Personal Statement

This is no fleeting desire. Dressing my grandmother’s burnt forearm everyday sparked a potential, but my interest organically developed over the last few years.

I was born with a cleft lip and palate, a ‘defect’, which strengthened and exposed me to the environment. In 2011, I had an unusual surgery to rectify a maxillary deficiency: ‘distraction osteogenesis’. I blogged about the procedure on online communities and wrote about craniofacial deformities for my school magazine. The recovery acquainted me with the rudimentary aspect of medicine; I can draw on my experiences of pain and stress to empathize with others. Despite the immediate suffering, the hospital inspired me; I interacted with surgeons, doctors, specialists, and nurses, who awed me with their astute work ethic through difficult hours. To able to make one feel like they did me is powerful.

I shadowed nurses and a G.P. for two days. Confidence was key to patients’ ease: I explained what measurements I would take: BMI, vision acuity, blood pressure, fitness test, blood, urine tests, and x-rays – emphasizing the collation of relevant data from which to extract diagnoses. From physical examinations, I learnt that whilst there was an inductive nature to dealing with problems, there were histories to each patient that reinforced the biologically variable nature of medicine. I raised a discussion on the validity of self-diagnosis and the process of rationalizing a treatment, and a trip to the local pharmacy demonstrated the importance of speaking in laymen terms, in not only condensing esoteric terminology, but with a familiarity of counter medications.

I volunteered at China Coast Community - an elderly home - for six months and continuing. Playing Bingo on Fridays, teaching Mrs Bailey how to email, feeding Annie lunch, and soaking in patients’ individual profiles. I researched first-handedly about a number of degenerative diseases; it was enriching, where possible, when I discussed them with each patient. The head nurse helped develop the well-paced ‘bedside manner’ requisite of a doctor. I have volunteered at Hong Kong Dog Rescue for four years, patiently rehabilitating nervous rescue dogs for adoption, and recently fostering an ill dog I nursed to health. I am also with mutual local school English language exchanges, helping students prepare for their English oral exams. I spent a week in Guizhou, China, teaching village children simple words. I received the American Chamber of Commerce Charitable Award for my efforts, though I feel like I have received far more in return, in friendship and in social clarity. I will work with autistic children and in an overseas hospital before university.

Living in Hong Kong after my childhood in India, I am familiar with diverse groups, which is useful in the sensitive context of bioethics. I am thrilled by research; I regularly annotate clippings and listen to online podcasts. I spent a brilliant day at the Museum of Medical Science noting interesting minimally invasive tools (vascular radiology), technologies like positron emission which increase our range of perception, and the diagnostic systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine versus Western Medicine: a holistic versus atomistic debate relevant to my future studies.

In Year 12, I became House Captain and Deputy Head-Girl; in managing a team of 9 prefects in addition to a house council, I gained confidence, leadership. My Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver were tough, but rewarding team experiences. To relax, I run cross-country, follow tennis, play guitar, and ‘geocache’ (a global treasure hunt using GPS); the latter gives me a queer sense of adventure.

As much as it is possible, I know how rough medicine is – the hours, the administration, the endless cycle of (occasionally litigious) patients, the decisions, the unpredictability, the pain. Yet, this is where I must be, because I am secretly thrilled by the subject, its context, and enjoy engaging with my work and with others.