Finding Purpose through Personal Illness: My Journey to Becoming a PA

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Growing up, I did not believe in unforeseen circumstances. However, when I turned seventeen, my whole perspective changed when I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. At first, I was truly in despair. I could not fathom how I went from being “healthy”, to having to live on medication for the rest of my life. Luckily, during my stay in the hospital, I was surrounded by a supportive medical team that allowed me to embark on this journey in a positive manner. My experience with this disease has taught me to be a fighter. For the past six years, I have been fighting for what I want: to become a PA. My dream and aspiration is to treat and cure patients the way I have been treated as a patient, with compassion: love, and care. It was on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic that most recently confirmed my aspiration to become a PA. On this trip, I encountered a young girl, about ten years old, marked with scabies on her face, as well as her hands. I never made this girl feel uncomfortable, …show more content…

My passion for the PA career solidified when I encountered a two-year-old girl who had Down syndrome and Leukemia. During the six months that she was admitted in the hospital, I witnessed the perseverance and dedication that the Doctors, PAs, and Nurses had in order to cure this little girl. Their persistence, care, and tenacity are what ultimately led to her recovery. Their drive is what inspired me to visit her on every shift. During my visits, I would help with cleaning and feeding her; depending on how she felt, I also played with her. I wanted to transpire the same care that the medical team displayed for her. Even though I am keeping an open mind, I hope to be a part of a medical team that is able to treat patients like her. My exposure to such a diligent and dedicated team showed me what I must do, to treat my patients in an effective and caring

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