Personal Statement for the Admission Essay
There could be no better pride in a university than knowing that one is an alumnus of that college. Starting from fall 2019, I am proud to be a Barry University alumnus. I do not want my history with the university to end with just an undergraduate degree. I want to extend my connection to the university with a Master of Biomedical Sciences. My primary motivation is the university’s encouragement for students to learn, reflect on, and engage in the service of the community. I am proud to serve people. The university has a rich history of the biomedical sciences spanning 37 years. I am, therefore, confident that I cannot possibly get a better education elsewhere. From the word I have received from all my friends who have been to Barry, I cannot overstate my confidence in the college. One thing I have always wanted is to join a professional school in the US after my university training. This dream seems near to fulfilment if I only get the chance to pursue my master’s at Barry. All the alumni in my knowledge have had a splendid career, flourishing in different professional institutions in the country. I am faithful that my chance of actualizing my lifelong dream finally rests with my opportunity to pursue a master’s at Barry. I am hopeful that my faith in you will not go for granted. I sincerely request for that opportunity.
My entire professional journey begins at Barry University. My present plan is to complete a Master of Biomedical Sciences at the university, where I also earned my undergraduate degree. Like many other students, the master’s will be a durable stepping stone for my pursuit of a career with a prominent professional school like the Allopathic Medical School or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. That training will be instrumental in the development of skills and knowledge necessary for evidence-based care provision. Like I pointed, I have always wanted to serve people.
When I was fourteen years old, my uncle was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. He remained asymptomatic for two years, hardly exhibiting any motor, cardio, or behavioural complications. An ultrasound test, however, revealed a more disturbing situation. Although chronic kidney disease was manageable and curable, the advanced stage meant significant damage to the point of kidney failure. Diabetes mellitus type 2 further complicated the problem. According to the doctor, nephrectomy through surgery was the only possible way that my uncle could have his malfunctioning kidney removed. Although the news was bitter, it showered the last ray of hope. For several weeks, my uncle would not perform his usual work, but at least the procedure provided a chance for him to live. That experience was the turning point for me; it made me appreciate and respect healthcare. From then onwards, I have wanted to foster positive change, the very mission I found at Barry University (Barry University).
With my Barry’s master’s, I will have a rich background for that mission. I believe that I have a pleasant experience with that career. While doing my undergraduate degree, I had various opportunities to set me on the right track for my envisioned career. For example, I often helped students to follow safety measures in the lab. I enjoyed preparing ingredients for lab tests, conducting experiments, and preparing lab reports. It was during these lessons that I developed managerial and leadership skills, like coordinating trials, supervising, and demonstrating technical issues. Often, I would assist students with more complicated tasks such as fractional distillation, nuclear magnetic resonance, and gas chromatography. I also helped physics students in using computerized graphical tools such as those enabled by MS Excel. I am faithful that these experiences provide a wealthy background for community service.
As an undergraduate student, I once volunteered in a healthcare mission in Nicaragua for four weeks. In my view, the trip cemented my decision to pursue a career in medicine. It allowed me to face the hard reality of people living in poverty, with no education, and without access to quality healthcare. Throughout the trip, I met patients face-to-face, shared their stories, and helped them in different activities. We worked in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, thereby having a clear brush with community service. I assisted in feeding patients, distributing medicine, and talking with those in rehabilitation. I also assisted in providing healthcare. By the end of the trip, I volunteered in ambulance services, helping local paramedics in the capital, Managua. The journey also involved rather complicated exercises such as assisting USA MS1 and MS2 students in taking vitals, preparing medical equipment, and check-ups. While transporting patients to various hospitals, I got the chance to interact and learn from them. This trip was the defining moment for me regarding medicine. I am confident that my exposure to the real-world will pay out later in my career.
Besides volunteer work, I have participated in a range of research projects that have provided me with an opportunity to exercise the theory I have learned in my undergraduate. From August 2015 to May 2016, I worked as a co-author for Barry University’s STEM Poster. Biology professor, Robinson, conducted the research titled: Fluctuating asymmetry and molecular quality in house crickets, Acheta domesticus. My role in this research was to prepare and maintain cell cultures, isolating and analyzing protein samples, preparing reports and manuscripts, and offering proposals and technical manuals for use by others. I also participated in collecting and analyzing data on how organisms relate to their environments. As an undergraduate student, the research allowed me to face real-life scientific applications of the knowledge learned in class. That project was a breakthrough for me in my scientific discovery journey. Henceforth, I have participated in different scientific studies.
In fall 2016, I embarked on yet another research with Barry University’s biology faculty. This time, we investigated the possible ways through which zebrafish employ cardiomyocyte proliferation for regenerating heart tissue when experiencing stress. As part of the experiment, the research developed a method of exposing fish to extreme hypoxic environments. Ideally, such situations trigger events similar to those encountered during pathological cardiac stress. My participation in this research appreciated my previous study with the university’s biology professors. Specifically, I enjoyed the role of laboratory experiments in critical medical innovation. Those studies help to build knowledge for medical intervention through evidence-based practices. Also, such studies have a high validity level (Brüggemann & Kilian, p. 24). My experience in these studies paved the way for a brilliant career after graduation.
Just after graduation, I got a job at the University of Miami Health System at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. My job description is a medical scribe. In my view, this job is the most meaningful experience I have had so far. Working alongside clinical physicians and Chief of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive surgery is a tremendous honour and cultivating experience. By partnering with physicians, my job increases the efficiency of care provided by the institute. Part of my daily work is to document medical information so that clinicians can access it quickly. Also, I analyze physician-directed patient history, physical examination, medical histories, and family and social details. Shadowing during surgery, such as ptosis repair, eyeball exoneration, blepharoplasty, and orbital decompression is one of my occasional experiences. By participating in those procedures, I have learned that medicine requires not only theoretical training but also practical skills. The job has also broadened my appreciation for patient-physician relationships. I have learned that medicine is also about enjoying a good relationship between the patient and the physician, developed by the trust. With such experiences, I am faithful that medicine is my right career.
Works Cited
Barry University. “Barry University.” Barry University, https://www.barry.edu/. Accessed 30 Apr 2020.
Brüggemann, Julia, and Kilian Bizer. “Laboratory experiments in innovation research: a methodological overview and a review of the current literature.” Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 5.1 (2016): 24.