1 A love for scientific explanation, pleasure in helping others and pursuit of personal
2 development inspired my desire to be a doctor. The hope a skilled surgeon gave my mother by
3 removing an 8.6kg endometrial tumour, confirmed my motivation to work in this challenging and
4 privileged profession helping others.
5 Organising work experience at Thames Valley Hospice and Rosemead Surgery provided rich insight
6 into the challenges doctors face. At the surgery, managing a patient with Bipolar Disorder
7 under intense time pressure displayed how a doctor's skill at quickly establishing rapport and
8 trust is essential for effective outcomes. At the hospice one doctor's challenge to treat a
9 patient with endometrial cancer and lymphoedema, objectively, provided a revelatory moment. I
10 realised that stress management for doctors such as the use of Schwartz rounds and hobbies is
11 vital in Medicine; this reminded me of why football, rugby, Pilates and travel are important
12 to me for good health and perspective.
13 Volunteering at Elizabeth Day Centre for the Elderly for the past two years led to my
14 understanding of the importance of simple, routine tasks in Medicine to support patients.
15 Empathy, patience and good communication enabled me to forge productive relationships and help
16 understand those withdrawn from society and the need for dignity when dealing with patients.
17 My Saturday work in a Pharmacy this past year has also taught me of the need for humility. As
18 a trusted member of a team I have learnt of the importance of individual roles, referring
19 customers to the Pharmacist when necessary.
20 In 2015 GlaxoSmithKline selected me for the Bronze Industrial Cadets programme 'Molecule to
21 Medicine', where I gained insight into how healthcare research crosses disciplines. Having
22 learnt about GSK's trials of reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, I researched further
23 discovering that my knowledge of competitive substrate inhibitors from Biology, can link to my
24 understanding of the chemistry of polymers, to explain the side effects of HIV medication.
25 Through exposure to critical theory in Literature, I learnt that the conflicting nature of
26 ideas alone does not invalidate them. I used this understanding to lead sensitive ethical
27 group discussions at GSK and the Medical Society that I founded as Head Science Prefect for
28 Raising Achievement at my school. Discussions on ethical dilemmas such as Dr. Cox's actions in
29 1992 or those explored by A. Gawande in "Being Mortal" required me to listen carefully and
30 synthesise ideas cogently. These essential skills were evident in multidisciplinary team
31 meetings where doctors collaborated to secure the best treatment plans.
32 Through 'Sports Leaders' and FA Level 7 refereeing for the past two years, I have matured into
33 a confident leader. I have managed diverse groups of people, developing calm confidence,
34 resilience and integrity, especially useful when managing frustrated players, spectators and
35 coaches, or dealing with accidents. I have put these skills to good use when mentoring younger
36 students with autism. Furthermore, I am proud that with clear communication and team working
37 skills developed in rugby I was able to teach them how to set achievable goals and see them
38 gain self-belief. These are qualities that I believe doctors require, as are dedication,
39 discipline and some humour, as developed on freezing winter mornings to help young people play
40 a game they love.
41 I believe that life is about who you become in the process of achieving your goals and I will
42 relish the opportunity for personal growth and helping others in pursuing Medicine. It
43 encapsulates my passion for the theoretical, practical and rigorous aspects of Biology and
44 Chemistry and my desire to harness them for the benefit of others. My decision to study
45 Medicine is a culmination of experiences that have taught me of the challenge and reward in
46 the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. I can think of no better or more
47 satisfying path to pursue.
