Pain and Grief are Not the Final Options in Life - Admission/Application Essay Example

I have always willed myself to see the positives that symbolize the hope that can carry me to my destination. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in sixth grade and went through endless sessions with an oncologist and an endocrinologist. My immediate family and our large extended family were a constant source of support and strength. I believe that the positivity that we as a family exuded to overcoming the disease was an important contributory factor to the result of the treatments I underwent for a large part of that school year. Alfred Tennyson’s observation that “more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”, is I think particularly relevant in my case (Tennyson). Our strong faith in God and belief in the power of prayer was another factor that kept us positive and focused on the many ways that we could contribute to overcoming the disease.

This traumatic phase in my life has been the motivation for my choice of a career. I have been fortunate in overcoming the disease, but it has given me an insight into the pain and helplessness that people go through during illness; and has made me realize that helping children with cancer is what I would like to do. Having been a victim of the disease as a child, I think I could be a role model for others for whom hopelessness can only be a setback. As a doctor, the power of medication coupled with the power of optimism and positivity that I exude will, I am confident, lead to a greater number of young patients leaving the hospital healthy and ready to take on the challenges of life as I have done.

My meeting with Dr. Elias Iliadis, a leading cardiologist with whose help I got an opportunity to closely observe the leading oncologist Dr. Generosa Grana, was a turning point in my life when I became aware of the fact that my mission in life would be to help people with cancer. Another outcome of my experience has been my attitude towards nature. The environmental causes of cancer have contributed to my realization of the importance of being eco-friendly. My family and I have begun to shun plastics and try to spread the message of keeping the environment clean and healthy for future generations.

I have also realized that a healthy body contributes to optimism and constructive thinking leading to success. Hence I enjoy sporting activities throughout the year. I love all four seasons of the year equally because each one reminds me of how lucky I am to have overcome this stressful phase in my life.  In the fall I play soccer and recreational paintballing, in winter, I snowboard which is a favorite sport, in the spring I play lacrosse and now I'm learning the joys of surfing.

 My year in the sixth grade in school is indelibly etched on my mind, and yet it was the turning point in my life when I became aware of the many facets of my nature. I think in those months of pain and utter desolation I turned into a new human being. I am grateful to have got a second chance in life and have vowed to use it to harness the power of medical science along with the positivity of the mind to heal the diseases of the body. I shall strive to achieve this goal no matter what the cost and I believe that my faith and optimism will enable me to overcome all odds.