Sample Statement of Purpose for Medicine
Statements by Americans
The Medical Student
I firmly believe in the powerful message of Ecclesiastes 3:1, which
states that every endeavor man can undertake has its own time and
meaning. Looking back on my own life, I see these different seasons
as stages of growth that have helped me to understand my own
potential and the path that I wish to take in life. I feel that I
have lived deeply and fully, and now wish to apply the valuable life
lessons I have gained to what I feel is my true calling. Now is the
season to explore the fascinating world of medicine, and to finally
make that dream a reality.
As a child, I never believed that I could succeed. Growing up in one
foster home after another, I lacked the stability that a youth needs
in order to excel in classes and build a proper foundation for the
future. I was pregnant by the age of eighteen, and dropped out of
school to try to forge a future for my children. Life was difficult
but fulfilling, and I found much joy in being the mother of two
lovely children. The day my second child was diagnosed with Krabbe’s
disease, however, all of my happiness seemed to vanish before my
very eyes.
Krabbe’s disease is both terminal and debilitating, and the doctors
gave my daughter a life expectancy of eighteen months. Swallowing my
shock and sorrow, I devoted myself to making the most of the
precious time I had left with my child. I researched intensively on
Krabbe’s disease, learning as much as I could about its mechanisms
and the course it would run. I applied these lessons to caring for
my daughter, and provided her with the twenty-four hour a day care
that she required. Because I was afraid she would die at any moment,
I never left her side, even to go to work. In order to pay the
bills, I took in outside sewing and odd jobs. But no sacrifice was
too great for my daughter. She lived to the age of four, long past
her expectancy, which the doctors attributed to my constant care.
Being such an intimate witness to the struggle of life and death
left me with a deep sense of human fragility. I realized that the
human body is so very intricate and beautiful in its complex
delicacy. Working closely with doctors, studying medical texts, and
nursing a very sick little girl gave me my first taste of medicine.
I was too numbed with pain, however, to focus my thoughts on any
plans to enter that field. I instead tried to deal with my grief
while providing for my remaining child as a single mother. During
the next few years, I worked as a secretary and a beautician, and
eventually opened a beauty salon of my own. As a business owner, I
entered a new world of innovative ideas and social responsibility.
Running the salon taught me the valuable lesson of “people
pleasing,” and I gained the confidence and communication skills to
fight for my rights as a businesswoman. I also devoted much time and
funding to my community. I knew full well the horrors of poverty,
and often performed services for the local nursing home and
charities. My life was finally beginning to stabilize, and I decided
that the time had come to think about the dream of medicine that had
grown during my daughter’s illness.
Because my days were devoted to running the beauty salon, I attended
college during the nights. I was hesitant at first; although I felt
drawn to medicine, I did not know if I could handle the coursework.
I therefore decided to explore the field before committing myself to
it. I found part-time work in the medical office of a local prison,
which gave me much exposure to the rigors of health care. Working
with prisoners was an amazing experience, for it taught me that all
humans need compassion, no matter what their past or their crimes.
Whenever a man walked into the clinic, I saw him not as a prisoner,
but as a human being in need of help. I poured all of my compassion
into my work, and did my best to ensure that these men were
receiving the care that every human deserves.
Because I was in a prison environment, the office granted me much
more opportunity for hands-on care than I could have found in a
public setting. For instance, I often changed bandages and assisted
in minor surgeries. On one memorable day, I helped treat a young boy
who had nearly cut off his thumb while working in the kitchen. The
knife had bitten deep into his palm, and his thumb seemed to be
dangling by a thread. Far from feeling repulsion, I was fascinated
by the sight of his hand’s internal parts. I realized that I was
viewing the physiological structures that enabled movement, and
found the experience to be breathtaking. My resolve snapped into
place. I knew then that medicine was my true calling, and I enrolled
in Georgia Southern University immediately as a full-time student.
Attending college at this point in my life has not been easy. I live
seventy miles away from campus, and commute every day. The distance
always seems so tiny when I think of the wealth of information I am
gaining in my classes, and the many noble goals that are now within
my grasp. College is certainly not the only aspect of my life right
now. I revel in white water rafting, horseback riding, and cabinet
making, and enjoy the challenges and hard work that fill these
activities. Having been married to a farmer for the past ten years,
I also know the basics of running a farm. I am an advocate for birth
control, and have devoted much of my time to convincing sexually
active adolescents to seek family planning services. Additionally, I
have striven to prepare myself for making meaningful contributions
to my community. Because I am from a region with a large Hispanic
population, I spent a summer in Costa Rica strengthening my
knowledge of the Spanish language, as well as broadening my cultural
awareness of other peoples and customs. I believe that a physician
must be attuned to all of the needs of the community, be they
physical or emotional or cultural.
Now is the season for me to tackle my true goal of medicine. I
believe that all of my life experiences have been necessary to bring
me to this point. I am mentally prepared and persistent enough to
excel at any endeavor, and have developed the compassion and
commitment to medicine that will drive me through the years to come.
I look forward to my future with great anticipation, and know that
the time has finally come for me to realize my dreams.
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