Medicine Personal Statement Example 87

Having myopia all my life led me to ask why such conditions exist. I completed a masterclass held by St John's College Cambridge where I learnt how eyes work, from the specifics of how rods and cones have differing functions to how colour is registered. Such a remarkable vessel as this sensory organ can be compromised, necessitating the intervention of medicine.

During my experience in a placement in Urology at Nottingham City Hospital, I gained valuable insight into the diverse specialities within medicine. I appreciated learning how the multi-disciplinary team was maintained and managed. Days were filled with tasks and duties dedicated to patient care. I shadowed consultations on a range of conditions, including cancers, kidney stones, TWOCs, and routine check-ups to ensure patient care. In a field like urology, where privacy and sensitivity are significant, I witnessed the importance of the empathetic approach adopted by professionals and aimed to emulate this when interacting with patients which included observing how patients were taught to use life-saving apparatus by medical staff.

In addition to the practical experience gained, I spent additional time learning from the professionals assigned to me about the background knowledge of different conditions and treatments in urology. One example was a patient who had high PSA levels. This was checked and passed on to a specialist who performed a biopsy and he was shortly diagnosed with cancer.

Witnessing how professionals worked together as a team to diagnose and treat patients, motivated me to improve my teamwork skills and contribute effectively in group settings. From a week of adventure training in Windermere to many nights of fieldcraft with RAF Air Cadets as a Corporal, I developed a good taste of camaraderie and resilience. Teamwork is vital in medicine from the people who clean the equipment to the doctors who use them to save lives.

For my IRIS research project, I combined my interests in chemistry with nutrition and human biology to create a presentation about dietary fat sourcing and a possible cause for chronic inflammation through the omega-6 fatty acid correlation with lipid peroxidization. This was driven by my interest in nutritional impact on physiology. Learning how to critically investigate and evaluate information proved an asset in my academic and personal life where I can use the knowledge gained in application. The satisfactory feeling after proposing my ideas to STEM students and professors at the IRIS conference was a core motivating factor in the justification of my desire to study medicine. To recapture such positive feelings, I am an active member of my school's Medical Society. I presented a lesson, undertaking the challenging task of evaluating hundreds of pages of research and converting it into an intelligible source. My willingness to express my knowledge of supplements like ginseng and creatine to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases demonstrates my ability to clearly and effectively communicate and listen, highlighting my compatibility with the Medicine course.

Recognising the challenges of the Medical course, I strengthened my academic rigour through tribulations such as participating in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge which pushed me past my perceived limit as I had to do many practice sessions and papers. The results of my hard work were recognised with the Copper Award. This emulates how studying medicine will also require persistence and resilience to bounce back from challenging situations common in this field coupled with the ongoing application of analytical thinking like this challenge.
One of my hobbies is playing the piano which helps me with my creative thinking and composure. My devotion to musical hobbies and consistent engagement in cadet activities reflect my ability to stay focused on achieving long-term success.