Scholarship / Statement on why I wish to enroll in a NASA internship. [5]

Hello everyone!
I am very happy to find out this community just after I finished a internship application letter (to a NASA program). Reading all these essays have been helpful.

I'd be glad if you could help me on that.
As you might notice, English isn't my native language, so grammatical mistakes may be the main issue.
Thanks in advance.
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When I was six or seven, my mother introduced me to Carl Sagan's Cosmos, and this probably was the single fact that has most influenced my answer to the question "What will you be when you grow up"? Since then, the answer was "a researcher". As I grew up, my children's play were very focused on science experiment kits and assembling Lego, besides sports and reading.

I had great academic standings in high school, and I travelled a lot representing it in academic contests, sports competitions and university summer courses. I have got the bronze medal at the Astronomy and Astronautics Brazilian Olympiad (2007) and I have been a finalist at the Brazilian Olympiad of Physics (2006).In my senior year, I had a very hard time choosing my career direction. Physics was my first option and my passion, but I wasn't given any support by friends, teachers and relatives, as the scientific career here in Brazil isn't well recognized and valued. Then, mostly influenced by my parents, both physicians, I decided to pursue a career in medicine.

Thus, in 2009 I joined the University, for a six year combined undergraduate/MD program. Lack of motivation has been an issue I struggled against throughout the course. I had many criticisms about the teaching system adopted by the university (which haven't changed much from the system criticized by Richard Feynman during his year-long stay in Brazil, during the 50's). However, the main reason for my low enthusiasm was that I couldn't see no practical application for the knowledge I was supposed to learn. I thought things would get better on the clinical years, but it didn't happened. Several times I considered dropping out the medical school for a career in physics or biology, but as I was more than halfway done, I decided to make it through the end.

During my college years, I have been involved in some projects. At the microbiology course, I helped developing new interfaces for its teaching, such as creating a website and editing textbooks with a more friendly graphic design. I volunteered at my university's hospital cancer registry, where I developed both protocols for avoiding tumor under notification and a digital system for data registering. However, the most meaningful experience was collaborating with a study group on medical didactics. Some colleagues, whom were also disappointed with the current teaching methods, and I created a group where we could discuss medical teaching, study techniques and stress management. We focused mainly in advising the freshmen, so they could have a better college experience. The group has been recognized by the school of medicine for its relevance, and now integrates the official core of study groups. By now, the group is run by those same freshmen. Currently, I just joined Biomedical Engineering Research Group at my university, where I am about to work on translational medicine.

Although I really enjoy the warm and human relationship that Medicine provides, I never saw myself working in a hospital or on my own practice. As I am about to graduate, I'm facing again that same challenge about my professional pathway. I could choose the traditional, riskless and well-paying option: a medical residency in a profitable specialty. But I realized that I would make the same mistake again, taking the easy way instead of having the courage to follow my own desire. So, I am convinced to pursue a career in biotechnological development and research.

Well, I took permission to write a little about my life prior to justify the reasons why I wish to participate in the clerkship.

Aerospace Medicine arises as an exciting career, as it unites a lot of fields that fascinates me: space science, research, problem-solving, translational technologies, human relationship, amongst many more. Here in Brazil I do not prospect having this experience, as our space program, by now, does not works on manned flights. My enthusiasm for deepen my experience and studies in Aerospace Medicine is the reason why I wish to enroll in this clerkship.

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