Graduate / 'impacting the lives of others' - CASPA Personal Narrative [4]

Thank you, Susan, for your helpful advice! I will continue to revise and edit. I'm still open to suggestions that anyone else may have as I know it is not perfect!

Graduate / 'impacting the lives of others' - CASPA Personal Narrative [4]

So over the past couple of days, I edited/revised much of my essay above because I have been getting suggestions that my original draft did not talk about me and my experiences as much as it probably should. Let me know what you think of this one as compared to the first!

Thanks again everyone for any suggestions!

Mother Teresa was once quoted saying: "It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving." Throughout my life, I have worked and volunteered in many different fields in a variety of settings. Having since learned the history of the physician assistant (PA) profession, extensively explored the career, and shadowed various PAs, it is clear to me that this is the career that I want to be a part of for the rest of my life.

As a young child, I had my heart set on becoming a veterinarian. I was passionate about science and I loved animals. As a teenager in high school, my interest in veterinary medicine stood strong so I volunteered at a local animal hospital. There I learned the power of compassion and empathy. Most importantly, though, was that I learned to be patient and to work with others. I continue to rely on these traits today as I train and soon work as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). My desire to be a veterinarian continued into my first year of college when I interned at the Animal Rescue League's Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. It was here that I learned basic medical skills such as how to suture wounds, conduct comprehensive physical exams, and splint limbs. I quickly learned the importance of precision, a steady hand, and dependability because I was the sole intern responsible for the well-being of these animals. I was required to think quickly when assessing the injured animals because, for some, each second that passed was a matter of life and death. One thing that was lacking, though, was the patient-health care provider interaction that I very much enjoy.

I loved every opportunity that I had to work with animals in a medical setting, but my focus on veterinary medicine shifted one day during my junior year of college. I found myself at the hospital sitting at my grandmother's side as she battled the potentially lethal bacteria known as C. difficile. During the days I spent in her room, I watched many doctors run in and out, some never even taking a second of their time to introduce themselves to neither my grandmother nor I. One woman, though, caught my attention when she stopped in the room just to say hi to my grandmother. As she stood at the side of the hospital bed holding my grandmother's hand, she talked to her like a person, not a patient. The PA's ability to communicate with my grandmother on a personal level enabled her to gain my grandmother's trust. For the first time since I had arrived at the hospital, my grandmother smiled. After introducing myself to the woman, I learned that she was a PA. This woman possessed not only medical knowledge and skills, but also the ability to relate and be sensitive to my grandmother's illness. These personal qualities exemplify what a PA is. Returning to Mother Teresa's quote, it was very clear that this PA was not giving care just because it was her job. Rather, she was giving because she truly loved helping others. I now take my grandmother's passing as a sign that led me down a path I may have never been made aware of.

Since that day, I have aspired to be a PA who cares for patients with a loving heart and a smile on her face. As I began shadowing various PAs, commonalities arose among their personalities. They were hard-working and empathetic, but very light-hearted people. In general, PAs are very likeable people. Outstanding career satisfaction is ubiquitous among the PAs I know, which speaks volumes for the field. Exposure to such a variety of specialties during my shadow experiences ignited my interest in primary care. However, I appreciate that PAs do not have to limit themselves to one area of medicine. The mobility among specialties is extremely appealing to me due to the countless opportunities that it presents and the endless amount of learning that is available.

Mother Teresa's quote again describes my actions when I sought out certification as an emergency medical technician (EMT-B). I decided that I would be more useful working as an EMT where I would personally be able to serve the public. While acquiring the medical skills necessary, I became very comfortable with working alongside fellow health care providers. Learning how to communicate calmly and effectively with patients are skills that will undoubtedly help me in my future endeavors as a PA. After receiving my certification and doing multiple ride-alongs in the ambulance, though, I realized that I desired a more constant flow of patients; consequently, I sought out certification as a nurse's aide (CNA). My previous education, certifications, and shadow experiences will undoubtedly help me care for patients while training and working as a CNA at Harmar Village Care Center.

The research I have done on the PA profession, my shadowing experiences, and the conversations I have had with other PAs assure me that this is the perfect career for me. Through my work and volunteer experiences, I have come to foster traits that characterize a physician assistant. My education at Wheaton College provided me with an excellent foundation in biology, including human anatomy and physiology. Attending PA school will continue to build on this foundation as it prepares me to succeed as a PA and ultimately succeed in life while positively impacting the lives of others. As Mother Teresa expresses through her quote, the amount of giving doesn't matter unless the giving is done with love.