David's phone had a glitch, and he has been receiving e-mails from years ago. I have very little memory of this, but I guess I e-mailed him my personal statement for my medical school application 4 years ago. This was my second personal statement for my second round of applications - I never had to use it. I got accepted into UC Davis at the last minute. But boy, was it wonderful reading the writing of the Jenny from 2010.

My grandma fell seriously ill this past year, and it has been one of the most difficult times of my life. Her doctor told my family and me that she wouldn’t survive the surgery that could treat her advanced intestinal infection; so all we could do is keep her comfortable as possible. My grandma does not speak English so I stay with her at the hospital on the weekends as her translator. I’ve witnessed her in pain for several hours of the day; I’ve had to explain to her that she is not allowed to eat when she tells me she is hungry.  This experience has matured me immensely and strengthened me emotionally. I feared seeing my grandma ill in a hospital bed; I also feared the responsibility of being the one by her side all day. As difficult as it was to take care of my grandma in her condition, I had to find the strength to be there for her as her granddaughter and translator. I chose a career in medicine before my grandma fell ill; but after caring for her this past year, I feel more prepared for a career in medicine. I feel more prepared to handle people in pain and I feel more prepared to handle death. With my grandma’s infection being so advanced, the doctor has warned us we can lose her at any time. With that thought in the back of my mind, I am still there for her. That is the kind of physician I plan to be: one who is there for my patients and accepts that not everything is in my control.

I also plan on being a physician who is open-minded, culturally sensitive, and politically active. These qualities represent my passion for diversity and service. Everyone should have access to healthcare, yet the people who are most underserved with the least access to healthcare are low-income and minority communities. I believe diversity among healthcare providers will lead to more medical services to these communities. Cultural sensitivity is also a necessary quality as a physician because my ultimate duty is to care for those in need – ignoring any prejudices or stereotypes, and respecting the unique backgrounds and struggles of my patients. I also plan on being a politically active physician because I am a politically active person. My activism as an undergraduate consisted of several rallies, petitions, and initiatives to increase student diversity, seek social justice for the university’s labor unions, bring ethnic studies to the university, and more. Our nation just made its first steps to reforming what had been a broken, ineffective healthcare system this past year, but there is more to advocate. I would advocate for government-funded programs that specifically target the health of low-income and minority communities. These programs could include comprehensive family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancies and providing the information and support for patients to incorporate preventive health care in their lives. I would also promote precautionary screenings in specific communities of color, like heart disease in African-Americans and hepatitis B in Asian-Americans.

I’ve been active in many different areas: education, community organization, student leadership. Those activities have built the foundation for how I want to live my life; I want to live a life for more than just myself, a life of service, a life that matters. I could achieve that life with a career in any of the different areas I’ve been active in, but I have chosen a career in medicine because of my deep respect for life and for living. I know that life is temporary, but that is what makes it precious. I want to channel my appetite for living by treating patients and prolonging their lives. Being healthy is the most basic component for quality of life; and I want to provide healthcare. I want to provide my patients with the most basic component for their quality of life.