Intensive Care by Kayla

Intensive Care by Kayla - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was a little kid, I have always wanted to be a doctor. I would take my little toys and perform surgeries on my willing and sometimes unwilling family members. For some people, childhood ambitions fade with the passing of time, but mine only flourished and became more refined. All throughout school I was drawn to the sciences. I found every subject fascinating, especially the ones that dealt more closely with medicine and the human body. It was one day when I sat in my anatomy class taking notes over the brain, that I came to the conclusion that I would do anything it took to reach my dreams.

Knowing that the journey to becoming a doctor was a long and arduous one, I wanted to get a more hands-on experience in order to see if it really was the right fit for me. I began this quest for validation by becoming a volunteer at a local medical center. I worked in the Intensive Care Unit and one day there was death shortly before I came on duty. When I came into work there was a noticeable somber air but also an underlying feeling of determination exuded by the nurses on duty. It was my first intimate interaction with death. It completely changed my outlook on what it meant to work in the healthcare profession. The medical center in which I volunteered, prides itself in improving the lives of everyone who steps into the hospital, and this sentiment was shown in the actions of all of the nurses that day. There was an immediate shift from caring for the patient to caring for the loved ones left behind. We offered any form of support at our disposal ranging from helping with contacting other relatives to making sure they were fed. It was then that I realized that the profession I wanted to venture into was not one compiled of simple checklist chores, but one composed of actions meant to seamlessly come together and create a comfortable environment.

Knowing that I would have the duty and privilege of trying my best to improve the lives of not only my patients but all of the people who find themselves in a healthcare environment, was a profound understanding that has only deepened my pursuit for accomplishing my dream of becoming a doctor. Since this moment I have looked at my educational journey in a completely different light. It is not just about how well I can perform surgeries, or how knowledgeable I am about diseases and illness. It is equally important on how well I can care for people's emotional needs.