Motivation to become physician

I performed brain surgery when I was 14: the 10-blade in my hand gave me an unlimited sense of power. Power to save this cantaloupe’s life and bring true happiness to its melon-y family. As I drilled through its tan skull and cut through the green dura mater, I exposed its delicious, orange brain. This was one of many “surgeries” I conducted in the summer before high school, where I discovered my desire to become a physician.

My parents tell me about my first trip to the library, relentlessly pointing at an anatomy book (that I’m sure was very visually appealing) so we could take it home. A childhood filled with slightly inaccurate drawings of medical structures and watching all 400 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy were the “hook,” but my real motivation lies with my grandfather’s heart condition. Seeing his health decline inspired me to help him, if not the other half a billion people in the world suffering from heart disease. This desire seemed to fit perfectly with my skill set: I’d always enjoyed STEM, had dexterity from piano and shorthand writing classes, and had improved my physical endurance through cross country.

After studying physiology, immersing myself in a shadowing experience with my grandfather’s heart surgeon at the very hospital where I was born, and sharing what I learned at Science Club and with my friends and teachers, I can confirm I am 100% committed to becoming a physician.

Being a bridge

The first time I became a bridge for people, linguistically speaking, was five years ago at a beach in Cancun. A Mexican fortune bird was picking out a paper slip for a child. To the family’s surprise, the fortune message was written in English, so they began searching for English speakers to calm down their angry child, and I happily volunteered to translate the message.

As a physician, I’ll strive to be a communicator between patients, families, and hospital staff. My fluent Spanish and in-progress Mandarin abilities will enable me to explain procedures in various languages, provide answers for the family, and ensure that patients receive the world-class care they are rightfully entitled to. My fluency in English and Spanish will improve my communication and allow me to connect to patients at a heart-to-heart level, so I understand what they are feeling to support them emotionally as well. A study done at Brown has shown a patient's comfort and mental state play a role in the success of procedures and recovery periods. So, when talking with elderly patients at a long-term care facility where I volunteer, I aim to pick up subtleties in their mannerisms to adjust conversations as needed and make them feel comfortable and listened to, two paramount factors in patient care.

My linguistic skills will allow me to connect patients, families, and staff to communicate, provide care, and, most importantly, make everyone feel at home.