This is the personal statement I wrote for some of my medical school applications. Actually, it is a modified version of the statement I wrote for colleges as well, way back when. Now that I look back, it’s a bit rough around the edges, but the essence remains the same. It is in illustration of the spirit that drives what I do.

My Daddy died when I was seven years old. He was killed in a tractor accident, skidding logs for firewood in the woods near our house. He was a kind and generous man, and I loved him very much.

After the steady stream of sympathy cards, telephone calls, and weepy visitors slowed to a trickle, I found myself in the middle of an evolution of self. Religion gained importance, even though God felt very far away. Friends became distant. None of them knew how to react to someone whose father had passed away. I was no longer a part of the whole group, but an entity unto myself surrounded by a few brave schoolmates. The presence of my extended family came to the forefront; we were together in a closer circle of support than ever before.

The lessons I learned from my father’s absence were enriched by those I learned from the selfless actions of those around me. The people in our life cared for my mother and me throughout the tough times and beyond: Mommy’s friends prepared a huge box filled with frozen homemade food for the nights no one felt like cooking. My teachers and caregivers gave of their time and kept me occupied with art projects and games. Mommy, aching for Daddy in a different way than I was, tried to make my world a bit happier with every minute of time we spent together. She continued to give of herself in the midst of her terrible, life-changing loss. Without the gifts of these people, my life would have been very different.

Even though my father’s death didn't make much sense, everything I remembered about his life became paramount. No more new memories could ever be created; no one would experience his love and generosity any more. It was up to me to continue doing the things for others which he so cheerfully did. It would have been too shallow to simply grieve and move on; to fill the void inside of me I had to learn and apply the new lesson to my life. I searched for ways to give, and once I turned twelve, I began volunteer work at a local hospital which I continue to this day. It has served to strengthen and make real everything I learned: how valuable my every moment is, how valuable each person around me is, and how interconnected we all are. The loss of a loved one helped me to realize how important the lives of others are to me and to the world around me. His death taught me to respect the beauty of human life, and through my experiences I have come to firmly believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. It is a great honor to care for another.

Care can be given in so many ways. I would like my caring to be through medicine. To heal is to touch lives deeply, richly, and in a way which is of utmost importance. Health is the key that opens doors to our dreams: we can work, play, create, and love, and be happier doing all this and more with a sense of well-being. Without it, we cannot live to our full potential. I want to fit into the lives of others as the piece of the puzzle that helps all others fall into place.

Each moment I live has awesome potential. In each I can learn and teach; I can love and be loved. I hold all of this as an incredible gift. All people have something to add to the world, whether it be the creation of new ideas or care for the elderly. I want to be a strand in the web which strengthens the work as a whole, not one that simply does its job: I want to reach out further than any role or job description dictates and make a real difference in someone’s life – so they may in turn make their mark on our world.

My Daddy taught me a whole lot about being a kid, and even more about being an adult. He taught me honor: in life he taught me to respect my elders, and by his death I learned to respect everyone in all stages of life. I hope to someday instill that feeling of reverence in my own children through my work with others as patients, friends, and colleagues. I want to teach them and all children how special their lives are, and I’d like to be just one example of how we can serve each other and see in each other some of the many faces of God.