My Future by Morgan

My Future by Morgan - March 2020 Scholarship Essay

Flashing lights, blood covering the floor, yelling doctors. Medical TV shows have always had a flair for the dramatic. Full of uncommon relationships, extreme injuries, and, most importantly, medicine. Yet, they still amaze me. These men and women making it their life’s mission to save lives.

Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, The Night Shift, and The Good Doctor, the list of revolving medical dramas that played on my TV was never ending. I would sit mesmerized during the intense surgeries and treatments conducted by the doctors and imagine myself in their place. Amidst the medical dramas and surgeries, I was also immersed in the world of crime and mortality through the show Bones. I became hooked on forensic science and medicine and obsessed with a future in STEM. Eventually, I realized that there was a way I could combine my love of biology, medicine, and science: A career in biomedical engineering.

My desire to become a biomedical engineer has only increased with my participation in multiple summer STEM programs. I went to BLAST at UVA, C-TECH^2 at Virginia Tech, and most recently, CURIE Academy at Cornell University. These different programs allowed me to learn more about the different engineering fields as well as participate in unique design and research projects. I was able to create an idea for a self-sustaining aquaponics system and develop a way to repair tendons more effectively than the current methods.

Along with these programs, I also worked as an intern at a local sports medicine practice. While there I was able to shadow doctors and put my newly learned knowledge of tendons and tendon injuries to use. I was able to experience firsthand what it was like to work in a doctor's office. First, it was a lot of paperwork - something they never show in the many medical dramas I watch. But the one thing these slightly unrealistic shows did get right was the doctor’s ability to help people. Every day we saw 20-30 patients, and they would leave with at least the beginnings of a smile and a great treatment plan, even if they had just received bad news. After these experiences, I knew that I wanted, without a doubt, to become a biomedical engineer. I was able to learn what I could do in both a laboratory and clinical setting and discovered that I thrived in both.

As a biomedical engineer, I would be able to surround myself in the world of medicine while creating things such as artificial organs or other necessary medical devices. This would help me fulfill my personal goals of having a future career where I was able to help people. Throughout my life, I’ve cared about people and have done my best to help them whether by tutoring, providing advice, or simply lending a hand to help a teacher. As a tutor, I’ve been able to see how my immediate actions have allowed someone to finally understand a topic they’ve been struggling with for a while. Few things are better than hearing the words “I finally get it!” and “I think I’m definitely going to get an A.”, except for maybe a sincere, smile-filled “Thank you!”

My desire to help people and my past participation in volunteer activities in my community, such as Student-to-Student where I help elementary schoolers with their reading every Tuesday morning, are some of the reasons why I’m excited to join the community of biomedical engineers. I would have the opportunity to work in an environment surrounded by like-minded individuals which would allow me to truly thrive and be able to delve deep into my dream career. While I may not be starring in any TV medical dramas, maybe I’ll be a part of a real-life one.