My Special Place Analysis

Winter is undeniably my favorite season of the year. As a child, I would sit by the window with my nose pressed against the glass,

hypnotized by the meandering path of the falling snowflakes. I loved how my world took on a whole new look in its sparkling white

blanket. Some memories evoke a warm nostalgia and mine include the snowy afternoons spent at the nearby sledding hill. I

remember dragging my sled up the snow-covered hill over and over again in order to race down as fast as I could. The trip down

the hill was breathless and exhilarating, but my memory of the climb itself is what remains with me most to this day. The hill was

steep, my sled was heavy, and with each repetition my arms and legs felt more like lead. But with great effort
and determination

I managed to make it to the summit many times. Each time I reached the top, I brimmed with triumph at having accomplished

something great.
As I jumped onto my sled to ride down, I felt invigorated, somehow a bigger person with a greater mission.

The infusion of meaning and purpose afforded by hard-earned success is that much more exhilarating for me when another

person's benefit is the goal. This is because the satisfaction of surmounting a difficulty is compounded by the joy of having

improved someone else's life on an individual level, thereby making the world a better place.

One place that I've experienced this sense of purpose is Camp Nageela. Camp Nageela is a charity funded camp designed to

provide a warm, accepting environment for children from underprivileged backgrounds who are all alike in their universal need

for love and attention. I have volunteered there for over three years. This past summer, I got to know a sweet young girl named

Samalie. During the second week of camp, Samalie ended up in the camp infirmary after her symptoms of vomiting, dizziness,

and lower abdominal pain persisted for several days. Her instructions were to keep away from other campers in order to prevent

contagion.

While I distributed medications in the infirmary one night, hushed sniffling came from one of the beds. I saw Samalie's twelve
year

old body coiled tightly, head buried in her hands, shoulders shaking silently. Seeing Samalie this way unnerved me. As the head

counselor in camp, I knew Samalie well. Her behavior was incongruent with the beloved happy camper that I was familiar with. I

pulled up a chair and held her hand as she cried. Eventually, Samalie explained that she had been feeling lonely in the infirmary

and tried to join an activity. Her bunkmates, afraid that she was contagious, yelled at her to leave. She had returned to the infirmary

to spend the night alone, feeling sad and dejected.

Working as a head counselor and part-time nurse's aide in camp provided me with a never-ending list of obligations. I had intended

to quickly dispense medicines and wish each camper good night so that I could start planning the next day's activities. However,

after seeing Samalie's discomfort, I knew I couldn't leave until she was in good spirits. As I took the time to sit and validate her

injured young pride, I learned a crucial lesson.

Behind every illness is a person who is suffering.
Every patient is a sensitive individual who needs to feel nurtured, supported, and

cared for. When it comes to the field of medicine, it is essential to complement medical knowledge and skills with the compassion

and communication that catalyze recovery. As a PA, I will take advantage of the opportunity to grow in my medical knowledge

and holistically treat patients with the love and dignity they deserve. I will use my natural interpersonal charisma and humanistic

perspective to be mindful of patients' needs so that they are both comfortable in their environment and empowered to make

informed choices about their healthcare. Moreover, my warm and easygoing nature will enable me to collaborate with a team of

healthcare providers.

I anticipate that as a PA, my contribution to the medical community will be with a sense of purpose and drive. In this capacity, I will

have the opportunity to use my talents and abilities to heal bodies and touch lives. I am an individual who can withstand any WHAT

as long as I have a WHY to propel me. I therefore know I will embrace the rigors of both schoolwork and everyday life as a PA

when I contemplate the fulfillment and purpose they
precede.