My decision to become a doctor did not come in a moment of blinding revelation, but as
a result of a variety of experiences which began during my first years at college. Before,
attending college, however, I knew I would enter a profession which involved service to others.
Although I had no definite career plans, from childhood, my parents instilled in me values, such
as compassion and respect for others, stressing the importance of giving back to the community.
At college, removed from the protected environment of a small community, I experienced
tremendous growth. Early on in my college career, I took science courses as a part of my
graduation requirement and performed poorly. The science program at my high school left me
ill-prepared for the rigors of a college curriculum, and I lacked the discipline required to do well.
I recovered well from my initial faltering, but my academic self-confidence was shaken, as
previously I had excelled in school. I decided to major in history, for I had loved to read history
when I was growing up and it appealed to me in that it effectively integrated several disciplines,
such as politics and economics, into a global view. My coursework gave me an excellent
background in independent research and analytical thinking. Furthermore, through my college’s
core curriculum, with its emphasis that a well-rounded education should be based upon a solid
liberal arts foundation, I took courses in Western philosophy, literature and music. Throughout
my time at college, I pursued many volunteer activities: performing political work at the
National Organization for Women, tutoring inner city schoolchildren, serving as an advocate for
homeless rights. As an intern at NOW, I researched and drafted position papers on issues such as
reproductive rights and health care for minority women; I also wrote speeches that were
delivered by the chapter president at rallies. I worked on the NOW hotline, which provided
referrals and counseling services to women who called in. I also served as the coordinator of a
tutoring program of a public junior high school, acting as a liaison between the college student
tutors and the faculty. The work was challenging since many of the children enrolled in the
program had emotional as well as academic problems, but it was very rewarding to see the kids
respond and make progress in the schoolwork. From each of my volunteer activities, I gained
immense satisfaction from knowing that I had made a difference the in the lives of a few
individuals—whether it was watching the growing self-confidence of a child who had mastered a
math problem or offering guidance to an abused woman on the NOW hotline.
Ultimately, it was my experience as a volunteer at the emergency room which left the
indelible mark on me and influenced my decision to become a physician. The hospital is located
in the Morningside Heights area of Springfield and on a busy night the ER would be teeming
with cases, making it an exciting and thrilling career.