Striving to Reach My Dreams by Lauren
Laurenof Fort Myers's entry into Varsity Tutor's January 2014 scholarship contest
- Rank:
- 0 Votes
Striving to Reach My Dreams by Lauren - January 2014 Scholarship Essay
I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in December 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Pre-professional concentration. After a challenging freshman semester, I realized that my study methods from high school Honors and Advanced Placement courses were insufficient for pre-medical coursework. I am deeply passionate about healthcare and I am guided by an underlying yearning to provide the extraordinary and compassionate care I have witnessed through volunteering to underprivileged families. Building a strong foundation is necessary to earn the privilege of caring for others! Developing and maturing as a student, I rose to the challenges of my curriculum.
Through my pre-medical coursework, I have learned that true education is not rote memorization but the manipulation of new concepts and integration into one’s academic foundation. Upon learning new concepts, I ask myself, “Why is this significant?”and “What would happen if this nerve was damaged? If this metabolic reaction was impaired?” Furthermore, I enjoy creating concept maps of new material and discussing and manipulating material with peers.
This approach was especially successful in Neuroscience. My professor employed case studies to supplement curriculum and I loved the opportunity to diagnose our hypothetical patients, determine appropriate diagnostic procedures, and chose a treatment plan. It was exciting to apply concepts to a clinical approach!
During Spring semester, I had the opportunity to be a General Biology I Teaching Assistant. I greatly enjoyed encouraging freshmen students and helping students improve note taking and studying techniques. I felt honored and humbled to be thanked as students noticed an improvement in their mastery of curriculum!
Determination and persistence pay off and I am thrilled to have been accepted into medical school! I know academic rigors that lie ahead yet I am excited to rise to the challenge and pursue my lifelong dream!
