Undergraduate / UC Personal Statement: The Hope to Survive [5]

I expected my Thanksgiving break to be a breeze, but it was the total opposite. My life would never be the same the day I found out my great grandmother had been hospitalized. "We are going to see your great grandmother you guys..something is wrong with her brain," my dad said to me and my younger brother. I remember how quiet my family was walking up to Kaiser, the elevator ride to her room felt like it lasted forever. I did not take him seriously until I saw the IV's sticking in and out of her body. I was instantly in shock, she looked like she was in so much pain-even though she was sleeping. When she woke up I hoped that she remembered me, but she didn't, she couldn't remember anyone after her stroke. Someone who has been around my family for all of our lives forgot us in one second. It's been hard on all of us, the person we looked at as strong was breaking. There was no way I could keep my emotions together for Thanksgiving, I kept asking myself why there wasn't anything the doctors could do to weaken the pain, that may be the medicine they could give her could make it go away. All I can think about are ways to help her get better. Because if I don't, my outgoing personality will disappear, and I will start staying to myself: my dad says I become a "turtle". I used to spend my time laying down, watching movies, but now all I can do is research ways to regain memories and to brighten up the depressing aura of hospital rooms. Kaiser will become my second home, and once her doctors feel that she can go into physical therapy, the rehab center will be too. One of my true passions has been to help others, I just didn't expect it to be someone in my own family. I don't have my future completely set just yet, but I know I want to be in the Medical field. There are so many people in this world fighting for their lives, and getting to help them with their journey to recovery is a career that I want to be in for the rest of my life. I have always been a selfless person, and some may see that as a downfall, but I think that God's plan for me is to care for others. Even though my spirit has been in shambles, I know my situation will get better. I won't use it as an excuse to start slacking in school. I know she wouldn't want me to do that, and I am too determined to become successful. Instead, I am going to let it motivate me to work harder, not only for her, but for my future.