From Resilience to Healing: My Journey to Medicine by Amanda

From Resilience to Healing: My Journey to Medicine by Amanda - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

One of the most profound pieces of advice I have ever received was passed on to me by my grandfather, who shared that if I truly love what I do, I’ll never have to work a day in my life. His words have remained at the front of my mind when making the decision to pursue a career in medicine. I was raised by my grandparents in the quiet countryside being homeschooled from the age of 10, a life drastically different from the norm by the consequences of my parents’ drug addiction. My grandparents, who were also my pillars of strength and resilience, introduced me to medicine as I attended their countless doctor’s appointments. I found myself captivated by the world of medicine, filled with curiosity that led me to ask questions and absorb any knowledge offered by their physicians. Whether it be the rheumatologist we had to travel 3 hours to see or the cardiologist who saved both of their lives on more than one occasion at the nearest hospital only half an hour away, I was always intrigued and extremely grateful for how much these doctors cared for the two people who I cared about the most. As I approached my last year of high school, I remained open to opportunities to explore healthcare further.
I had the privilege of shadowing Dr. Williams, a pulmonologist and ICU specialist, whose impact on my life has persisted. I had the honor of observing bronchoscopies, rounding in the ICU, routine clinical visits, and emergency procedures. From follow-up visits with pulmonary function tests to discuss asthma treatments, to cancer diagnoses, I was provided with a glimpse into the purpose of a physician. Two distinct moments during my time with Dr. Williams stand out to me as I consider my pursuit of a career in medicine. The first was when I got to stand by his side during a Code Blue in the ICU, where I witnessed first-hand the immense power that a physician holds during a true life-or-death situation. I was truly impressed as Dr. Williams exhibited unwavering professionalism and remained in control of the situation, demonstrating his capabilities as a true healer. The second was a difficult discussion with the family members of a critically ill patient to whom Dr. Williams had devoted much of his time and attention to making all efforts to save the patient, however, this was no longer feasible. This intimate conversation detailed explanations as to what the realistic outcome would be whether the family decided to continue efforts or cease. During this moment, I witnessed the scope of a physician’s role going beyond just the patient-and-doctor relationship, but how they can affect the patient’s family also.
Subsequently, when I became a nursing assistant at the Children’s Clinic of Southwest Louisiana, my daily interactions with patients of all ages and their families solidified my dream of becoming a physician. Not only did I enjoy witnessing how my contributions to their care positively affected the patients, but I enjoyed working as a team alongside other nursing assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and doctors. My time at the Children’s Clinic came to an end with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when I had to make the decision to take a step back from building upon my clinical experience with patients for the well-being of my grandparents as the risk of passing COVID-19 on to them was too real and the potential magnitude of the effects were still unknown at the time. This led to the decision to wait a few more months to navigate the pandemic and to reach my eighteenth birthday when I would finally be eligible to apply for a job in a hospital. Since my time as a telemetry technician, I’ve further expanded upon my understanding of what goes into developing a treatment plan for patients. My role in the intricacies of a patient’s care has proven to be vital, as I have learned the importance of attention to detail as well as the value of the seemingly unnoticed aspects of patient care.
My journey throughout undergraduate school and working toward medical school has not been the traditional pre-medical route, however, I have only gotten stronger as a result. Without setbacks, I would not understand the power of resilience. While my experience has included many moments of intense doubt, for example, a pre-medical advisor telling me I’d never achieve my goals because I had to drop a class during my first semester of college, I altered my perspective of this to view simply getting back up and trying again as my only real option. My motivation has withstood the expected ebbs and flows of any college student; however, the foundation of my aspirations remains unchanged. I know now that my heart and soul are in the medical field and that I’d never work a day in my life because I truly do love what I do. From the time-consuming statistical analysis aspects of research to getting to study the most interesting, rare diseases, from the conversations with patients and their families to the opportunities to share my knowledge with my peers, the work is doubly rewarded by the value that lies within helping someone else.