At some point in their lives many people go through experiences that define them and shape their pursuits in life. For me this pursuit is in the field of medicine. There was no one defining moment that made me decide “I want to be a doctor.” The people around me is what first got me motivated. I decided at some point a career in medicine was my goal and I will tackle every obstacle that comes between me and that goal. The accelerated medicine program will be the biggest leap I make to this destination. I also look forward to all I can do as a part of NJIT’s BA/MD program. I want to be a part of the accelerated program because of the boundless research I can take part in, as well as the fact that it is the next step for me in my life long goal.
This goal of mine was shaped through experiences I had with those around me. I can remember when I was young I would be in and out of the hospital to see my mother. At the time I didn’t realize my mother was having surgery because she had a tumor on her thyroid gland. Not once but twice she had to get tumors removed from her thyroid. On top of that she struggled with breast cancer for many years. But this one story with a happy ending. She came through all the trials and tribulations fine and even stronger. It is this fighting spirit the motivated me to go into medicine. If I could help people feel the way I did when I found out my mother was alright it would be worth it. To save a life is not only a service to the patient but a relief to those around them, this is what I’ve come to realize over time. With a degree in medicine I would be able to help relatives with their medical problems big or small to the best of my ability. Medicine is truly the business of saving lives and in my opinion that is a noblest of enterprises.
My aunt is another member of my family that suffers from adverse medical conditions. For twenty five years she’s struggled with Systemic Scleroderma. During my younger years I did not notice how bad of a condition it was because like my mother she fought to overcome any hardship that came with it. My aunt was one of the main driving forces behind my success throughout school and without her motivation I would not be writing this letter. I want to make her sacrifices worth it. Part of the reason I wish to be a doctor is because of the pride it would bring to her and the rest of my family.
My other attraction to medicine is a bit less selfless. Considering the field of medicine is what interests me most I naturally wish to learn as much as I can. I am especially interested in cutting edge research which admission to the accelerated program would give me access to. I am interested in topics researched in NJIT’s labs such as the Biomedical Research in stem cell applications in tissue regeneration, vision and neural engineering, bioMEMS, motion analysis and rehabilitation engineering, biomaterials and biopolymers. Revolutionary is the first word that comes to mind as I read the descriptions for each topic and I can not help but feel a yearning to be a part of it. I possess a desire to be a part of the research done at the Public Health Research Institute Center as well. Increasing public awareness and quality of life is a main reason I want to pursue medicine so it would be a blessing to do research at the PHRIC. The field of medicine is one that is ever expanding. There is always more to learn and that is one of my ambitions, to learn as much as I can about advances in this ever maturing field.
I know to be accepted into a program as prestigious as this one must have a strong foundation. Throughout school I’ve had exposure to medicine. I planned my highschool courses around the fact I wished to go into medicine. For these reasons I took chemistry, honors biology, AP biology, and six math courses. I am also a part of the Future Leaders of Medicine club in my school. On top of this I was a part of a program called Health Links. In Health Links we would take trips to different medical institutions and hear from speakers from medical fields of all kinds and other career types as well that worked with health care workers in medical facilities. In Health Links I learned exactly what to expect as I dove into my pursuit into the field of medicine. This is the foundation on which I’ve built upon, and hope to continue to build upon at NJIT.
To conclude, my decision to go into medicine is final. I am confident in my acceptance to the accelerated medical program. My reasons for pursuing this program go beyond money or material gain. They come from personal experiences which have molded me into the person I am today. I feel I have enough of a foundation and motivation to be accepted and succeed in this program.