I left my native Iran at 7 years old with my parents who were fleeing for their lives as political refugees. It has all worked out for the better, however, and I am thankful to my parents for helping me to see the world, to get to know Azerbaijan, Germany, and then America. Now an American citizen who is fully multicultural and multilingual, I see diversity as greatly enriching our existence—particularly that of our medical community. I hope to use my language skills to some degree professionally in the future, as well as my English. A native speaker of Farsi and fluent in German, I also speak, read, and write Spanish, Turkish, and Azeri on an intermediate level. Finally, I study Latin because I see it as useful for developing a better understanding of medicine.
A recent graduate of XXXX with a BS in Biology and still only 22, I have already developed an extensive knowledge of health policy and procedures with a great passion to excel at a career in medicine. A self-starter, detail-oriented, reliable, adaptable, I hope to distinguish myself in the future primarily by my dedication to providing affordable (free) care to those who have the greatest need.
I pace myself in all things and never burn out; a rapid learner with focus who plays five musical instruments and is adept at boxing, karate, tae kwon do (black belt), long-distance running, swimming, and soccer: I see all of these activities as complimentary to medicine, helping me to become a better doctor. Following my graduation from college in June, 2012, I threw myself into my next immediate goal: EMT certification, which I completed this past May of 2013. My volunteer work has also been one of my top priorities. From June of 2009 through January of 2013, I served approximately 16 hours per week, as an Emergency Department Ambassador and Patient Unit Volunteer at XXXX University Medical Center, greeting and ushering patients to their destinations, stocking cabinets, providing patients with bedding, changing sheets, dispensing water and food, and doing whatever else needs to be done, mostly for ER.
Perhaps my single most important role at the hospital was to comfort patients in ER, particularly those who came alone. Until now, pediatric ER, in particular, has been the most important place in the world to me, very sick children, usually very sad. So many images float through my mind from that four-year period, a 2-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy, crying, her father sitting next to her holding her hand, crying as well.
I want very much to be a heroic doctor whose medical fantasies become realities. I want to return to the Middle East and help out in war zones. I want to rescue children and save their lives. I would like to be in Syria right now with Doctors without Borders, attending to the hundreds of children pulled from the rubble in need of surgery and care. I want to specialize in both surgery and pediatrics, including plastic and reconstructive surgery, to help rebuild the lives that have been saved.
Another important aspect of my application to medical school is my service as Outreach Chair for the Health, Nutrition, and Fitness Division of the Student Welfare Commission of the Undergraduate Student Association at XXXX, promoting health, fitness, and proper nutrition on and off campus; blood drives, yoga classes, cooking and relaxation workshops, meetings on gender health, body image, recycling, first aid & CPR programs, global health, and AIDS awareness to name just a few. We also published a health magazine every quarter, written by our own staff members. I reached out to doctors, inviting them to our weekly club meetings to speak about their research and experience as a doctor and sought out those who would be willing to allow us to observe them. For me, observing surgery was a dream come true.
I may also strive at some point in the future to specialize in Ophthalmology since I have a special passion for the human eye, which led me to accept my current employment as an Eye Care Supervisor for Lenscrafters, performing pre-eye exams and making patients ready for the optometrist to evaluate, sell prescription eye and sunglasses, fitting eyewear, fixing/repairing eyewear, selling and training patients for contact lenses, schedule eye exams and follow-ups, dispensing eye wear, taking pictures with Optos (new technology in eye care), a camera that takes a 360 degree picture of the retina and screens the eye for problems, including patient's future risk of hypertension, diabetes, cancer--highly effective results and most useful preventive measurement. My duties include overseeing coworker's performance and making improvements as needed.
I have learned a lot about cancer through my work with Lenscrafters since a high number of patients have had or survived cancer and I made a point to pay especially careful attention to everything they had to say about the disease and ponder it. I am a Christian woman and I believe in God and I believe the many cancer survivors who told me about the strength they received from God to beat this dreadful disease. Working at XXXX University Medical Center, a primarily Christian hospital, has enhanced my belief that God does give patients the hope that is necessary to survive and the strength to endure. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering my application to your program.
