My sixth-grade biology class solidified science as a passion of mine that I have followed all the way to medical school. The unit that interested me the most was the cell, and I think my sixth-grade cell project must still rank among my proudest academic achievements. At 12 years old, I didn’t know that my interest in biology would lead me to a career in medicine, but I did know that I was fascinated by the material and excited for future opportunities to learn more. It was during high school that I began to consider the possibility of becoming a doctor. My high school anatomy and physiology class was my first experience studying medicine, and like my biology class from many years prior, I was instantly captivated by what we were learning. By my junior year of high school, I had made it my goal to attend medical school and become a doctor.

It is important to note, however, that my path towards becoming a doctor wasn’t solely determined by academic interests. The work of a physician involves far more than an interest and aptitude for science. One of the most formative experiences in my life that guided me towards a career dedicated to helping others was the time that I spent as a summer camp counselor. It was this first job that showed me how fulfilling it is to be able to make a positive impact on the lives of other people. I found that each summer presented me the opportunity to be a positive role model and mentor for the campers with whom I interacted. I left my time as a camp counselor determined to pursue a future career that would offer me additional opportunities to make a positive impact on others.

In college, I maintained strong grades, volunteered, and pursued research opportunities, but I knew that hands-on clinical experience would be required to build a convincing case for my admission to medical school. After graduation, I spent one year working as a medical assistant at a local primary care practice where I worked directly with both patients and healthcare providers. As I near the end of my first year of medical school, I can say confidently that this gap year experience has proven invaluable in providing me a head start in developing the strong interpersonal skills required of a healthcare professional when working with patients.

When it came time to apply to medical school, I had to find a way to articulate why my interests and experiences would make me an excellent future physician. It is often advised that medical school applicants avoid cliché answers when asked why they want to become a doctor. It is certainly true many thousands of applications saying, “I like science and want to help people” would make it difficult for individual students to stand out among many other qualified and competent peers. For many applicants, however, that statement is the simple and truthful response to the AMCAS application prompt, “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school.” A strong response must draw on unique personal experiences that can bring the applicant to life for the reader and exemplify qualities that make them an excellent future doctor. My personal statement used anecdotes to illustrate many of the interpersonal skills that I had developed during my time as a counselor and described how they translate to the medical profession. I sought to show admissions committees how experiences in my life both guided me towards and prepared me for a career as a doctor. At the end of the year-long application process, I was honored to have gained admission to a medical school that would allow me to achieve my goal of many years of becoming a physician.

As I enter the final months of my first year of medical school, I am impressed with both how much I have learned and how much I have yet to learn. My most important takeaways thus far would be the importance of a strong study strategy and skilled time management. At the beginning of medical school, there is an immediate interest among many in changing study strategies to match what others are doing. While this proves successful for some, I would encourage new medical students to trust the strategies that have worked well for them in the past while being open to modifications to adapt to the pace at which information is delivered in medical school. At the beginning, it is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed, but the development of adequate study habits will go a long way in making the work feel more manageable.

As I look forward to the coming years of medical school, I am particularly excited for future opportunities to work with patients and apply many of the concepts that I have learned to real-life scenarios. I feel fortunate to have already been afforded the opportunity to participate in patient care along with my fellow students at the Cooper Rowan Clinic (CRC), a faculty-supervised, student-run clinic that provides free primary care medical services to underserved members of our Camden, NJ community. I also look forward with curiosity about what future career as a physician will look like, and I wonder if there will be a moment like what I experienced all the way back in sixth grade that will spark a passion for a certain area of medicine. There is much to be excited about in the future, and I am eager to continue embracing all the challenging and rewarding moments inherent in the unique journey towards becoming a doctor.