This is part of my personal statement for medical school. I am trying to convey the message that in our modern society technology and medicine are becoming one. With my knnowedge in medicine and technology, I make an ideal candidate. <br /><br />
<p>From an early age, I was captivated by the role technology and machine had on our daily lives. My fascination led me to take apart and put back my remote-controlled cars and game consoles. I have always had passion to build computers and learn the mechanics on how complex machines are built from simple parts. The concepts of circuits and resistors came naturally to me. I was able to visualize concepts on how each piece would fit in a machine in my head. Being a shy and introverted kid only aided to my pursuit of engineering. During a typical weekend of a 10-year-old, when I was playing Mario on my game console, the gameplay decided to freeze sporadically. Just as any child my age would, I decided to take apart the console and rebuild it in the hope of the game working properly. Although I was unable to fix my problem, I was successfully able to rebuild my console (with few missing nuts and bolts). I was really excited to tell my parents about my new feat. My quest in engineering had sudden change in plan when two children (around my age) from the slums came begging for money at my house. While my parents offered the starving children food, they declined as they needed to raise money in order to buy antibiotic for their mother. It was that moment I remember that my sheer excitement turned into disappointment in myself as I realized that I was busy fixing my toys while people in my community were starving and dying every day. Even though these children were starving, they wanted to save their mother. While I was shielded from poverty in my house, my community faced disease, deprivation and illness. At that point in my life I decided to use my passion and knowledge to make a difference in the community. Medicine provided this opportunity as human body is set of biochemical tools and segments following similar rules as the mechanics of a car or a computer. Coming to America provided me with the financial and socioeconomic opportunity to follow my dreams of helping people.</p>
<p>My desire to help people and study medicine solidified with my clinical experience I gained though working for almost two years at Digestive Disease Center and Pearle Vision.&nbsp;&nbsp; Working under a gastroenterologist, I was able to work closely with older patients. I recognized that healthcare is influenced by various factors such as age, gender and even socioeconomic status. In order to have efficient and respectable doctor-client relationship, the physician must show that they recognize these factors by being attentive, compassionate, and patient. I witnessed first-had the various roles a doctor has to play in less than 20 minutes. According to Hayes-Bautista model, doctors interact with patients as process of negotiation. Rather than simply prescribing medication and performing surgery, the doctor has to play the role of educator, detective and even a salesperson as they need to convenience the patient that the course of treatment is under mutual agreement.</p>
<p>Having working under an optometrist, I was able to appreciate the diverse culture a doctor has the opportunity to interact with. On a typical Saturday, the doctor can interact with upwards of 40 patients ranging from child to senior from various backgrounds. As an optometric technician, I had the pleasure of interacting with every patient and learn from them. Even if there was a language barrier, I was able to effectively communicate via medical gestures and universal signs. Over time, I was able to transition from a shy individual into a social being.</p>