The Power of Perspective by desreiel

The Power of Perspective by desreiel - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned came from receiving feedback at work that I didn't want to hear. I work in the emergency department, where communication and professionalism are just as important as technical skills. I have made close friendships with some of my coworkers and when it is slower at times, we would have casual conversations that felt completely normal to me. From my perspective, we were simply talking as friends while still getting our work done. I never in a million years thought those conversations were affecting anyone else or that anyone was listening.
Then I received feedback from my supervisor about being more mindful of personal conversations in the workplace. At first, it was hard to accept it. I didn't feel I did anything wrong. It wasn’t like I wasn’t still doing my job, and I never intended to make anyone uncomfortable. It was difficult not to take the feedback personally because I immediately felt my character was being questioned and kind of felt targeted. Everyone has personal conversations at work so why was I being singled out?
After taking time to reflect, I realized the feedback wasn't about whether my conversations were harmless to me. It was about how they could be perceived by others. In a professional environment, appearances matter. It could come off totally different by coworkers and even patients. Conversations that seem innocent between friends can unintentionally make coworkers feel excluded, distracted, or give the impression that professionalism isn't being maintained.
This has changed the way I communicate at work. I became much more aware of my surroundings and more intentional about what conversations I have, when I have them, and where I have them. I now understand the importance of maintaining boundaries and creating an environment where everyone feels respected.
I'm grateful for that feedback even though it was hard to hear. Growth comes from being willing to listen when someone points out something you couldn't see yourself. This has changed my mindset. I now see getting feedback as an opportunity to become a better employee, teammate, and overall person because no one is perfect and we all can learn to change some things. Becoming a radiologic technologist will come with many more feedback opportunities and I feel better prepared to accept those moments with humility, reflect on them honestly, and use them to continue growing both professionally and personally.