1. Discuss a time when you stepped out of your comfort ...

[Pages:3]1. Discuss a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone. What were the challenges? What did you learn? 350 WORD LIMIT

Until leaving for college, I had spent my life in the same rural town, under the same familiar roof, interacting with the same close-knit family. The only time I spent away from this home was when my family and I left for vacations. Not much changed when I moved away to college: I chose to study at San Diego State University--which is less than two hours away from my hometown--and moved in with two of my siblings. Although content with my family and familiar surroundings, I knew I needed to expand my horizons and test my limits.

In 2010, I spent two months living with a host family and studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. This was the first time any member of my immediate family was away for more than three weeks. Leaving all my familiar comforts behind, I set out to explore a new country, language, family, and lifestyle. Upon arriving in Spain, I was confronted with my first major challenge: my host mother did not know a word of English and I was a beginning Spanish speaker at best. Out of respect for her, I felt compelled to quickly develop my Spanish language skills. I learned rapidly and eventually became able to communicate effectively. Soon enough we were laughing, chatting, and enjoying each other's company. By the end of my two months, she and I had bonded and tears trickled from both our eyes the morning I departed for home.

Spain tested my capability to function efficiently in an unfamiliar environment, without the support and guidance of my family. Thankfully, my interest in exploring the Spanish culture overshadowed any bouts of homesickness I may have had; I was consumed by the lifestyle Spain offered and soon began to appreciate and respect its differences. I immersed myself into the culture through the food, language, and people. Studying abroad allowed me to prove to myself I can thrive in various settings. I now appreciate a myriad of lifestyles and am eager to explore and discover yet another way of living--in East Lansing during my medical education.

2. Describe a personally rewarding experience. What did you learn about yourself through this experience? You are permitted to use an experience included in your AMCAS application, as long as you didn't go into great detail in your AMCAS application (including personal statement and experiences) or in Essay One, or you discuss a different aspect of the experience. 350 WORD LIMIT

During the summers of 2006 and 2007 I worked on a local farm. This job thoroughly tested my endurance and reliability. My schedule was simple: show up to work any--and every-- time I received a call. I was on-call seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day: it did not matter whether it was two in the morning or ten at night. My position was to maintain and repair the heavy equipment vital to the farm's success. Typical shifts ran over ten hours, while longer shifts lasted over thirty hours. Lighter workweeks were over forty hours while many others were well above fifty. The crops on the farm required careful attention both day and night; this made for virtually around-the-clock workweeks.

Besides the constant vigilance required by the job, the weather was grueling. Most days reached a scorching one hundred degrees, whereas all were well above ninety. Although I spent much of my time in the cab of the tractor, a substantial amount of the work required me to be in the sun. Because my job was to maintain the machinery--and certain mechanisms are designed to malfunction under stress to prevent substantial breakdowns-- every few hours I found myself performing manual labor for extended periods of time in brutal temperatures.

This experience proved so rewarding because I overcame multiple challenges every day. I learned I can stay alert for more than twenty-four hours without a break and I can maintain productivity while servicing machinery outside in one hundred and ten degree heat. Additionally, though there was a language barrier between me and many of the workers, we learned to communicate and work as an efficient and productive team.

At the end of each summer, I truly felt as though I had achieved something worthwhile: I was proud to have been a reliable and solid contributor to the success of the farm. Getting through those long days and nights proved to me that with commitment, even the most severe challenges can be overcome. I firmly believe those two summers helped me grow into a more dedicated and motivated individual.

3. If you could present yourself to the Committee on Admissions, what would you want to make sure they knew about you? 350 WORD LIMIT

I grew up in a rural area nine miles from the U.S?Mexico Border. My elementary and high schools were seventy percent Hispanic. Because my upbringing intertwined with the Hispanic culture, I learned to appreciate and respect its richness. While working on a farm, many of my coworkers did not speak English, yet we still communicated, laughed, and worked well together. My ability to interact comfortably with people from all cultures will provide a better experience for my future patients.

I feel my college record is exceptional due to its diversity and variety. Because I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Religious Studies I feel I have developed a broad and solid educational foundation. I have also taken Cinema courses to develop my hobby of making short films for family events and memorable occasions. In addition, I have taken advantage of the courses offered by SDSU's Exercise and Nutritional Sciences department by enrolling in wakeboarding and stand-up paddling.

In addition to my expansive educational foundation, I hold a wide range of interests and activities. I have participated in both intramural basketball and volleyball, competed on a local flag football team, and completed a marathon. Every week I play basketball at SDSU, hike a local mountain, and play in a coed softball league. I enjoy the competition, camaraderie, and exercise. I also enjoy reading as a way to relax. My latest book was "When the Air Hits Your Brain," by Frank Vertosick Jr. M.D. Keeping myself multifaceted allows me to grow and learn in a variety of settings.

This last year was one of my most demanding, yet I was able to earn all A's while drastically improving my MCAT scores. During this time, I also dedicated numerous hours to researching and co-authoring "Pim1 Preserves Mitochondrial Morphology by Inhibiting Drp1 Translocation." Since its submission for review, I am already immersed in another project involving the protein kinase Pim1 and its deletion leading to premature cardiac senescence. Maintaining my enthusiasm and eagerness through the last few years of rigorous work tells me I have truly found my life's passion.

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download