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Edited E ay:
From the first day that I entered Mrs. Vande urg's tenth grade Anatomy and Physiology cla , I knew exactly which career I was destined for - the practice of medicine. During the first semester of cla , I pored over every page of my textbook; I was fascinated and challenged by the structures and systems we di ected and discu ed in cla . Night after night, I stayed up memorizing the names of bones and muscles, systems and proce e I had an i atiable desire for knowledge. Eager to learn more about the medical profe ion, I read doze of books and journal articles about the lives of physicia and the medical fields in which they serve. What I read convinced me that I am well suited to a career in medicine.
My unique family background first launched me toward a career in the service of others. Growing up in a family with eight brothers and sisters, it seemed that someone always needed my help, either physically or emotionally. As a big brother to so many siblings, I learned that helping others in need is more than simply a career choice - I feel that it is my moral re o ibility. Because I am able to help, I feel called to a ist those in need. This has led me to serve my fellow students and citize in many ways: as senior cla president and a member of our student council, and as a volunteer in the community and at local ho itals. Each week, de ite my rigorous schedule of coursework and research, I have been able to help others by volunteering to cook and teach cla es at the Wood County Center for Aging. The smiles from those I help and the wisdom that I gain from talking over lunch or playing pool with men from the Center reinforces my commitment to invest my time and energy in the lives of others.
I believe that a doctor's succe is best measured by his ability to meet both the emotional and physical needs of his patients. Although compa ion is a valued character trait, a doctor must commit himself fully to the pursuit of knowledge in order to provide the highest level of patient care. I have taken the physician's academic re o ibilities quite seriously, and I have pursued a rigorous and challenging course of study.
Currently, I am attending graduate school at XXX University. My academic record at XXX clearly indicates my ability to excel at the study of graduate-level science. I have received a grade of A in every cla I've taken, and I have contributed significantly to research on hyperte ion, work that will soon be published in the Journal of Endocrinology. In addition, as a Biology lab teacher, my students have awarded me the highest rating given to i tructors. I believe that through the teaching and learning experiences I have gained studying for my graduate degree, I am more prepared than ever to meet the rigorous academic challenges of medical school.
In the end, though, I believe that it will be my persistence and personal drive to study medicine that will a ure me succe in its practice. In the words of Washington Irving, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than u ucce ful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Great minds have purposes, little minds have wishes." I intend to a ly my determination to becoming a great physician, that I might help bring physical and emotional healing to those in need.
