Why i want to pursue a career in the medical field

The decision to pursue a career in the medical field has been taken with careful consideration. It is due to my love for chemistry combined with an interest in anatomy and physiology. As I have progressed up several years in secondary school, my fascination of the intricate designs and functions of the organ systems has increased. Moreover, having a career in medicine is intellectually stimulating and is not as monotonous as other careers appear.

To gain a better insight and to contrast my idea of a healthcare system, I shadowed some doctors in a hospital in India and observed their various roles in multiple faculties such as A&E, Radiology, Intensive Care Units (General Surgery), Dialysis units and Orthopaedics. What inspired me even further was the sheer tenacity displayed by the doctors who performed a dialysis catheter surgery. This gave me a deeper understanding that why teamwork and communication skills were crucial. The best thing was they utilised all the resources that they had been given, given the fact that it’s a populous country.

My passion for medicine is reflected in my A level subject choices, which also are a represent my organisation skills and my ability to work well under pressure and cope with stress; Chemistry and Biology helps me develop my analytical and research skills, whilst Maths helps me with my critical thinking and problem solving skills.

There are many activities that I have been involved in, such as the National Citizen Service programme, which has helped me gain confidence in public speaking and in my leadership skills. The activities within that program have helped me enhance my teamwork skills, too. Furthermore, my interest in pursuing a career in the medical field was sparked due to some lectures I had attended at my local university, which were based on the topic of genetics, antibiotic resistance and microbiology. This, combined with volunteering in a Laboratory for the last year has made me appreciate and understand the hard work and research that goes on to keep our knowledge up to date, assist us to make advances in the field of medicine and how this ties in developing medicines and dosages that suits an individual based on their gene structure.

To obtain more experience in a caring role, since last year, I have been volunteering in a nursing home/retirement village, running an IT session for senior citizens and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and holding conversations with them. I have also closely worked with children in a primary school for a week. Therefore, I am a well rounded person and can communicate and empathize effectively with people of all ages and backgrounds.

In my spare time, I am learning grade 6 of an Indian Classical dance called Bharatanatyam, which I have passed the previous five grades with distinctions in theory and practical. As well as learning this ancient art form, I sometimes teach younger students, as I am a responsible and a sensible student. Also, to help me hone my creative skills, I choreograph dance sequences, to music set in a variety of South Asian languages, to perform at various dance shows.

I am fully informed of the demands a career in medicine pose but I firmly believe that I am a determined individual and the work experience will enhance my confidence to face these challenges. From watching a dialysis catheter surgery to assisting children at a primary school, I have gotten a fantastic insight into the career of medicine and I believe that no other career would allow me to combine the mix of science and human interaction and make a positive impact in people’s lives.