My Best School Accomplishment by McKenzie

My Best School Accomplishment by McKenzie - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

McKenzie Bingham
Personal Accomplishment

The personal and educational accomplishment that I am most proud of is my decision and motivation to become a Physician Assistant. My mother, who is a Nurse, encouraged me to study and do well in school. I followed her advice and set my goals to take my schooling seriously and study hard to get all as in my classes. I appreciate school and realize the importance of getting a good education to become an educated and productive adult member of society.

My career interest since grammar school has always been to work in the medical field. I would go to my mother’s office frequently and watch her work. I am proud of my mother and impressed by her skills. She knew that I wanted to work in the medical field and she encouraged me to seek out my own specific interests. I completed 20 hours of shadowing at both Sumner Pediatrics and Family Care Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. I found both experiences to be educational and rewarding. I decided that I wanted to be a Physician Assistant.

I knew that I would need to study hard and take courses that would put me in a good position to be accepted into a six-year Physician Assistant program.
I have always enjoyed school and take my studies seriously. I graduated from Ludlow Senior High School on June 4, 2015 with a weighted grade point average of 4.24. I was ranked 7th in a class of 198. Education and my hard work has empowered me to reach my high school goals and place me in good standing for the next step; to get accepted into a Physician Assistant program.

I have worked at an elderly Assisted Living Facility where I enjoyed working with and caring for the residents. It reinforced my choice to work in the medical field where I can care for others. I have also learned that I enjoy working with a diverse group of people. I believe that providing quality medical care for people young and old is not only a rewarding field but also good service to your patients. I believe in being professional and caring towards each person. Treating them as a human being and giving them quality care is a worthy occupation in life. I was pleased to see many people appreciate my efforts. It brought some positive energy into their daily lives. I made a special effort to talk each time with an elderly woman with Alzheimer Disease. I would always give her a positive comment on her clothes or appearance. She surprised me by remembering my name all the time. This experience had a significant impact on me in developing my maturity and insight on human behavior. I feel that I am a mature and responsible young adult with well thought out plans for my future.

I was accepted am currently attending Springfield College in Massachusetts for their six- year Physician Assistant Program. When I graduate, I will have a Masters of Health Science; Physician Assistant Degree. I have learned that costs for higher education are very expensive and therefore I am applying for scholarships; reaching out in hopes to get some help for my future college needs. If I win this scholarship it will reduce the loans I must take to pay my bills.

I believe that a human being should make a meaningful contribution to society. I was raised by my family to appreciate people of the world who are less fortunate. Each year we would contribute to different community service projects. We have bought a goat, helped build a water well, paid for a child to have surgery for a Cleft Palate and sent money to a family to India. I have sponsored a Christmas party for the past three years for children at a local women’s shelter. I believe that being a respectful person each day is important both for my own Life Journey but also towards others.

I am excited, very motivated, and enjoying college. I am a sophomore with a GPA of 3.7. I will become a licensed Physician Assistant. I am proud because I set this goal when I was fourteen years old and am fully committed to four more years of college. My biggest achievement to date is to graduate from high school with High Honors.

My degree is in a field that I have great interest and will also allow me to provide quality medical care to people in my community with human dignity and compassion. When I graduate as a Licensed Physician Assistant in 2021, I plan to work at Bay State Medical Center in Springfield. I want to begin here to get a broad exposure to medical issues and concerns. I will be a great Physician Assistant.