The work was rigorous and demanding, and I was disappointed when I wasn’t receiving the grades I desired. What made it even worse was that the course took up half my schedule, so the final grade I received was double the value. Consequently my starting GPA suffered. It was as if none of the puzzle pieces were fusing together and the overall picture looked unclear. Science wasn’t clicking with me, but I still continued to aspire in becoming a PA.

    My grades improved notably throughout my subsequent years of college. Organic chemistry always had the reputation of being the breaking point for science majors, yet I ultimately exceeded my expectations in the class because IQS had prepared me in multiple disciplines and scientific techniques. I studied a variety of subjects such as virology, genetics and physiology – all of which solidified my path to becoming a PA. Even my journalism classes motivated me to write, research and tell factual, relevant stories about current health issues. My ideas and approaches to science became innovative and versatile, just like PAs need to be with their set of knowledge and skills in the medical field. If presented with a problem, I have the drive similar to that of a PA — assiduous and capable of finding a valuable solution.

    I finally understood the key role that PAs play in medicine when I started working at Dermatology Specialists of Virginia as a medical assistant. Every Tuesday is dedicated to performing Mohs surgery in the office, a day that I have come to enjoy. We have many disheartened patients who have cancer on their faces, afraid that they will never look the same again after we cut. In one specific case, I remember Mr. Howe’s right temple. The unusually large operative site extended toward his cheek and mandible, and there was too much tension to pull it together for closure. After a thorough discussion, the doctor and the PA Sarah decided that the best option was for Sarah to do a skin graft. Mr. Howe was putting his complete trust in her.

    As I assisted Sarah, I watched her suture the graft onto Mr. Howe’s face. Each stitch was as meticulous as the next. The color of the harvest site seemed like a poor match to the skin on his face, and I began to contemplate how everything would eventually heal. With her last stitch, she affixed the graft on Mr. Howe’s temple and covered the site. The puzzle was complete. To my surprise, I watched the pigment of the graft reestablish as he continued to follow up with Sarah every week. After several months of being cancer-free, Mr. Howe looks as if he never had surgery in the first place.

    Although Sarah’s suturing is impressive, it isn’t the only factor that contributes to patients’ healing processes. She demonstrates her compassionate, genuine demeanor toward all her patients, which in turn gives them reassurance and hope that everything is going to be all right. Another PA in the office even offers to remove sutures at the homes of infirm patients so that it relieves the stress of making an extra trip. I not only admire these all qualities, but I see that I possess and relate to them as well.

    Determining diagnoses and treatment plans is similar to putting the pieces of a puzzle together. The answer isn’t always direct, and there are instances when a PA doesn’t instantly find the solution. My passion for various studies, resourceful background in healthcare and perseverance for finishing the job will benefit my patients. My goal as a PA is to impact patients’ lives by helping them understand what is happening to their health and why because there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that medicine is indeed puzzling.

    Reply

15. Ashley P. T. says

    May 4, 2016 at 12:04 am

    Hello!
    I feel like I’m lacking things in my essay, but my advisors keep saying it’s a great essay, but I’m not entirely sure! I need advice from someone outside of my network! Thank you!

    I always thought that “life changing experiences” were a myth — until I had one that set the stage for the rest of my life. It started as a twelve-hour flight to Ghana on a beautifully crafted Virgin Atlantic plane. I stepped onto that plane with so much fear and unfamiliarity. I did not know that this was the summer I was going to aid in delivering babies, succor hundreds of wounds, hold handkerchiefs over children infected with malaria, provide care to children with leprosy, tend to HIV/AIDS patients, and host community events to help bring health awareness to the people of Ghana.

    During my first day in a small, poverty-stricken community clinic, I was placed in a setting that impacted my desire to pursue medicine. It was 8AM and I was taking vital signs under a tent that seemed to absorb the strongest of sun rays. As I was taking the blood pressure of a woman, she started to scream. I quickly noticed the angst in her face, the shaking of her legs and her arms tightly holding her stomach in which a pregnancy in its final trimester was impatiently waiting to be pushed out. She screamed and cried out “Oburoni! Pira, pira!” (American! Hurt, help!). I called the nurse in charge of the clinic and we quickly placed her on a bed made of cement covered in a white sheet full of rips. This became my first of 55 deliveries in Ghana.

    I prepped her with a bag of fluid that hung from a hanger above her head. She began breathing heavily, in the most calm manner, as she prayed and pushed. No screams, no cries, no drugs, just praises from her religion that harmonized from her vocal chords. The midwives guided me every step of the way, and soon I pulled out a newborn baby from a hopeful mother into my very own arms.

    I expected the room to fill with baby cries, but the room was silent with subtle chatter from the nurses. I was told to place the baby on the other side of the room where a small box, that was once used to transport bananas, was prepped into a bed. I noticed the newborn was apneic; I searched for a brachial pulse, but nothing was able to be palpated. I then began chest compressions and asked a nurse to suction and perform ventilations, but our efforts were futile. A baby was born with no cries, no breath, quickly turning purple and cold to the touch. The nurse whispered into my ear , “… a stillborn.”

    I stood there, just as stiff and as cold as the newborn, as my heart and mind filled with devastation. I intuitively went to go tend to the mother; she was praying, but this time in tears. I sat beside her and held her hands. She tightly grasped mine and we began to pray together. On that day three women came into the clinic in labor. On that day I delivered two baby girls. On that day I delivered a baby boy with no pulse. On that day I demonstrated CPR on that baby boy. And on that day, I found my calling.

    After my mission in Ghana, I came back with an absolute certainty that medicine was what I wanted to practice. Ghana answered many questions and fulfilled dreams that I was never aware I wanted. My trip inspired me to pursue a career in medicine and to one day be able to use my resources to practice with organizations such as Project Hope. I continued to volunteer in hospitals and clinics in Ghana for three more summers. My experiences trained me to focus on a patient’s health and the quality of care demonstrated. But most importantly, they strengthened my desire to want to become a health professional in the United States and all over the world. Working with a team of nurses, midwives, and doctors enthused me to one day become part of one. It was great to witness one work cohesively; it is evident worldwide that teamwork is an important characteristic of a medical team.

    After receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, I made the initiative to pursue a health professional career and enrolled into Drexel University to fulfill educational requirements. Once in Philadelphia, I continued to volunteer in hospital settings as a Patient Care Associate. Additionally, I founded a community organization named Access Health to help spread health awareness in underserved communities. I began shadowing allopathic and osteopathic physicians, nurses, paramedics and physician assistants in efforts to decide what role I wanted to play in a medical team.

    Witnessing its autonomy, its flexible path in specialization, its focus on patient care diagnostics, and its ability to bridge the gaps and strengthen the relationships between patients and doctors, I found that physician assistant is the role I am meant to pursue. As a physician assistant, I will gain a higher comprehension in medicine that will enable me to help patients become more aware of their health, and I will continue to advocate health to build a healthier world. This role offers me a fulfilling career in medicine that combines both my personal and professional goals, and allows me to play an important role in a medical team and in a patient’s life.

    Reply

    • Alyssa Gunville says

      June 22, 2016 at 3:31 pm

      please disregard edits for this essay

      Reply

16. Tess says

    May 3, 2016 at 11:07 am

    The operating room was numbingly loud with machines beeping and conversation soaring between the surgeon and the surgical nurse. The smell of burning flesh and the grinding of the saw cutting through the sternum were senses I had never experienced before. My heart was racing as the chest was cracked open and revealed the beating heart inside the cavity; I stood there amazed and found myself at a loss for words. When I saw the beating organ that’s kept my blood circulating for 19 years I couldn’t help but be absorbed in the moment. My decision to have a career in the medical field was set in stone that day. Shadowing open heart surgery is not solely responsible for sending me down the path of wanting to become a PA, but it intensified my passion to learn more about the human body.
    I began taking college classes as a junior in high school, and I haven’t stopped working towards my dream of becoming a PA. By the time I became a full time college student I had enough college credits to be classified as a sophomore and was able to jump right into my classes towards my major. While attending college (full time) I worked two jobs while earning a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology; however, I enjoyed the challenge. I’m someone who performs really well under pressure, and those three years of attending college while working two jobs contributed to building the hard-working person I am today.
    I have always taken pride in being a hard worker, and I strive to be a better person every day. Whether as an employee, student, wife, or friend I want to challenge myself and improve in any way that I can. Throughout my life I have always been my biggest critic and supporter, and I have pushed myself harder than anyone else in my life. I took calculus my senior year of high school, and that by far was my most difficult class in high school. I struggled a lot in that class and in the end I didn’t end up receiving a high enough score on the AP test. I was really disappointed in myself because I felt that even though I struggled that year I worked as hard as I could so that I was prepared for that test. I realized that all of my work that I put into that class wasn’t reflected in the grade that I received on the test. I knew that I would have to take that class again as a full time college student, and I was actually looking forward to it. I pushed myself and ended up getting an A in the class. Hard work pays off.
    Being a military wife for a little over a year has also greatly affected my life and view on the world. Nothing is ever set in stone in the military; you learn to live life day to day. It’s very easy to get caught up in the day to day living, and chasing your own dreams become a very difficult task to achieve. I enjoy being a military wife, but over this past year I have also realized that I do not want to give up on my dream. I was able to maintain two jobs while earning my bachelor’s degree, I have far surpassed all of my employers’ expectations, and I have become a stronger individual mentally and physically while being stationed at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base in California. They say that being a military wife is the toughest job in the Marine Corps and I stand by that 100%, but now I want to take on another difficult job. I want to turn my dream into a reality and become a physician assistant.
    The personal and professional opportunities that the medical field offers are abundant. A career as a PA is perfect for someone like myself who enjoys a challenge. I love that as a PA you are able to work as an individual, but you also have the privilege to work and collaborate with a physician who will help push you to learn more and better yourself. I believe that I’ve proven that I can challenge myself on my own, as an employee and student, but I am ready to move onto the next step of my life plan of becoming a PA and the new set of challenges it will bring me.
    I am currently looking forward to my volunteer work in the naval hospital through the American Red Cross. I feel fortunate to work for the Red Cross because I know their goals are the same as my goals. Working with the Red Cross will not only allow me to help others, but it also will allow me to improve my patient care abilities. I am excited to further challenging myself by reaching goals I have already set in place, but I also am excited about setting new goals that I can work towards. Life is about working hard and doing what you love. I know that I am a very hard worker, now I just want to do what I know I will love to do.

    Reply

17. Vien Nguyen says

    May 3, 2016 at 9:20 am

    Hi! This is going to be my first time applying to Physician Assistant Programs. This is a rough draft and I realize I’m over the 5000 character limit, but I just don’t know where I need to edit to make the important points shine through. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

    The bus dropped off my high school junior Anatomy and Physiology class in front of Bodies: The Exhibition in New York City and drove away. This exhibition showcased preserved human bodies dissected to display bodily systems. We went through all the museum display rooms, each representing a different bodily system. The more I saw, the more I became intrigued by the different functions the body is capable of carrying out. I always had an interest for science and healthcare, but this field trip confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in a healthcare. The following year when it came time to apply for college, I already knew I wanted to be a Biology major. This would provide a foundation for me to achieve my goal.

    My freshman and sophomore years of undergraduate Biology major studies were tough. I was getting accustomed to being independent, away from my parents. Though I had no intention of ever dropping out or changing my major, I was more concerned with socializing than focusing on my studies. I struggled through my courses and lacked the commitment that was necessary to be a successful student.

    I knew that if I wanted to fulfill my dream of working in healthcare, I would have to get my act straight. It would still be a struggle, but I replaced attending parties with attending study sessions, tutoring sessions, and professors’ office hours. My schedule had blocks of time dedicated to completing assignments and studying. There were many times during my undergraduate career where I felt discouraged and questioned if I ever was going to accomplish my dreams. I kept pushing myself and never gave up. My grades were improving and I felt more confident in my ability to be a successful student.

    My senior year of college, I worked as an undergraduate Microbiology laboratory assistant on campus and eventually was offered a full-time position upon graduating. Though this position was science-related, I found I lacked any fulfillment after each work day. It was difficult being confined to a lab bench in solitude; I craved working with others. After 6 months, there was a mutual understanding that the laboratory and I were not a match.

    Since then, I have held various positions, all related to healthcare in some way. I started out as a retail pharmacy technician. I was intrigued by the different medications that could treat various conditions. After a short amount of time, I was able to recognize what certain medications were used for. I learned so much during my experience at CVS, however I wanted more contact with people. Soon after, I received my certification in nurse assisting from the American Red Cross and began my hands-on healthcare experience.

    For six months, I worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant at a skilled nursing facility. I loved providing care and support for the elderly. However, this was definitely the most difficult job I ever had; I was moving nonstop during my entire shift, but I never felt like it was enough. I became sad because frequently, the floor would be short-staffed. Residents would go without their scheduled bi-weekly shower, their meals would be served cold, and their needs weren’t met adequately. I felt more and more guilty the longer I worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant and decided to go into another field of work.

    More recently, I worked as a receptionist at an office specializing in Gastroenterology and eventually worked my way up to a prior authorization specialist after 6 months. Being a prior authorization specialist, I work closely with the 7 providers in the office to make sure various ordered services are approved before they are performed and medications are approved by insurance companies. I have become conditioned to read and analyze clinical notes, procedure reports, diagnostic imaging reports, and laboratory results as part of the prior authorization process prior to submitting requests to various insurance companies. Even though I work closely with the providers, patients, and insurance companies, there is still this hunger in me that has not been satiated.

    Throughout my academic and work experiences, there was one goal I never lost sight of. This dream is to become a Physician Assistant. This past winter, I was given the opportunity to shadow 2 different Emergency Department physician assistants at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Martha McKean and Danielle Preuss. I was able to see how these physician assistants gathered a patients’ medical history, assessed the patients’ current symptoms, diagnose the patient, and explain what is capable of being done in the Emergency Room. I was exposed to a myriad of conditions present in patients from all walks of life. With every shadowing shift, I became more interested and observant. I couldn’t wait until the next time I would shadow in the ED. The more exposure I got, the more I became engulfed in the desire to become a physician assistant.

    I hope that Admissions will see past my mediocre GPA and afford me the chance I know I deserve. I have proven my capability and motivation through my professional and academic experiences since graduating from UMASS. I have a clear picture of what I want, and I have no doubt that I will do what it takes to make it a reality. I have proven to myself that I am unrelenting and ready to do what it takes to reach my my aspiration of providing the highest quality care of which I am capable.

    Reply

    • Vien Nguyen says

      May 22, 2016 at 1:06 pm

      I’ve made some changes and have edited my statement. Still, I am 1016 characters over the limit and am struggling to cut it down to the 5000 character limit. Thanks in advance for the critique.

      The bus dropped off my high school junior Anatomy and Physiology class in front of Bodies: The Exhibition in New York City and drove away. This exhibition showcased preserved human bodies dissected to display bodily systems. Each museum display room represented a different bodily system. The more I saw, the more I became intrigued by the different functions the body is capable of carrying out. I always had an interest for science and healthcare, but this field trip confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in a healthcare. The following year when it came time to apply for college, I already knew I wanted to be a Biology major. This would provide a foundation for me to achieve my life goal.

      My freshman and sophomore years of undergraduate Biology major studies were tough. I was getting accustomed to being independent, away from my parents. Though I had no intention of ever dropping out or changing my major, I was more concerned with socializing than focusing on my studies. I struggled through my courses and sadly, my grades reflected this. I knew that if I wanted to fulfill my dream of working in healthcare, I would have to make some crucial changes. I needed to work harder and smarter; I learned where I went wrong in my mistakes. I replaced attending parties with attending study sessions and professors’ office hours. Instead of cramming the night before an exam, I made an effort to study days in advance and steer away from the “this is as good as it’s gonna get” mindset.

      There were many times during my undergraduate career where I felt discouraged and questioned if I ever was going to accomplish my dreams. However, I told myself not not to fall prey to the exhausting emotions of guilt and regret. I kept pushing myself to focus on the long term goal and never gave up. My grades were improving and I felt more confident in my ability to be a successful student.

      My senior year of college, I worked as an undergraduate Microbiology laboratory assistant on campus and eventually was offered a full-time position upon graduating. Though this position was science-related, I found I lacked any fulfillment after each work day. It was difficult being confined to a lab bench in solitude; I craved working with others. After 6 months, I found a position in healthcare, which is where I really wanted to be.

      Since then, I have held various positions, all related to healthcare in some way. I started out as a retail pharmacy technician. After a short amount of time, I was able to recognize the different medications and the various conditions they were used for. I learned so much during my experience at CVS, however I wanted more contact with people. Soon after, I received my certification in nurse assisting from the American Red Cross and began my hands-on healthcare experience.

      For six months, I worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant at a skilled nursing facility. I loved providing care and support for the elderly. I learned so much about patience, professionalism, empathy, and respect. I learned that everyone had a role to play and everyone needed to work together in order to provide the highest quality care for each resident. I made meaningful relationships with residents and their families. Even though I was a part of that team, I realized tending to the residents’ most basic needs still didn’t suffice my innermost desire to be a healthcare provider.

      More recently, I have been working as a prior authorization specialist in an office specializing in gastroenterology and liver diseases. In this position, I work closely with the 7 providers in the office to make sure various ordered services are approved before they are performed and medications are approved by insurance companies. I have become conditioned to read and analyze clinical notes, procedure reports, diagnostic imaging reports, and laboratory results as part of the prior authorization process. A large part of my job involves requesting hepatitis C antiviral medications. One patient, who I will name Robert, is a double kidney transplant and liver transplant recipient. His liver transplant was rejecting and the hepatitis C had recurred. Another liver transplant was risky, so a 24-week course of Harvoni was the last hope in eradicating the chronic disease. I was able to get this treatment approved by the insurance company; Robert is halfway through his treatment and already his health status has tremendously improved. His prognosis now looks hopeful. Even though I work closely with the providers, patients, and insurance companies, there is still this hunger in me that has not been satiated.

      Throughout my academic and work experiences, there was one goal I never lost sight of. This goal is to become a Physician Assistant. This past winter, I was given the opportunity to shadow 2 different Emergency Department physician assistants at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Martha McKean and Danielle Preuss. I was able to see how these physician assistants gathered a patients’ medical history, assessed the patients’ current symptoms, diagnose the patient, and explain what is capable of being done in the Emergency Room. I was exposed to a myriad of conditions present in patients from all walks of life. With every shadowing shift, I became more interested and observant. I couldn’t wait until the next time I would shadow in the ED. This experience reminded me I am still that person I described in the beginning of this essay, curious and striving to learn and be a healthcare provider.

      I hope that Admissions will see past my mediocre GPA and afford me the chance I know I deserve. I have proven my capability and motivation through my professional and academic experiences since graduating from UMASS. It is with these lessons that I will enter graduate school more prepared and wiser than if I had gone straight from college. I have proven to myself that I am unrelenting and ready to do what it takes make my goal into a reality, providing the highest quality care of which I am capable.

      Reply

      • Vien Nguyen says

        June 30, 2016 at 3:31 am

        I have edited my statement 6 times and I am ready to apply. No need to review and critique the statement I have posted on this site. Thank you

        Reply

18. Shannon Draper says

    May 2, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Here is the first draft of my re-applicant personal statement. Was wondering what you think about the take I have. Particularity to referencing my application process last year. Let me know what you think!

    Last year, as I went through the application and interview process for the Physician Assistant Master Programs, I became disheartened when no acceptances came. However, while preparing for the last interview of the ‘15-‘16 cycle, I realized something important—my heart started to beat faster. I was not stressed or anxious, I was thrilled; the thought: “PA school is going to be a challenge, but I am so excited for all of it” was rolling through my mind, in a continuous loop. Although “waitlist” was the closest I had come, enthusiasm and adrenaline coursed through my veins. The thought of being there, displaying who I am off paper, and what I can offer was what propelled me.
    Working, for 3 years, in the medical field, has made me realize that I love everything about medicine. It makes me strive to better myself, and those who put their lives in my hands. When I was in high school, I followed Doctors and the Physician Assistant (PA) at The Detroit Medical Center. While following the PA, I was able to view an eye of a patient who came in, with a complaint of irritation. He showed me the different anatomy parts of the eye, but I noticed something strange—there was a little black stripe in the corner of her eye. Although I had not studied Anatomy yet, it did not seem like it belonged there, so I asked what it was. The PA then smiled and said “Shannon, you have discovered why this patient’s eye is irritated. That is a tiny piece of thread stuck in her eye.” After a minute he had managed to fish the object out of her eye. The patient sat up, gave me a hug, and said, “Thank you. You will make a great medical professional.” Seeing the difference my curious observation had made was what propelled me into practicing medicine. After shadowing, and many months of research, I decided that becoming a PA was the route for me. I admired being able to work with medicine, treatments, and patients, while still having flexibility, in the field I choose to work in. I also had a deep-rooted value for the trust that the supervising physician and PA must have, as part of the physician-PA team. Furthermore, by pursuing a career that I love, I would make a difference in the lives of my patients; therefore, I knew that becoming a PA was my life’s ambition.
    I went to Central Michigan University, in pursuit of higher education, with the endeavor of achieving this goal. Throughout college, I did many things that set me apart from other students such as being part of the Honors Program, Pre-Physician Assistant Club, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, research in Behavior Analysis and stress, studying abroad in the United Kingdom, and working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). By participating in these things I grew as a leader, developed exceptional scholarship and volunteering abilities, and experienced much diversity. Furthermore, I learned more about the PA program, the field, and got to speak with different students in the program and practicing PAs.
    As a CNA, I have worked in both a nursing home and a hospital. By working in both of these settings, I have been graced with the sight of new life, the struggle of a sick life, the happiness of health, and the sadness of death. Witnessing all of these different aspects of life has provided me with a new depth of compassion, understanding, and appreciation for life. I have learned that happiness is key and when I work with my patients, I have an opportunity to make their lives better, even when they are not in the best place. Not only this, but I am able to expand upon my knowledge and the happiness in my life. There is no greater aspiration than to become a PA and to make a difference in people’s lives every single day. The special feeling of helping someone else—of giving, but not receiving anything in return—has been the greatest gift of pursuing a career in the medical field. I knew that I would make a difference one day, but now I know I will make a difference in the lives of those I will care for.
    Although I may not have been accepted into a program last year, the whole process made me re-realize how much I love this field. I cannot wait for my shot to learn the skills of my trade, to become an amazing PA, and to be the best version of myself that I can be. To put it briefly, whether I am accepted this year, next year, or even the year after that, I am not going to give up, because this is what I love. I love people, medicine, learning, and giving. There is no higher calling; therefore, as long as it may take, I look forward to that one school that finally says, “Congratulations, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted.” Not only will I be filled with thanks and gratitude, but that school is also going to gain a very unwavering, bright young woman who is determined to prove that she can make it as a successful, confident, and competent PA.

    Reply