Graduate / Fear, hunger, pain, death; Physician Assistant school/ re-applying [2]

I am applying for the second time to become a PA I only applied to 1 school last year and I am on the waiting list at Texas Tech and wishing for a miracle to be accepted but if I do not I a want to be ready and apply again here and to others schools. I do not know if I should resubmit the same essay or change some information any help I can get is helpful.

Fear, hunger, pain, death - these are all characteristics of the place where I was born: Huajuapan, a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico. An underserved community with few health resources to keep a premature baby diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia like myself alive, a place where socioeconomic realities impact medical access on those whose very life is on the line.

I was very ill throughout my childhood. The doctors recommended my mother reduce my exposure to potential infections. This was hard since there was an increase in cases of tuberculosis in my town. My mother, frightened of what could happen to me, did not want to take any chances. She left everything she had - being a nurse, friends, and family - to bring me to the United States to receive better treatment. I remember the people I trusted to ensure my wellbeing as I was in and out of the hospital. They made an impression on me and from that time on, I knew I wanted to enter a profession in the medical field. I met many doctors and physician assistants during my care. Growing up in a rural part of town the PA seemed to spend more time with me than the doctor did, taking the time to know me on an individual level rather than just another patient. One night, when I was at the hospital, my mother had to work and I was alone. I started to panic; I had to be hooked to oxygen to relieve my anxiety. I remember my PA staying with me until I fell asleep. I have come to realize that I sincerely enjoy getting to know people personally and tailoring myself to meet their needs and that as a PA it would be the best fit for who I am and what I find joy in; helping others.

I met many people who endured a set of challenges that were not far unlike those faced by my family who came to the United States for better opportunities. Even though medical resources are available to everyone, many faced the fear of going to the hospital due to lack of money or language barrier. I encountered people who could have prevented a condition if it were treated at an early stage, but the fact that they did not have the funds to do so was their downfall. I remember seeing my mother use her nursing skills to treat neighbors who were sick. Even though she could not work as a nurse, an immigrant herself, she practiced to help others as she did with me when I was sick. The consciousness my mother passed on to me established my desire to serve individuals in need and humanity at large.

My hunger to succeed has been essential, shaping the person I am today. I have come upon many obstacles throughout my life; nevertheless, I had a goal in sight to alleviate the pain and suffering of places like Huajuapan and other underserved areas. As a first generation college student, it was tough, but knowing that my family looked up to me for being the first one in my family to graduate with a Bachelor's degree motivated me even more to prove to them anything is possible. Committed to pursuing a career as a PA, I dedicated my time in the medical field.

Working directly with patients has made me more confident about becoming a PA. As an EMT, I love being able to help patients when they need it the most, but it bothers me not knowing what happens to them after they are out the ambulance and I wish to be involved in a more in-depth level. As a caregiver and interpreter for an elderly patient with Alzheimer's, I learned the importance of providing companionship, conversation and how much a language barrier could affect one when struggling to understand one's health problems. While volunteering, I came upon a conversation of a family who only spoke Spanish. The doctor told them to bring their daughter back immediately if her symptoms worsened, and otherwise to follow up with a doctor in three days. However, what her parents understood from the conversation was that they should wait three days to see the doctor. I quickly interrupted and interpreted to make it clear that they should return immediately if symptoms worsened. A week later the doctor came up to me and thanked me. It turned out that the daughter had appendicitis and came back the next day instead of coming in three days later when it could have been too late. As a medical interpreter, I am the voice of underserved communities, to gain full access to quality health care by understanding and communicating effectively.

To this day, the town where I was born still has very few resources; my grandmother passed away five years ago due to a lack of blood available for transfusion. The pain of knowing we shared the same blood type but being many miles away in order to arrive on time even to say one last goodbye is still very devastating. I became headstrong and determined. I realized that I want to help people, care for people, to practice in underserved communities, and give them a second chance; I was given one after all. School has taught me medical facts, but life has inspired me to become a great physician's assistant.