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Essay Question:
Personal statement
Every life has its pinnacles and pitfalls, and mine is no exception. For example, the worst experience of my academic career was unexpectedly failing Research Methods in Psychology. The 'D' that I received was for arguably the most important course of my baccalaureate and was the lowest grade I had ever earned. Not to mention, the course was taught by the most senior and respected member of the psychology faculty at the University of Cincinnati. For a student such as myself, who could boast nothing but As through the entirety of High School, such a failure seemed improbable. However, despite my hope that some other party was truly at fault, I ultimately realized the source of my disappointment. I had ignored instructions and also had failed to attend class as often as I should have. I had underestimated the effort that was required of me, and the fault was my own. Despite this sour experience, I was compelled to succeed in my major. I quickly resolved never again to let myself down so flagrantly. My creed was to do all work that was required of me and, whenever possible, a bit more. The next quarter, I reliably attended all my classes, and the benefits of concentrating my efforts soon became apparent. My resolution yielded dramatic results in that following quarter as I went from being on scholarship probation to earning a place on the Dean's list. In the two years since Research Methods, my understanding of academic responsibility has changed significantly. The most precious lesson that I have learned is that enthusiasm for knowledge is the byproduct of one's commitment to learning. With such commitment, I have found inspiration and excitement in everything from my pre-medical and major courses to courses in global climate change and Shakespeare's plays. I am not suggesting that I have mastered all of my college courses, or that I have overcome obstacles greater than those that face many other medical school applicants. I am not even suggesting that my experience with Research Methods in Psychology is unique. Rather, I am submitting that I learn from my mistakes. I can recognize when I am at fault and avoid repeating my errors. The second lesson that I have learned from all of this is that failure is an opportunity. It is a chance for a person to identify his or her shortcomings and to compensate for them with individual strengths. I realize that medicine affords few opportunities for mistakes. For this reason, being able to learn quickly from mistakes will be an invaluable aid in medical school and later as a professional doctor. Though as of yet I have little firsthand experience in medicine, I still understand the grave responsibility entailed in managing the health of others. I am very excited to have the opportunity to carry this responsibility, but, regrettably, I cannot pledge complete flawlessness in exchange for it. I can, however, offer my commitment to learn from my experiences and to work never to repeat my mistakes. I have pursued the prospect of a career in medicine for over three years now, and challenging my intellect while providing a meaningful service to others in my daily work strongly appeals to me. These features of a medical career would allow me to wake up excited about my work every morning. In exchange for such a reward, I can bring to the field of medicine a deep sense of compassion and personal responsibility for the health of others. I hope that medicine might serve not only as an exciting career, but also as an opportunity to serve my community. I foresee my ultimate happiness as the product of my success as a doctor and, eventually, as a father and a husband, all of which share intense time demands and personal commitment. I am not personally willing to accept the complete sacrifice of any one of these endeavors for the sake of the others. However, I do accept that, to achieve all three, I must strike a balance between them in my life. I am prepared to do so by any means at my disposal. Though I am aware of challenges in all three of these endeavors, I have faith in my ability to execute them all admirably.
