My ‘Story’ Of Why Study Medicine
‘Throughout my childhood education I was fascinated with the complexity of the human body and it was when I started my GCSE biology course that my interest in anatomy and physiology began to grow exponentially. Meanwhile my time with the Kent Army Cadet Force (KACF) organisation allowed me to explore the subject of First Aid which I found the most enjoyable from the cadet syllabus. Last year I had to perform first aid on a friend by placing him in the recovery position and calling for immediate help when he went into shock which gave me a sense of excitement as I overcame challenges under pressure.
The fact that I found from two very different environments my passion for such similar subject highlighted to me that I would be well suited to a career in medicine. A Levels and Caring ExperienceMy fascination for anatomy developed throughout my A Level Biology studies – particularly the heart dissection practical. To hold such a fundamental organ in my hand caused me to be dumbfounded. This has lead me to independently read up on the research and practise of 3D biological printing as I find it incredible that our technology can allow us to replicate such intricate structures that have evolved over so many years to our specific needs.
Doing A-level psychology has also made me particularly curious about disease of the mind and explanations for this in psychiatry. The topics of Biopsychology and Schizophrenia have interested me the most throughout this course as they show strong focuses on the role of brain structures and the role of neurotransmitters in causing disorders. Therefore, I believe that I would deeply enjoy learning about the psychiatry and neurology practises in medicine. My original interest in mental health stems from my fascination with conditions present in my intermediate family; my brother has been diagnosed with severe autism and so I have personal experience of this unique way of thinking and the struggles that he has faced as well as the struggles that medical professionals have encountered throughout his diagnosis and management.
Currently, I am working as a Community Care Worker which enables me to experience an environment like that of a clinical one due to the palliative care that I administer. Some of our service users (the people which we care for) are bed bound or suffer from faecal/urinary incontinence and therefore I have learnt how assist them to prevent microbial infections and maintain a sterile and hygienic environment. Although certain circumstances in this job can be upsetting and it can be difficult at times to avoid a strong emotional attachment to the service users, the whole experience is worth it for the sense of fulfilment and accomplishment that it gives me radio 4 kirsty young “desert island discs” famous surgeos.
Hobbies
Throughout my five years of participation in the KACF I completed my Silver DofE and achieved the rank of a cadet Sergeant. During this time, I became responsible for younger cadets and so I learnt how to keep necessary information confidential but gained an understanding of when it was required to report a situation for safety purposes; I was also given the opportunity to further this while completing my volunteering in care homes. Both have also refined my teamwork and communication skills as well as my respect for authority hierarchies. This will be vital in completing a degree in medicine because when a person’s health and even life is in your hands, clear communication within a team is crucial so that ordered tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.
Interests = Possible Career Fields
Due to my personal interests in mental health and first aid as well as my experiences as a cadet, I have thought about medicine leading me to careers in the fields of Psychiatry or Trauma Surgery perhaps even as a military officer. However, I am aware that medicine is extremely vast and that throughout my future studies my eyes will open up to new fields of interest that I may never have thought of before and so I expect that my career aspirations will be altered throughout my medical journey. In conclusion, I know a career in medicine will not be easy but I still look forward to tackling any challenges I will face in pursuit of becoming a doctor.
