Personal statement ideas?
Discount Medical Scrubs
for the 'Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.', here are what i've been considering:
-my family's sacrifice to take care of me and school me, and their overprotectiveness...and the fact that they've been thru many financial problems, and how they encourage me to study hard in school so that when i became an adult, my life would be easy... and how that made me want to not let them down by going to college...
-the fact that i was a middle child and got the least attention, nd how it made me independent or stuff like that...ya know..
-grew up poorly, therefore got sick a lot, and that made me wanna be a nurse or something....or maybe how i wathced nothing but shows like house, and scrubs, and that made me want to be something in the medical field...haha...that last part was a joke...
-how the loss of a former crush and close friend(thru a fight, not death), made me more emotionally strong, and how he taught me to keep smiling even thru the actions of other ppl, (which would prepare me 4 being a nurse/nurse practitioner when patients/or their loved ones either die, or give me a hard time by blaming me for stuff)
or maybe a mix somehow?
Tags: Adult, aspirations, being a nurse, discount medical scrubs, Dreams", going to college, hard time, joke, Medical Field, nurse practitioner, ppl, sacrifice
January 22nd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
If this is for admittance to a college program, I think only the first and third ones are usable and would need to be changed a bit.
If you go with number 1…
Your family’s sacrifices to care for you and make sure you have a good education and opportunities in life (not "school" you) have shaped who you are. Seeing others make sacrifices for you made you understand how important it is to succeed and to take advantage of the opportunities you have that they worked to provide – like education. They support your educational endeavors so you can make the most of your intelligence and your life and exceed where they could not (not that your life would be easy or how that made you "want to not let them down by going to college"). Your parents worked to support you in pursuing your dreams and realize that your only limits are whatever you impose on yourself.
If you go with number 3…
You grew up in a low-income household (not ‘poorly’) and you recognize what happens when people need help but can’t afford it. By working so hard only to make ends barely meet, life isn’t enjoyable or healthy. You want to provide quality care for people so that they can enjoy life and provide for their families without worrying about their own health. You grew up in a low-income household that nonetheless taught you the invaluable importance of kindness and respect so you can treat all sorts of patients and feel connected to your work and your patients. Growing up in a family like yours people take care of each other, no matter their finances. Those are your values and that’s why you’ll make a great nurse.
A combo would be good because they would both include your family and values shaping your interest and appreciation for nursing. You’ll want to give brief but specific examples of the sacrifices (did your mom pick up an extra job? did your dad take the bus to work every day?) people made or how growing up in a lower-income family affected your opportunities or presented challenges. Telling little bits like that about yourself makes your statement personal, genuine, and convincing. Be confident and honest.
Don’t use pity words or ideas like "I got the least attention" of your siblings or outlandish ideas like how the loss of a crush through a fight will prepare you for dealing with people whose loved ones die. Those are petty and insensitive.
I know this sounds harsh, but I’m trying to give you clear, straightforward advice so you can write a strong statement. I do wish you the best of luck with the statement and with your career as a nurse!
January 22nd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I like the idea of combining the first three items.
The college wants to know about you. They can’t meet you so they want your essay to tell them about yourself. If you only had one opportunity to do that, what would you say?
If you feel your struggles have made you who you are, then write about them. Prove how your struggles have made you strong, though, not just that you’ve overcome the struggles. Overcoming is a feat in itself, but what have you gone on to do because of your trials.
Lastly, I don’t think they want to hear about why you want to go to school or talk about a particular school. Don’t say something like "that’s why I want to go to harvard med school" or something.