Receiving Feedback Graciously by Jazmine

Receiving Feedback Graciously by Jazmine - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

During my time volunteering in radiation oncology, I had the opportunity to shadow Jonathan, a Senior Medical Dosimetrist. From the very beginning, he welcomed every question I asked. No matter how simple it was, he never made me feel like I should already know the answer. Instead, he'd pull up a treatment plan, explain what he was looking at, and ask me what I noticed first. He made learning feel like a conversation instead of a lecture.
One afternoon, I noticed him making several changes to a treatment plan that already looked finished to me. I finally asked, "Why are you still changing it?" Instead of giving me a quick answer, he moved his chair over so I could see the screen and walked me through every adjustment. He showed me how moving the radiation laser just a few millimeters could better protect healthy tissue while still treating the cancer. That was the first time I realized that in healthcare, the smallest details can completely change someone's future.
A few weeks later, I overheard a phone call that I'll never forget. Jonathan was speaking with an insurance company about a single mother undergoing treatment for breast cancer. They wanted to approve a less expensive treatment option, but Jonathan believed it wasn't what was best for her in the long run. It was the first time I'd ever heard him raise his voice. He remained respectful, but he refused to back down. He explained, over and over, why his recommendation would give his patient the best chance at the outcome she deserved.When he hung up the phone, I asked him about it.
He looked at me and said something I'll always remember: "If I don't fight for my patients, who will?"
Before then, I thought feedback was mostly about correcting mistakes. Jonathan showed me something completely different. Every time he answered one of my questions, challenged the way I was thinking, or explained why something could be done better, he was giving me feedback. He wasn't criticizing me, he was helping me become someone who thinks more carefully, asks better questions, and never settles for "good enough."
Since then, I've stopped being afraid of feedback. I've learned that growth doesn't happen when someone tells you you're doing everything right. It happens when someone takes the time to teach you, challenge you, and believe you're capable of becoming better.
As I prepare for a career in radiation therapy, I hope I never lose that mindset. I want to keep asking questions, keep learning from the people around me, and one day be the kind of healthcare professional who not only cares deeply for patients, but also takes the time to teach and encourage the next student standing beside me.