Non-Traditional Forms of Education and How It Continues to Shape My Future by Eshal

Non-Traditional Forms of Education and How It Continues to Shape My Future by Eshal - June 2023 Scholarship Essay

10 years from now, I see myself creating a safe and inclusive medical environment for all patients to receive healthcare. I have become committed to this goal through non-traditional education experiences, like volunteering and career-shadowing, that have opened my eyes to greater understanding of the medical field.
Volunteering has provided me with greater knowledge than I ever expected to get. I dedicated my high school years to participating in what I call connection-based volunteering, or volunteering in which I actively interact one-on-one with those I aid. Through experiences ranging from supporting parents at the NICU, sympathizing with callers on Samaritans Mental Health Hotline, mentoring freshman at my high school, tutoring students online, and additional activities, I have learned the importance of gaining various perspectives, while also enjoying strong bonds formed during volunteering.
One of my strongest volunteer interactions was through the ENGin program. ENGin connects Ukrainian students with English-fluent students for practicing English conversation skills and cultural exchange. I was paired with Sophia during June 2021 for weekly calls. Despite not expecting more than lighthearted conversations, Sophia and I were soon talking about our futures, families, and beliefs. I learned of her commitment to literature, such as when she showed me a draft of a visual novel script she wrote!
When the conflict in Ukraine escalated, we stopped calling due to safety concerns and texted instead. She was separated from her parents and moved to another city, Mykolaiv. Eventually, she reunited with her parents there. I saw the emotional toll this took on her, a strong person, and I was there for her during this difficult time. Although I learned many lessons from this experience, one key thing I took was a stronger interest in understanding life experiences outside my own.
Now my goal is to continue gaining such connections through volunteering, which will allow me to learn from the unique experiences of others. Further, I plan to gain an understanding of culture, lifestyle, religion, and hardships from those who I interact with so that I will be more strongly equipped to become a physician who is respectful and understanding towards patients of a variety of backgrounds. I continue to consider volunteering an educational experience on its own. Although not purely academic, many life lessons can be learned simply by interacting with various communities.
The other inspiration for my commitment in being this type of physician is due to another non-traditional educational experience, which was career-shadowing. I learned the true role of physicians as advocates for patients when shadowing Dr. Syed. I witnessed first-hand many patients who had complex medical issues, and on top of that, financial or other trouble that made achieving a healthy life seem out of reach. Dr. Syed, despite limited time per patient, listened to each of their individual stories. She did not interrogate, rather, the patients opened up easily on their own due to the trust they had in her. Patients who are going through an experience that hinders their access to healthcare trust Dr. Syed enough to explain these circumstances. Dr. Syed then openly explains to them all their options and suggestions on which will work best for certain circumstances. Now, I understand that advocating medically involves more than health advice, but advising patients in an individualized manner. After seeing Dr. Syed’s advocacy, I am inspired to advocate for patients in the same way as a future physician. The connections I have made through volunteering continue to give me an understanding of many walks of life, which will help me in providing a safe zone for patients to receive medical care in. I plan to continue connection-based volunteering throughout my life in order to continuously make myself prepared to provide a trustworthy environment for patients.
My education has led me to concrete goals, which I see myself beginning to fulfill in 10 years. This is because I plan to attend UMKC’s 6 year BA/MD program this fall, in which I will participate in a 2 year accelerated undergrad and then 4 years of medical school. 6 years of education and another 4 years for residency means that, in about 10 years, I should be beginning my career as an attending physician, where I will have more control over creating the safe medical environment that I desire each patient to have.
I know that my education at UMKC will continue to provide me with valuable experiences that contribute to my goal. For example, the docent program, in which a physician teaches undergrad BA/MD students directly at a hospital, will allow me to gain hands-on experiences within the medical field sooner. Getting adjusted to the medical environments, which are often fast-paced and stressful, will allow me to better provide care for patients later on. Additionally, I look forward to volunteering at the Sojourner Clinic, which is a free clinic run by UMKC students with the goal of serving underserved populations in the Kansas City area. Being able to interact with underserved patient populations will allow me to better understand inaccessibility of healthcare from their perspectives. This will aid me in my goal of treating patients on an individualized level in order to make healthy lives as accessible to patients as possible.
My past educational experiences and my upcoming ones at UMKC will both provide the foundation for the type of physician I see myself becoming in the next 10 years.