farm boy

[bpont]

"reviewed
"life is too short"
'three missing toes"

This is a rough draft.....


Beep, Beep, Beep! My alarm, without hesitation would gently wake me every morning. It didn’t matter if there was rain, sun, snow, weekends, or even on Christmas. Those cows had to be milked. I would roll out of bed, put on my milking boots, ball cap, and head outside with toast in hand to round up all those smelly cows.
Growing up in a rural community was great. It taught me responsibility and the value of hard work. As I grew up I noticed that I was stuck in a generational mold. I wanted something different than that of my parents and grandparents. I loved them and respected them but felt like I was meant for something different. I loved working hard, I loved feeling responsible, I also knew there was something missing. I wanted more but didn’t know where to find it.
I left home just after high school to embark on a two year service mission to help in any way I could the people of England. It was then that I learned how much I loved serving and helping others. Each time I would think of going back home to the “farm life” I would get a pit in my stomach. I knew that when I went back I would be different.
Soon after returning I married my sweetheart and did something that was new to my family. I started college. That decision changed everything. It took a year of wasted time and average grades to realize that the best way to help others was to go into medicine. Working towards becoming a Radiologic Technologist felt like the right path to take and was a far stretch from what I was used to doing.
I enjoyed being a Radiologic Technologist. It was a challenge, it could be exciting at times but most of all it was nice to be able to help the patients. After a couple of years I realized that it bothered me not knowing what ended up happening to the patients. I brought them in, I radiographed them and sent them on their way. I cared about these people and would have liked to have known how they were doing or what ended up happening to them?
With careful consideration I decided to expand on my Radiography degree and specialize in Radiation Therapy. It was great. I loved it. I saw the patients daily for four to eight weeks. I grew to love each of them individually. I was able to help them and see their progress throughout their course of treatment. I looked forward to seeing them each day and enjoyed being able to interact with them. I felt like I was finally doing something that mattered. I felt like my life had a larger purpose.
After 4 years of working as a Therapist I was given the opportunity to go back to school and train using Stanford School of Medicine’s Dosimetry training tool. I successfully completed the schooling and on my first attempt passed yet another board exam to become Certified Medical Dosimetrist. This was an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge and gain a new skill. I worked side by side with Physicians and Physician Assistants daily to design and create the personal treatment plans for each patient. The ability to look at images from different modalities, recognize and differentiate tumor from healthy tissue, figuring out which angles the linear accelerator needed to be at, what type of radiation, and how much was needed to irradiate the tumor but still spare the healthy tissue was a very rewarding challenge. I loved it! However; I really missed the patient interaction. It was an internal struggle daily which built up to the point that every break I could take I was out meeting and talking with the patients.
I would shadow the Physician Assistant as often as I could. I would listen to the progress at our weekly chart rounds. I would talk with our PA whenever I could and ultimately, realized that this is what I wanted to do.
In 2010 I was sailing along enjoying life. I had a beautiful wife, along with 3 wonderful children. I was enjoying ultra marathons, hunting, and vacationing with my family. In most cases everything was perfect. Then came the “bump in the road”. One spring evening I found a small lump in my pelvis. Immediately I made an appointment, had surgery, and shortly the diagnosis came back as Stage IIIb Embryonal cell carcinoma. I spent the summer in a chemotherapy suite wondering if I would be able to see my expectant wife give birth to our little boy due at the end of the year. It was a horribly wonderful experience if that even makes any sense. Going through what I did I can offer a unique perspective to the role of a patient. I am able to connect, relate, and empathize with those patients whom I will interact with in a hospital or clinic setting.
I am now in remission and I’m loving the second chance at life I've been given. My main goal now is to pay forward to others the kindness and love that was shown to me before, during, and after my treatments.
As I reflect on my many life experiences, my schooling, and my work. I feel that each of these have been a stepping stone to prepare me to make this final step as a Physician Assistant

[salonebeauty]

Hello Farm Boy:

I am an aspiring PA student. I am working on my personal statement as well. After reading your personal statement, I wanted to give you some input as to what I think.

I was impressed with your life story, however, you can narrow that area and focus more on your preparation and skills you have accumulate through the years that will make you an outstanding student and a physician assistant. Focus more on your struggle, maybe you can talk more about how having a stage 111 cancer will make you a better physician than those who have do gone through such an ordeal. You can also focus on your experience and patient interaction as a radiology technician.

Good Luck