Biochemistry Personal Statement

The first time I stepped foot in India, I was about eight years old, and it terrified me. I wanted to run straight back to America. There were stray dogs, cows, and all sorts of wildlife roaming the streets like they owned them, and the roads were hidden under piles of trash. I was shocked to see beggars at every corner, homeless children and adults asking for money. I saw the rudimentary conditions they were forced to live in. However, the worst thing I saw were broken arms or legs barely wrapped in cloth and untreated infected wounds. With every trip to India, I saw no significant improvement in living conditions or the accessibility of healthcare to the underserved population. On one hand, seeing the realities of life for the poor in India

I have always been a hardworking student, and I am very assertive when it comes to understanding new material I am presented with. However, there came a point in Organic Chemistry II that I just wasn’t ready to master and that led me to perform below average. That led me to also not do well in Biochemistry, due to the lack of understanding of the essential knowledge from the previous class. Disappointed in my performance, I realized I needed to work on my foundational knowledge in the sciences before moving on to medical school and so I started researching graduate programs. The Anatomical and Translational Sciences Masters program at George Washington University will equip me with the skills and knowledge in order for me to be successful in my career as a physician. I am very interested in this program because of its many opportunities to volunteer and give back to its community, as well as the academic courses offered which will prepare me for the rigor and workload of medical school. Additionally, I hope gain some new and interesting experiences by participating research and obtaining more clinical exposure through shadowing and volunteering in the Washington D.C.

One of the most impactful experiences I had in college was my trip to Madagascar. It is one thing to see the disparities in healthcare from afar, especially the accessibility of it, and another to actually experience what someone else goes through in their search for medical care. Our group of three students and our professor decided to trek an hour up a slippery, heavily inclined, and narrow path barefoot climbing the mountain. Not only was this experience absolutely terrifying, it was completely eye opening. There were many people that inhabited the top of the mountain and in speaking to some of them, I realized that the closest doctor was at least an hour away. In Madagascar, there was no such thing as urgent care. Through this experience, I gained an increased awareness and different perspective of the issues in the accessibility of healthcare to rural populations. This further justified my desire to not only go on medical missions, but also to set up clinics in rural parts of India. Furthermore, it helped me solidify my desire in becoming a