Air sirens blasted as we responded code 3 to an unconscious woman with a myocardial infarction. With five paramedics already on the scene, I was chosen to initiate CPR. I continued administering CPR from her house, all throughout the ambulance ride to the emergency room, stopping only so a paramedic could defibrillate her. After one of the nurses in the emergency room took over CPR for me, I went to wash up. When I returned in a few minutes, the woman was in a black body bag. At first I was disappointed. All of our efforts were to no avail. But after deeper reflection, I also knew that we had done everything possible and would not have done anything differently given a second chance. I was amazed and impressed by how quickly so many people responded to a distress call, and to how well everyone worked together as a team, from the EMTs to the emergency room doctor. This first hand experience taught me the significance and impact of medicine on individual's lives; solidifying my determination to become a doctor.
My character has grown through much hardship. In 1980 my family fled religious persecution by immigrating to America. In addition to coping with the culture shock, my parents had the responsibility of providing for three children. At forty-five, my father took the necessary steps to start his dentistry practice in California; he struggled for thirteen years before passing the exams for foreigners. Not wanting to add to my family's burdens, I attained my first job at fourteen and have been financially independent ever since. Despite working 40-hour weeks, my mother always made the time to be there for us, never failing to provide a loving environment. My mother's perseverance and my father's diligence served as a source of inspiration for me and my older brother who is a dentist.
The financial burden of paying for my own tuition forced me to maintain three jobs during my sophomore year. In the midst of my commitment to these jobs,someone very close to me passed away, my grandfather. His death made me reevaluate my life. I realized I was compromising my education by working excessively; so I kept only one job and took out loans to compensate. My grandfather's deteriorating health had greatly affected my academic performance in summer school. In admitting him to the psychiatric ward at UCLA, I was pained to see how fragile human beings are. At the same time, I was amazed to see how a few milligrams of certain chemicals made a world of difference to human behavior. The opportunity to positively affect people's lives clarified my decision to enter the medical field. Because he was my only living grandfather and very dear to me, his death made me see life in a new light; I matured a great deal, resolving not to take any moment for granted.
In volunteering hundreds of hours at the UCLA Medical Center, I observed and actively integrated myself in the hospital milieu by assisting in autopsies and taking patients' vital signs. My experience at the hospital taught me that compassion, dedication, persistence, and hard work are intertwined for a doctor. My involvement confirmed my passion for medicine and understanding the intricacies of human physiology. I was reassured that becoming a physician is my main aspiration in life. In addition to my intrigue with the clinical aspect of medicine, I am fascinated by biochemical and neuroscience research. For more than two years, I volunteered at the UCLA Center for Molecular & Medical Sciences Mass Spectrometry Lab, challenging myself with several research projects. While learning how to competently operate a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, HPLC machine, as well as an electrospray mass spectrometer, I was reminded of the importance of detail and accuracy, without losing sight of its clinical relevance. Ultimately, I independently verified and purified peptides related to Cerebroside Sulfate Activator. This protein is involved in a bound complex that, which when nonfunctional, is believed to result in some form of metachromatic leukodystrophy. My research, gave me the opportunity to become a co-author on two forthcoming publications, "Quantification of N-Acetyl Aspartic Acid (NAA) & N-Acetyl Aspartyl Glutamic Acid (NAAG) in human lumbar cerebrospinal fluid: comparison of GC/MS and HPLC/UV methods" & "Syntheis, Structure & Biological Activity of Synthetic Cerebroside Sulfate Activator Protein." This gave me the chance to learn how to critically analyze data and assess its significance. In turn, I was proud to contribute to the revelation of otherwise unknown phenomena that can help further the progress of science.
A physician strives to accomplish the greatest thing one human being can do, improve the quality of others' lives. In the past four years, I have discovered both the excitement and the hardship of the medical field. I have taken on many responsibilities, and as a result have become more confident, both in my technical skills and my ability to solve problems. Interested in helping people and fascinated with science, I have been drawn towards medicine, realizing that it is among the very few fields that has been able to integrate scientific method and human nature in such a satisfying way. The years I have spent at the research lab and in the hospital have enriched my educational experience. By taking more advantage of the campus' diversity and having volunteered in many programs at UCLA, I believe I have taken more advantage of my college experience than many people do. I believe that my academic, research, and clinical experiences, coupled with my employment experiences as a tutor, my continuous involvement in community service, and my participation in leadership roles, have prepared me both academically and emotionally to persevere in a medical career. I have worked diligently to prepare myself for the rigorous medical school curriculum, and hope you will recognize me as a worthy candidate for admission. It is with great enthusiasm that I look forward to becoming a physician.