PA Personal Statement Example #3

I was working at my father’s restaurant when I heard a mother scream, “Someone help! My son is choking!” His hands were crossed around his neck and his color began to fade. I ran to the boy and placed my fists under his rib cage performing quick and forceful thrusts. A half-chewed carrot dislodged across the room and he began to catch his breath. The mother and boy hugged me as they wept, endlessly thanking me for saving his life. I rubbed their backs as I told them I felt fortunate to help. In that moment, the intangible reward from impacting a life and providing comfort sparked my interest in medicine. I felt filled with purpose: to help the vulnerable through challenging times.

Growing up, I was rooted in Greek culture: involved in competitive dancing, volunteering at the local festivals, attending Sunday School, and Greek school to become bilingual. From a young age, my Greek heritage taught me the importance and value of health, as Greek culture revolves around the Mediterranean diet, natural herbal medicine, praying for health, and wishing health onto others. I internalized a common Greek phrase growing up, “To your health”, which is used when celebrating a birthday, birth of a child, or saying goodbye. My parents are hardworking Greek immigrants from impoverished villages. I spent my summers at my father’s restaurant, building relationships with customers and learning the business. I helped donate food to local school events and funerals of community members, learning the value of giving back to the community. Even though I enjoyed customer service, I could not give up the feeling of heavy responsibility and impact when I performed the Heimlich maneuver. I aspired to pursue medicine and became a first-generation college student.

I wanted to gain experience providing hands-on medical care and helping those in need, so I became a Certified Nursing Assistant and Alzheimer’s caregiver in an assisted living facility. It was my first day training and I was instructed to prepare an 80-year-old male, Julio, for breakfast; he was known to be the most uncooperative and unfriendliest resident. I introduced myself as his new caregiver and he responded with an angry flurry of Spanish. Unsure of his concerns, I sat in the chair next to his bed and asked where he was from. “Panama” he said. I watched his face relax with comfort as I used limited Spanish to tell him I went there on a medical mission trip and loved his country. After a few minutes of small talk, he said with enthusiasm, “Let’s get ready for breakfast!” From that day forward, being greeted with “Buenos dias” every morning was symbolic of the challenge we overcame and the trusting relationship we built. Despite the language barrier, Julio was appreciative of my competence and adaptability to attempt to communicate with Spanish and hand gestures. I felt fortunate assisting those who were no longer capable of assisting themselves and advocating for those who are often maltreated. I found quality care requires more than scientific knowledge; building trust and using communication to attentively listen to feelings and concerns was vital.

Even though I enjoyed caring for residents, I was eager to further my scientific knowledge and witness medicine inside a clinic. My experience scribing for a hematologist and oncologist for the past 6 months at The Cancer Institute has been invaluable. I am learning about a variety of cancers, chemotherapy drugs, medical terminology, and how to use subjective information, radiographs, and lab work to form a coherent picture and treat patients. Seeing the impact the physician makes on patients as they return to the clinic happier and healthier is motivating and fuels my passion for medicine. I feel rewarded indirectly contributing to care, as my work allows the physician to solely focus on the patient rather than the computer. I've also witnessed the physician tell patients their cancer is rapidly progressing and to consider hospice care. Handing the patients and families a tissue during these tough conversations gives me a sense of purpose as this small gesture brings some comfort in such a difficult moment. As I spend my days in the doctor’s shadow, I can picture myself as his assistant and it has validated my decision to pursue medicine.

The ability to provide a lasting effect when I saved the choking boy’s life was a step to a lifelong commitment to medicine I want to pursue. My Greek heritage fostered my appreciation for medicine and ability to act with cultural competence and respect with those from diverse backgrounds. Working at my father’s restaurant equipped me with a work ethic to become a first-generation college student and the drive to pursue my path to become a physician assistant. Being a nursing assistant and a scribe has shown medicine is not monotonous; each patient is a unique individual requiring personalized care. It is not only about treating a diagnosis, but also listening to feelings and fears. After witnessing both human suffering and the demise of illness in the cancer clinic, I have seen the value of health and the miracle of a renewed chance at life through medicine. I, too, want to directly impact the lives of others by being the compassionate physician assistant patients deserve, “To your health”.

What aspects make this statement great

1. The opening sentence and opening paragraph are engaging, interesting, and elicit curiosity - willing the reader to continue on in the story.
2. This student does an excellent job of incorporating their Greek heritage into the personal statement and they demonstrate how their heritage has impacted them in their journey towards medicine.
3. It's particularly nice to see the student’s dedication to connecting with patients and forming meaningful bonds, demonstrated by their detailed experience in an assisted living facility.
4. The essay is well structured and lays a clear path in chronological order to the student's desire to become a physician assistant. The reader understands where their initial interest in medicine began and how they have come to their decision that becoming a physician assistant is suited for them.
5. A unique ending that makes the reader want to know more about the student.

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