Graduate / 'a rainy day in Connecticut' - PA school personal statement [4]

The topic is "please describe your motivation towards become a PA"
HERE IS MY ESSAY THUS FAR, ALL SUGGESTIONS WELCOME:

"It is a rainy day in Connecticut as my partner and I are standing at the deli counter waiting for our breakfast sandwiches and coffees. We had just finished a call and decided to stop to get breakfast before heading back to the station. Just as our sandwiches are being placed in a to-go bag the tones drop on our portable radios. Irony has it that dispatch is calling our unit out to an MVA on the Merritt Parkway. It is around 8am, prime time for rush hour. My partner and I grab our food with a saddened feeling knowing by the time we sunk our teeth in, our bacon, egg and cheese would be cold. As we jump into the ambulance my mind is racing, thinking about what we will see when we arrive on scene and how hurt our patient may be. I start preparing myself, making a mental checklist of things to remember: collar, board, stretcher, sheets, towels and the jump bag. As my partner is driving lights and sirens, my adrenaline begins to kick in and my heart rate continues to increase as our ambulance is parting the Merritt Parkway like the Red Sea.

It was in that moment that I became addicted to the adrenaline that comes with emergency medicine. Knowing that I was driving towards the accident to help was the biggest rush of all. It is human nature to gawk at an accident on the side of the road, but this time I was not just trying to catch a glance in the 2 seconds it takes to drive by. I was actually going to be on the scene, helping a patient instead of standing on the sidelines as a nosey pedestrian. Helping and giving care to people has been something that I have always strived for in my life. Being an EMT has reinforced my desire to become a Physician Assistant.

Working in the field has given me vast amounts of experience. I have seen a wide variety of calls ranging from cardiac arrest to stable patient's stating, "I just have a headache". I have been exposed to very stressful situations and conditions that have tested my skills. I learned that I could tolerate high stress situations well. In the moment of an emergency, I can work effectively and efficiently with the other EMS workers. Learning this quality about myself has given me more confidence. Working in EMS has also allowed me to be a part of a team and work on leadership skills. In an emergency situation I have had to take charge and make decisions regarding my patient's care. I have meet many wonderful patients while working and knowing that I was a part of their care is a good feeling. Just knowing that I put a smile on one of my patient's face makes me feel accomplished. I look forward to the day when I can have more involvement in patient care as a Physician Assistant.

Recently I have started a job at Bridgeport Hospital Emergency as an ED Scribe. Scribes work closely with the ED providers and accompany them to the patient rooms. I am responsible for accurately writing the medical chart for the provider. This job has allowed me to see how PAs work to determine a diagnosis. I have learned an amazing amount of medical terminology and pharmaceuticals, which in turn, helped me with my patients in EMS. Scribes are also required to be present and document during a trauma. I have seen the trauma surgeons and ER staff work as a team to stabilize a patient. I also have been fortunate enough to see many emergency procedures performed by the Trauma Team. I am extremely grateful for the knowledge this job has offered and the motivation it gives me to become a Physician Assistant.

I have always been a very caring and compassionate person. I want nothing more but to help someone in their prevention, diagnosis and treatment of their illness. Patients cannot fight their battle alone. And I want to make sure they know that. They have a large support system consisting of their family, friends, nurses and doctors, rooting for them to get better and conquer their illness. I would love to be a part of that team.

Working as an EMT and in an Emergency Department setting has cemented my desire for becoming a PA. Just the simple conversations I have held with patients put a smile on their face, as well as my own. I wish I could have helped them more, but even just knowing that I made a small difference in their life is a good feeling. Becoming a PA could help me make bigger impacts on patient's lives and the lives of their loved ones. I am determined to become a Physician Assistant, and I would be delighted if you accepted me into your program and allow me to take the final steps in fulfilling my dream."