Undergraduate / Shadowing in Philly, an Eye Opening Experience, uc prompt II [2]

I first found out about it from my mom. "You're kidding right?" I did not believe it when she said that I would be traveling alone to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to spend two weeks shadowing a well-known otolarancologist. After the initial shock of the news passed, I could hardly contain my excitement. Finally, I had a chance to prove my responsibility by traveling by myself across the country.

The day finally came and I was nervous but couldn't wait to start my journey at the same time. With my oversized computer case and purse, I stepped onto the plane; passing into what I felt was the world of adulthood. The flight went smoothly. I eagerly watched videos of larygoscopic procedures and did research to prepare for my meeting with Doctor Sataloff.

While shadowing Doctor Sataloff, I experienced patient contact from doctor's point of view. The "real world" was so much more different than I had expected. I walked into the strobe room, timidly standing in a corner while Doctor Sataloff performed a routine larygoscopy. "Open wide; we are just going to give you a numbing spray so that this experience will be as comfortable as possible." Mrs. Smith (whose name was changed) would not cooperate, however, and proceeded to throw the doctor out of the room. "I can't believe that the woman threatened to sue you if you gave her that paralytic," I confessed to the doctor. He explained to me that unruly patients were part of his everyday routine. I realized that I had been naïve in thinking that a career in medicine would be stress-free. Just after one patient I began to feel myself maturing and understanding that, even when dealing with adults, not everything goes as planned.

As the week went on, I learned so much about working in an office environment. I was able to observe the inner workings of the clinic and how much it took to keep it functioning as a well-running establishment. I felt as though I learned how to act more as a professional such as not laughing when a patient made a ridiculous claim and kindly letting a patient know that their time was coming to an end.

Even after coming back from Philly, I find myself wishing I was back at the clinic. I was proud of myself for successfully shadowing the doctor. Doctor Sataloff gave me a handwritten letter, thanking me for being such a wonderful student and asking me to come back whenever I could. According to the other doctors at the clinic, it was an honor to be acknowledged by the doctor to that extent. After this journey, I can definitely see myself in a similar setting. Thinking of this experience now drives my ambition to become a doctor much like Doctor Sataloff.

Undergraduate / Common App Prompt I, My ubringing and family influence on my career choice [2]

→As I have been brought up by my mother and father, I have been taught many values and virtues; among them, caring for others. I was always told as a child that I should "treat others the way that I would want to be treated" and that caring for others was one of the most satisfying things that a person could do. I also grew up with a grandmother that had been married off at age twelve and was, therefore, unable to receive an education. She always said: "Go to school Fasiha, you don't want to end up like me!" Being told to care for others and that an education was extremely important has significantly shaped my goals and aspirations as well as the person that I have become.

→Growing up, I heeded my grandmother's words and dedicated myself to my studies. My thirst for knowledge could hardly be satiated by my school work and I often asked for supplemental work from my teachers. I could hardly wait to go to school every morning; I strove to learn as much as I could. I craved the satisfaction of learning a new fact and expanding my knowledge. When I reached middle school, I realized that it was my dream to go into the medical field and become a doctor after my first biology lesion in eight grade science. I was captivated by the human body and, in my eyes, a career in the medical field has the highest level of job satisfaction; saving lives and helping the sick is extremely rewarding in and of itself. Upon entering high school, I have tried to learn as much about the human body and the medical field as I could, earnestly taking classes such as AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Sports Medicine in hopes of getting a head start in learning what it takes to become a doctor.

→Being from the third world country of Bangladesh, I know how uncommon it is for a woman from my country to further her education after high school, let alone become a doctor. Knowing that women in my country do not always get the opportunity to enter into a career of their choice or further their education, drives me to strive even harder in school to become the exception. Not only do I hope to be a women doctor, I hope to become the first person in my family to graduate in the top two percent of my high school graduating class. By going to a University of California, I wish to receive the best education possible to become a doctor who is able to significantly impact the lives of others.