Kiatana: Prospect Heights tutor

Certified Tutor

I've always had the drive to serve others because of the intrinsic gratification it gave me. I know becoming a physician would permit me to work and serve others in a way no other career would allow. I wanted to instill joy in patients by uplifting their quality of life.

I hadn't considered otolaryngology until I was given the opportunity to observe in the pediatric otolaryngology clinic. I was instantly sold as I observed a 5 year old patient in clinic getting hearing aids for the first time. The mother broke into tears, happy that her child could simply appreciate her voice. I was astonished. I'd never considered a world in-which I couldn't experience my mother's laughter. This resonated with me, knowing I would be honored to impact someone's life in such a way. This was the first of many unique experiences that I valued in the otolaryngology department. I was inspired watching surgeries that ranged from eustachian tube placement to retrieving an apple piece from the bronchus of an 11 month old. From this, I knew the specialty that best captured my passion for medicine and restoring the quality of life for patients.

Working hard to strengthen my candidacy for medical school, I attended a post-baccalaureate program to strengthened my scientific foundation. This program helped me address academic areas that needed improvement and helped me formulate a method of accomplishing just that. I consider my resiliency as a measurement of how passionate I am about becoming a physician. I often challenged myself by asking "If my patient asks me this molecular biology question, how hard would I work to solve it?" which motivated me to fight through my academic setbacks. I learned that in medicine I have to let my desire for helping others motivate me through these challenges. I gained an understanding that as a physician, I would have to be open to adapting to the conditions of my patients and not be deterred by adversities. I have grown to appreciate challenges, and at times failure, knowing that these forces will only make me stronger as a person.

Through my experiences, I have enhanced the ways I can serve my future patients and local communities. By understanding the many aspects of patient care, I have taken it upon myself to be a leader in medicine. The challenge of accepting loss was what propelled me to retrieve more from the medical field. I want to give patients the chance to take charge of their health before they are forced to succumb to the consequences. I look forward to working with patients as they combat declining health and walking with them through their journey of improvement.