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Medical School Personal Statement Example
I was 8 when I witnessed my first medical emergency. Despite drills and constant reminders about who to call in such a situation, nothing could prepare a kid for the sight of their best friend experiencing a seizure for the first time. Until it happens, you don’t really know what you will do. Tom’s seizure lasted less than a minute, and he was confused for a few minutes afterward, but it seemed much longer. It was terrifying.
Although I didn’t know what was happening to him, my instinct was to try to cushion Tom’s head with my jacket and lap as he struggled. I yelled for help and then speed-dialed my mom, who called for an ambulance. Something stayed with me about that moment. When the paramedics arrived and told me I had done everything right, it made me think – maybe one day, I could do even more. Although it was a horrible experience, a lot of good came from it.
First, Tom was diagnosed with epilepsy – a word we had never heard before – so he was able to get help. As far as I know, no one had ever noticed any warning signs. Tom’s parents told me how grateful they were that I had been there when it happened for the first time.
Although Tom and I continued to play together, we often felt anxious, wondering if he would experience another episode and when. I promised to look after my friend if it did and make sure he was safe. Thankfully, his parents and doctor worked to find the best treatment for him, and he went for long periods without an episode.
Nevertheless, Tom’s condition didn’t disappear, and he was always on edge. One day, he confided in me that even his doctor seemed to know very little about the condition that had changed his life. I began doing some research, and I was surprised to discover how little information was out there. To reassure Tom, I signed up for CPR classes, learned how to identify potential signs of an oncoming seizure, and practiced what to do. I even went with him to see about getting a medical service animal. Together, we chose a black Lab named Lucy, who has been a game-changer in Tom’s life.
In high school, my interest in science and research grew, too. I joined clubs at school and challenged myself to come up with the most interesting research projects each year. For my senior project, I wanted to do a presentation on epilepsy and how service animals help. With Tom and Lucy’s involvement, we pulled off an informative demonstration.
Through my teacher, Ms. Z, I was able to get in touch with Dr. Y, who specializes in the study of Tom’s condition. After conveying my interest in researching epilepsy, I was invited to join their summer research program, which was an incredible experience. I learned valuable research skills but also gained a lot from the attentive mentorship of Dr. Y. This was my first time collaborating in any form of health care, and I loved every detail of the work. I also felt great being able to share information with Tom and give him the sense that people were really working hard to improve quality of life for people with epilepsy.
In recent years, Tom and I formed an epilepsy awareness and advocacy group at ABC University. With Tom and Lucy as our ambassadors, and many other students joining our group, we have been able to help others like Tom learn more about their condition. We also teach younger children what to do if someone experiences a seizure or medical episode, so that they don’t feel the same fear that we did. We were lucky, but being properly prepared all those years ago would have helped tremendously.
My friendship with Tom has affirmed my decision to apply to medical school and eventually pursue a career as a medical researcher. There are so many people like him who suffer from a condition or illness we don’t fully understand. There are many incredible solutions and treatments available, but there is always more we can learn from people like Tom.
My friend will always have epilepsy, but he has now found a way to live life to the fullest. Although no one would have wished this on him, we have nevertheless come to see his circumstances as something of a gift – to both of us. For one thing, we have become closer as friends. For another, his treatments have improved. In addition, we know we have helped others by learning all we could and sharing this information. Finally, without this happening, Lucy would not have come into our lives.
For me, the most important takeaway is that it led me to my decision to become a doctor. Because there is always more we can do to educate others on conditions like this and how we can help, it is my goal to continue to advocate for awareness, education, and progress in cases like Tom’s.
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