This is a personal statement for Northeastern's Physician Assistant program. Any suggestions/edits would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!
Personal Statement
Please type a statement explaining what you have learned about yourself, serving others, and working as part of team based upon your hands-on patient care experience with patients and/or community service activities.
From my community service in the Peace Corps working as a health educator in rural Guatemala I have not only enhanced my knowledge of what it means to serve others and how to successfully work as team; but also throughout it all, a little more about myself as well.
"Life is calling. How far will you go?" When I read this on a Peace Corps flyer, something in me stirred. The idea of devoting two years to serving others while obtaining cultural awareness and learning a new language just seemed like an obvious step to take. During my service I have learned that to serve others is a gift. Not only to those served but also to those who are serving. The smiles on the women's faces after learning how to make homemade Gatorade for their sick children, or watching them speak in front of a crowd for the first time in their lives gives me such pride to serve here. After each meeting I feel a new sense of rejuvenation that results from the accomplishments of the group.
Another important aspect I have learned about serving is to show I am not much different from them. It seems there is a stigma associated with those served and those who are serving. Those who are being served often feel they are inferior. However, those being served should realize they have just as much potential as the rest. The results can be extremely rewarding watching someone who once felt inferior to sprout confidence and begin taking on higher responsibility within their community solely because someone once told them they had the power to do it. The influence of serving should not be under estimated in any community.
Working in Guatemala has helped me realize how to successfully work as a team. Sometimes, this work can involve a trilingual team where communication is not exactly as clear as water. In this environment I have learned communication is the key aspect in obtaining success. If everyone communicates effectively the team is more likely to meet the goal; even if it means repeating the same thing multiple times and in several languages. Another important aspect of teamwork is delegation. If everyone thinks someone else is going to do it then no one will do it and the work will not get done. Lastly, the benefits of teamwork mean there are more resources to draw from. Each individual has something to bring to the table that can be used to advance the project. With clear communication, delegation, and the use of multiple resources, working as a team can be beneficial for the success of the community or the project.
Somewhere between hand washing my clothes for hours on end and walking miles to the villages, I have had plenty of time to self reflect. One important aspect I have learned is that I am dependent on work. The lowest points in my service have been when work was slow. I became restless, anxious, and almost depressed. The days I am the happiest are when my day begins at 8am and does not finish until 7pm when transportation stops, the sun goes down, and stores begin to close. Therefore, I am constantly working on more than one project in order to stay busy. Furthermore, I love to take on tasks that are not exactly my expertise. For example, I have learned how to garden, make liquid soap, and say hello and goodbye in five different languages. One of my favorite comments I have received from a fellow volunteer was, "Chelsea, you know what I like about you? You do. You always just do." I believe this comment is a good summary of a key component I have discovered about myself while serving.
I am so grateful for the time I have spent in Guatemala for teaching me about the value of serving, how to work in a team, and a little more about myself. I look forward to the next year of my service where these aspects will be able to flourish even more than they already have.
Personal Statement
Please type a statement explaining what you have learned about yourself, serving others, and working as part of team based upon your hands-on patient care experience with patients and/or community service activities.
From my community service in the Peace Corps working as a health educator in rural Guatemala I have not only enhanced my knowledge of what it means to serve others and how to successfully work as team; but also throughout it all, a little more about myself as well.
"Life is calling. How far will you go?" When I read this on a Peace Corps flyer, something in me stirred. The idea of devoting two years to serving others while obtaining cultural awareness and learning a new language just seemed like an obvious step to take. During my service I have learned that to serve others is a gift. Not only to those served but also to those who are serving. The smiles on the women's faces after learning how to make homemade Gatorade for their sick children, or watching them speak in front of a crowd for the first time in their lives gives me such pride to serve here. After each meeting I feel a new sense of rejuvenation that results from the accomplishments of the group.
Another important aspect I have learned about serving is to show I am not much different from them. It seems there is a stigma associated with those served and those who are serving. Those who are being served often feel they are inferior. However, those being served should realize they have just as much potential as the rest. The results can be extremely rewarding watching someone who once felt inferior to sprout confidence and begin taking on higher responsibility within their community solely because someone once told them they had the power to do it. The influence of serving should not be under estimated in any community.
Working in Guatemala has helped me realize how to successfully work as a team. Sometimes, this work can involve a trilingual team where communication is not exactly as clear as water. In this environment I have learned communication is the key aspect in obtaining success. If everyone communicates effectively the team is more likely to meet the goal; even if it means repeating the same thing multiple times and in several languages. Another important aspect of teamwork is delegation. If everyone thinks someone else is going to do it then no one will do it and the work will not get done. Lastly, the benefits of teamwork mean there are more resources to draw from. Each individual has something to bring to the table that can be used to advance the project. With clear communication, delegation, and the use of multiple resources, working as a team can be beneficial for the success of the community or the project.
Somewhere between hand washing my clothes for hours on end and walking miles to the villages, I have had plenty of time to self reflect. One important aspect I have learned is that I am dependent on work. The lowest points in my service have been when work was slow. I became restless, anxious, and almost depressed. The days I am the happiest are when my day begins at 8am and does not finish until 7pm when transportation stops, the sun goes down, and stores begin to close. Therefore, I am constantly working on more than one project in order to stay busy. Furthermore, I love to take on tasks that are not exactly my expertise. For example, I have learned how to garden, make liquid soap, and say hello and goodbye in five different languages. One of my favorite comments I have received from a fellow volunteer was, "Chelsea, you know what I like about you? You do. You always just do." I believe this comment is a good summary of a key component I have discovered about myself while serving.
I am so grateful for the time I have spent in Guatemala for teaching me about the value of serving, how to work in a team, and a little more about myself. I look forward to the next year of my service where these aspects will be able to flourish even more than they already have.
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