Pediatrics Residency Personal Statement Sample

Unlike many people who have completed medical school, I did not know from a young age that I wanted to be a physician. As one of those people with a natural zest for life and desire to truly impact the lives of those around me, I knew I wanted to do something to serve others. However, it wasn’t until the age of 25 that I realized medicine would give me the opportunity to serve others, work with the resilience of the human body, teach, lead, and advocate for children who need a strong guide and role model.

 When I began my undergraduate studies, I knew I enjoyed math and science and decided to major in chemical engineering. It did not take long for me to realize that engineering was not the right profession for me. Therefore, I decided to choose a major that would allow me to focus more on diversity and helping others, and I studied socio-cultural anthropology where I graduated with honors.

At the time, I was working part-time as a personal trainer, and loved it so much that I decided to begin doing it full-time. It didn’t take me long to realize that I ultimately wanted to work in the field of health and wellness, much like I watched my father do as a physical therapist.

Thus, I decided to apply for medical school in the Caribbean. This transitional point in my life was a huge blessing. Not only did I find my true calling in medicine, I also learned many life skills, became even more culturally aware, and gained the experiences necessary to determine that my ultimate goal was to work as a Pediatrician.

When determining the area of medicine I wanted to focus on, I recalled working with Dr. Yellow who is a Pediatrician. She had a natural ability to bond with and educate children on their level, and it was truly motivating and inspiring to witness. She also spent adequate time working with the parents, gaining the knowledge and trust necessary to make proper decisions regarding care, and teach parents how to properly advocate for their children. She emphasized prevention and the importance of teaching children to live a healthy lifestyle and make good decisions from an early age. While working with her, I continued to learn, and I saw the Pediatrician I was striving to become.

I have always loved educating youth, and have been teaching Indian cultural dance, as well as tap and ballet, for several years. I began dancing at the young age of 6 years, and was recognized as a graduate of the dance program at 14 years old, after having done an intricate 3-hour solo performance with a live orchestra. At that time, I became eligible to teach, and have been doing so ever since. My determination, perseverance, love of fitness and movement, desire to learn, and strong work ethic allowed me to accomplish this huge goal at a much younger age than most dance students. Additionally, I had the great privilege of working as a USMLE tutor after passing my exams on the first attempt, with excellent marks. In fact, I was actually hired by a local tutoring agency to help other students, which also helped me to solidify my knowledge base. I truly believe that one of the best ways to learn is to teach, and I look forward to imparting this knowledge on my young patients and their parents as a Pediatrician. I have always had the natural ability to take on leadership roles and connect with people. I am confident that I will carry these assets with me into your esteemed residency program.

I have always been one of those people who accomplish what they set their mind to do, and I am determined to serve the youngest of patients as a Pediatrician. With the desire to serve, I began volunteering for the Organization BLUE at the age of 19 where I spent many hours, and by the age of 21 I was elected onto the Board of Directors. Here, I learned that it is possible to make a strong and impactful difference on society at a young age, because I did just that. I look forward to helping my patients realize this potential, and guide them to making a positive impact on the world around them. My charisma, empathy, compassion, confidence, sense of humor, active listening skills, and ability to think outside the box will make me an asset to your program. I am able to easily connect with people of all ages, and in fact, was nicknamed the “baby whisperer” during my Pediatrics rotations in medical school. I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life, and look forward to helping children forge forward with confidence by giving them the skills necessary in youth to develop good physical, spiritual, and mental health through education and a holistic and balanced approach to life.