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Sample:
Statement Of Purpose
Sample
SOP's
Medicine
Statements
by Americans,The Medical Student
I
firmly believe in the powerful message of Ecclesiastes 3:1, which
states that every endeavor man can undertake has its own time and
meaning. Looking back on my own life, I see these different
seasons as stages of growth that have helped me to understand my
own potential and the path that I wish to take in life. I feel
that I have lived deeply and fully, and now wish to apply the
valuable life lessons I have gained to what I feel is my true
calling. Now is the season to explore the fascinating world of
medicine, and to finally make that dream a reality.
As a child, I never believed that I could succeed. Growing up in
one foster home after another, I lacked the stability that a youth
needs in order to excel in classes and build a proper foundation
for the future. I was pregnant by the age of eighteen, and dropped
out of school to try to forge a future for my children. Life was
difficult but fulfilling, and I found much joy in being the mother
of two lovely children. The day my second child was diagnosed with
Krabbe’s disease, however, all of my happiness seemed to vanish
before my very eyes.
Krabbe’s disease is both terminal and debilitating, and the
doctors gave my daughter a life expectancy of eighteen months.
Swallowing my shock and sorrow, I devoted myself to making the
most of the precious time I had left with my child. I researched
intensively on Krabbe’s disease, learning as much as I could
about its mechanisms and the course it would run. I applied these
lessons to caring for my daughter, and provided her with the
twenty-four hour a day care that she required. Because I was
afraid she would die at any moment, I never left her side, even to
go to work. In order to pay the bills, I took in outside sewing
and odd jobs. But no sacrifice was too great for my daughter. She
lived to the age of four, long past her expectancy, which the
doctors attributed to my constant care.
Being such an intimate witness to the struggle of life and death
left me with a deep sense of human fragility. I realized that the
human body is so very intricate and beautiful in its complex
delicacy. Working closely with doctors, studying medical texts,
and nursing a very sick little girl gave me my first taste of
medicine. I was too numbed with pain, however, to focus my
thoughts on any plans to enter that field. I instead tried to deal
with my grief while providing for my remaining child as a single
mother. During the next few years, I worked as a secretary and a
beautician, and eventually opened a beauty salon of my own. As a
business owner, I entered a new world of innovative ideas and
social responsibility. Running the salon taught me the valuable
lesson of “people pleasing,” and I gained the confidence and
communication skills to fight for my rights as a businesswoman. I
also devoted much time and funding to my community. I knew full
well the horrors of poverty, and often performed services for the
local nursing home and charities. My life was finally beginning to
stabilize, and I decided that the time had come to think about the
dream of medicine that had grown during my daughter’s illness.
Because my days were devoted to running the beauty salon, I
attended college during the nights. I was hesitant at first;
although I felt drawn to medicine, I did not know if I could
handle the coursework. I therefore decided to explore the field
before committing myself to it. I found part-time work in the
medical office of a local prison, which gave me much exposure to
the rigors of health care. Working with prisoners was an amazing
experience, for it taught me that all humans need compassion, no
matter what their past or their crimes. Whenever a man walked into
the clinic, I saw him not as a prisoner, but as a human being in
need of help. I poured all of my compassion into my work, and did
my best to ensure that these men were receiving the care that
every human deserves.
Because I was in a prison environment, the office granted me much
more opportunity for hands-on care than I could have found in a
public setting. For instance, I often changed bandages and
assisted in minor surgeries. On one memorable day, I helped treat
a young boy who had nearly cut off his thumb while working in the
kitchen. The knife had bitten deep into his palm, and his thumb
seemed to be dangling by a thread. Far from feeling repulsion, I
was fascinated by the sight of his hand’s internal parts. I
realized that I was viewing the physiological structures that
enabled movement, and found the experience to be breathtaking. My
resolve snapped into place. I knew then that medicine was my true
calling, and I enrolled in Georgia Southern University immediately
as a full-time student.
Attending college at this point in my life has not been easy. I
live seventy miles away from campus, and commute every day. The
distance always seems so tiny when I think of the wealth of
information I am gaining in my classes, and the many noble goals
that are now within my grasp. College is certainly not the only
aspect of my life right now. I revel in white water rafting,
horseback riding, and cabinet making, and enjoy the challenges and
hard work that fill these activities. Having been married to a
farmer for the past ten years, I also know the basics of running a
farm. I am an advocate for birth control, and have devoted much of
my time to convincing sexually active adolescents to seek family
planning services. Additionally, I have striven to prepare myself
for making meaningful contributions to my community. Because I am
from a region with a large Hispanic population, I spent a summer
in Costa Rica strengthening my knowledge of the Spanish language,
as well as broadening my cultural awareness of other peoples and
customs. I believe that a physician must be attuned to all of the
needs of the community, be they physical or emotional or cultural.
Now is the season for me to tackle my true goal of medicine. I
believe that all of my life experiences have been necessary to
bring me to this point. I am mentally prepared and persistent
enough to excel at any endeavor, and have developed the compassion
and commitment to medicine that will drive me through the years to
come. I look forward to my future with great anticipation, and
know that the time has finally come for me to realize my dreams.
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