A Lifelong Calling by Mira

A Lifelong Calling by Mira - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamt of becoming a doctor and being able to help people, which is truly my driving purpose for pursuing a career in medicine. I’ve never been attracted to the profession due to the prestige some people may seek or the monetary rewards (in fact my goal is to help underserved communities when I become a physician). My very essence revolves around compassion for others, and I have long believed that medicine presents the most impactful avenue to fulfill this intrinsic need because for me medicine is not a job but a calling.

I distinctly remember a moment in my 3rd grade class, learning about the human body for the first time and the dots started connecting. My teacher, Ms. Lauren was explaining the respiratory system, and something clicked for me. It’s hard to describe but nothing I learned at that point had sparked my interest in such a powerful way because I understood at a deep level that learning about the body would allow me to help people in the future.

Thus began my focus into the sciences, throughout my high school career I have challenged myself in different fields of science ecology, biology, anatomy, chemistry, biochemistry, and so on, taking many International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Science is such a fundamental aspect of my life and the more I discover the more fascinated I become. Last year I was taking both IB Biology and Chemistry which was not an easy undertaking considering my course load was full of other IB classes. Many classmates as well as teachers warned me of the challenges ahead and they were right. Navigating two rigorous college level science courses at one time was difficult at the age of 16. I spent a lot of late nights doing homework, watching videos and spending extra time with my teachers during academic assistance. My hard work paid off though, I was successfully able to complete both classes with A’s and maintain my 4.15 GPA. I achieved many accomplishments throughout the year but I am most proud of receiving the 2022-2023 Science award for the junior class student of the year, amongst a class of nearly 500 students. My passion for science is something I have been fostering since 3rd grade when I was first introduced to the world of medicine.

I have done my best to take advantage of every opportunity to foster my curiosity and passion for the field. I have volunteered at the hospital for multiple years and had the chance to witness novel procedures such as a biopsy, a NanoKnife surgical ablation, CT scans of patients brains and abdomens, intubations,and pathology examinations. I’ve taken the opportunity to shadow multiple physicians of different specialities, I went into multiple surgeries with a veterinarian observing her technique and skill. One of my favorite experiences so far has been volunteering at my pediatricians office and getting the opportunity to examine young patients, who rewarded me afterwards with the warmest hugs you can imagine. I’ve also taken the opportunity over my summer break after my junior year to complete the coursework to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. These accomplishments and experiences will help support my future goals of becoming a doctor by creating a strong science foundation as I head into college where I plan to major in biology alongside taking pre-med courses. I hope to earn this scholarship to help me pursue my passion and I promise that if you invest in helping me along my journey I will make you proud.