«Medical School Application»

My childhood in Ukraine seems like a blur. Waiting in long lines with my

mom for clothing, for bread, and for just enough Kovbasa (sausage) to
feed a mouse. Unlike many working class people, my parents chose not
to join the communist party and because of that we did not receive
healthcare or large varieties or amounts of food for that matter. We
had to wait for years to get our own apartment and had to live with my
grandparents so that my parents could sustain our living. We are not
wealthy and we are not privileged, but we have been given a
tremendous opportunity. Our lives took a sudden turn when we moved
to Canada when I was ten years old. It was as if someone turned the
color on and the world seemed like a bigger place. Filled with
possibilities that I have just begun to see, hear, taste and feel. Finally, I
had options and now set before me are varieties that could only let me
grow as an individual. It was nothing less than like being a kid in a
candy shop. Wide-eyed and brimming with joy, exultant to the colors
and shapes all around. I actually had the opportunity to become a pilot
- my childhood ambition. My fondest memory is waking up on my first
morning in Canada with the smell of bagels that my father brought
home from work. However, it was to be our new family doctor in
Canada who would make the deepest impression on me as I grew up.
Since my experience in Ukraine, I feared doctors. They were rough and
in the first grade I almost died of a drug overdose due to a doctor's
miscalculation. With this in mind, I was petrified on my first visit to a
Canadian doctor. However, to my bewilderment the doctor was not only
gentle but she was also polite. Dr. Frina Gofman changed my view of doctors. I was
no longer scared of needles, checkups, and I actually looked forward to seeing her.
Nevertheless, my fascination with planes proved to be something too hard to resist.
As I entered high school I also joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
(RCAC). In the RCAC I learned many lessons but discipline was the most
profound. As high school progressed, I became more and more
fascinated with science and since my parents moved and I could no
longer attend RCAC, my career as a pilot slowly drifted away. After
high school I volunteered in a chiropractic clinic for a year. It was at
this point that I knew I wanted a career in healthcare. I went to
Centennial College to study general sciences while still deciding what
exactly it is that I wanted to do in healthcare. At that time I began
working at the chiropractic clinic as a trainer. My job was to create
programs for patients to speed up their recovery after car accidents.
My future career began to evolve as I studied biology, and became
intrigued with anatomy, specifically, with the mechanics of the
heart and its functions. Enthusiastic with my newfound calling, I began
to watch thoracic surgeries online. This further intrigued me and
increased my interest in cardiothoracic surgery. I grew up
accustomed to being different. As a minority, there had been
difficulties that come along in which I would feel inadequate,
even jealous with others. At times I have to work extra hard
and go the extra mile just to prove myself. Where others had
been blessed with the financial stability that makes life easier,
I had to earn to help sustain my education. But I learned to
come to terms with it. More than that, I have learned to
cherish it and embrace it. As a result, I am more appreciative
and grateful for the things I have. To be able to see beyond
myself and think of others. After graduating from Centennial
College and before transferring to Harvard University Division of
Continuing Education, I took a summer to study abroad at
Commonwealth of Dominica. I studied anatomy & physiology, but I
ended up learning more about Dominica’s culture as well as their
general medical quality and healthcare policies. As I finished my
premedical courses at Harvard, I have maintained my interest in
cardiology and wrote my thesis on "Magnetically Targeted Drug
Delivery" specifically for cardiac valve transplants, which is currently
awaiting publication. Throughout my time at Harvard Extension I
volunteered as a representative at government hearings for Action for
Boston Community Development ABCD, which is an organization that
specializes in healthcare education for underprivileged and minority
neighbourhoods. I also worked as a peer leader with a subgroup of
ABCD Entre Nuestras Familias, a program dedicated to providing safe-
sex education to high school students in minority communities. My
experiences from childhood up to this moment in my life have only
enriched me to become passionate in all my endeavors. I grew up
wanting to conquer the skies. To be a master of the air in maneuvering
colossal man-made birds capable of transporting people at rapid
speed. Now, my dreams have taken me back to the earth. To the desire
of being able to serve those who need me to alleviate their sickness
and to remove their fears, of needles, of checkups and of strangers in
clean white coats. But the setbacks that I have experienced did
not deter me in pursuing what I was in fact meant for. They
have led me to determining what I really long for. Though I was
not able to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot, it has taken
me directly to the heart of what I really want to be. Simple as it is, I
believe that everything happens for a reason. That it was meant for my
family to leave Ukraine and find a life with so much more in store for
us. I have not forgotten those memories from my childhood. They are
an amalgamation of the good memories that I treasure every day of
my life along with the reminder of the blessings of today. Because of
them I have learned to be grateful for opportunities. These things have
taught me compassion. They have taught me of the value of hard work
and of discipline. But most importantly, they have taught me to believe
that I can be whoever I want to be. And who I want to be is a doctor. To
be part of the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine would be a
tremendous boost in my anticipation of being a Medical
student. The time I have spent studying in Dartmouth High
School has been sufficient enough to allow me to get
acquainted with the hospitality of the people. The friendliness
and warmth of the people of Novascotia has made it a most
memorable part of my life. I know that what I would be
entering is demanding as it is, but being around affable people
would make it manageable. To stay grounded and serve others the
best way I know how would be my life’s greatest achievement. The
knowledge that I will gain in my years as a medical student will help
me become the complete person that I have dreamed of becoming. I
consider my experience with patients at the chiropractic clinic and my
advocacy for the underrepresented, minority communities as
invaluable tools for my future career not only as a physician but one
who is thoroughly focused in the proper administration of health
policies. These experiences have molded me to be a person who
refuses to quit. My determination will get me through the
adversities that I will face and empathy will further mold me as
a competent and compassionate doctor.