Ex Harvard Medical School Personal Statement Example

Harvard Medical School Personal Statement
Example #2:
At the tender age of 9, I thought the arrival of a baby sister would be a joyous
occasion. It never occurred to me that it could be one of the most terrifying
ordeals I’d ever experience. I recall the preparations we’d made in our home for
Jenna, the anticipation & excitement each time I felt her move in our mother’s
womb. 3 months prior to her expected arrival, however, Jenna was born
prematurely. She was tiny, under 2 pounds, & spent the first 10 weeks of her life
in the NICU. I recall the brief moments I was able to hold her, just a tiny, fragile
bundle. Throughout this trial, I was also able to see the dedication & tenacity of
the doctors who worked tirelessly to save her life. Watching a medical team
devote themselves to her care, tending also to my mother, father, & myself,
helping us steal as many precious moments as we could with her, filled me with
hope & determination. As she grew stronger, they celebrated with us – every
gained pound as much a cause for joy for them as it was for us. They were not
merely her doctors, they were part of our family for that time. Seeing all they did
for Jenna, & the relationship they built with all of us, helped me realize my own
calling in life. The day she came home was the day I decided that I wanted to
become a doctor.
As inspirational as this early motivator was, it was later that I learned the real
work & challenges I’d need to overcome in pursuing this profession. While no one
in my immediate family is a physician, my uncle, a cardiologist, has been keen on
helping me achieve my goals. His guidance led me to volunteer work &
shadowing experiences even in my grade school years. In Grade 7, I thought I
may want to go into neurosurgery; he used his connections to help me shadow a
renowned surgeon. Though I was only 12, Dr. Tankian treated me as if I were a
serious med school applicant. I followed him through a full day of surgeries,
standing by his side as he removed a ruptured disc in a patient’s back, & installed
an artificial bone in the neck of a patient with a degenerative condition. Being in
the operating theater was exhilarating, but also terrifying. At one point in the disk
removal surgery, I had to step out of the room to catch my breath, as the smell
was something I hadn’t anticipated & it made me woozy. A nurse brought me tea,
& I momentarily thought about leaving. However, I knew I was getting an
incredible opportunity. Despite this small set-back, I firmed my resolve & returned
to watch the rest of the surgery & the one that followed, & I made it through the
rest of the day without having to step away again. Though I persevered, the
temptation to leave had been strong, but I know now that I can face such
challenges head-on & set aside my own discomfort for the sake of learning. After
our day together, Dr. Tankian helped me compile research on the brain & its
functions, which I assembled into an un-assigned research project that I
voluntarily presented to my science class. Though it was not a graded
assignment, it remains one of the proudest moments of my childhood.
Since 2014, I have volunteered in the NICU at Good Samaritan Hospital – the
same NICU that cared for my baby sister. Today, Jenna is strong as ever, & the
opportunity to help other families has been a motivator for my volunteer work.
During my initial years, I operated as general support for nurses & families. I
grabbed lunch or coffee or whatever was needed for the nurses on shift & for the
families whose glazed expressions matched those of myself & my parents as we
held on for my little sister. I knew a blanket or even a listening ear & warm smile
can make a difference in the day-to-day lives of families in such moments of
struggle. I frequently stayed well beyond my scheduled shift, as providing such
comforts isn’t something that can simply be abandoned when the clock strikes a
certain hour. Over time, my commitment was noted; I rose to the position of Lead
Volunteer & then Volunteer Coordinator. Today, I still get to provide one-on-one
support to families & staff, but I’m also responsible for scheduling & training other
volunteers in this unit. The ability to lead a cohesive team, to ensure commitment
from our volunteers through accountability measures, & to continue making that
impact on families has helped me refine my leadership skills & general
organizational competency. Our unit was recently awarded the hospital’s
Volunteer Excellence award, which left me beaming with pride.
With this experience, I’ve also learned that not all NICU stories have a happy
ending, & that my own family was fortunate in this regard. The work I do here is
meaningful, but also emotionally difficult. I have wrapped my arms around
weeping mothers, who had to say goodbye to a life’s worth of hopes & dreams. I
have seen cases with generally good outlooks take a devastating downturn. I
have seen the face of true anguish & loss. I have learned that nothing is certain,
everything can change – for better & for worse. The strength I have seen in those
families that go on, & in the doctors & nurses in the NICU, inspires me to
contribute however I can to advancing change in a positive direction. To
contribute substantially & meaningfully in such change, I must become a
physician.

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