I finished my personal statement for CASPA, and I like it a lot better than last years. Writing the essay is actually kind of hard. You basically have 500 words (about one page) to explain why you want to be a PA, your understanding of what a PA is, what traits you have that would make you a PA, what you have done to prepare yourself for a career as a PA, and somehow write it in a way that makes you stand out among hundreds of applicants. Most people reviewing your application don’t have the time to read your PS intently and therefore skim, so writing that you “want to become a PA because you like to help people” doesn’t do you much justice.

I struggled at first figuring out what makes me different than all the other applicants. In reality I do know what makes me different than everyone else, my values and aversion for American pop culture, but there’s no way I can explain how my values are different and why that makes me a better candidate in just 500 words. After thinking awhile, I figured that I will most likely be the only person from Maine applying to most of the schools, so I played up how much I loved growing up in Maine and how I want to practice in a small town community when I finally graduate. Hopefully that makes me stick out a little.

I got my 100 hour pin at an award ceremony at the hospital today. I didn’t really want to go at first because I don’t like being singled out, and I wasn’t feeling up to socializing with a bunch of people I didn’t know (funny right since my whole job at the hospital involves sitting down and making conversation with people I don‘t know). However, in the end I was glad that I went because it was rejuvenating to see the older people get their awards and talk so passionately about their work at the hospital. To most of them, volunteering is their whole life, they put so much energy and effort into what they do. Although realistically I can’t apply the same effort to my own role at the hospital, I was challenged to reflect that same fervor and passion to each moment that I am in the ER.

It’s funny, because I have been sooo busy this week, yet I’ve had a lot of time to think. Here are some original conclusions that I have come to just today:

Working out, or exercising, is a responsibility, not a luxury.
I say luxury because the most common excuse for not exercising is that a person can't afford it, whether time or money wise. I think that if we want health care in America change, we need a major attitude adjustment. I know not everyone reading this is aware of the stats, so here are a key few: of all the money that our country spends on itself, 16% is spent on health care. 75% of all diseases treated are PREVENTABLE. This means stuff like heart disease, stroke, diabetes. This is something like 2.26 TRILLION dollars. The US has one of the worst health care systems in the world, if you analyze how much money we put into it compared to the health of our citizens. I know this is such a complicated subject with many things in the overall equation (drug and private insurance companies, for instance), but so much of this problem is within our control. We're just as a society so lazy (yet workaholicish) and entitled. Everyone wants and believes they should have help with their medical expenses (ie health insurance), but not many actually make it a personal mission to take care of themselves and stay healthy. I mean I am all about helping people out financially when unexpected things happen, but personally, I would never want to force someone to have to pay for my laziness, for something that was in my control and could have been prevented.

I could go on and on and on about this...bottom line is, take some personal responsibility and pride in your health. Develop good habits now. Exercise for 20-30 minutes four to five times a week, eat your fruits and veggies (and avoid processed foods), get plenty of rest, and know your family history and what you are at risk for!


Second thought: People would be much happier in life if they compared themselves to people below them, not above them. Another ironic moment of my day. Earlier I was thinking about how one of the reasons why I love Maine so much is because people are more appreciative for what they do have, as opposed to complaining about what they lack. This is something that I think differentiates me from others, that I tend to have a broader perspective for life, and am a lot more grateful for it than most. I think I'm a pretty happy person because of it. It's kind of like the saying "the grass is greener on the other side."

Well, anyways the irony came when I got home and read this article about Why You Shouldn't Go To Med School. As true and entertaining as the article was, one of the comments really portrayed my sentiments exactly:

I think rather than compare life to your Harvard buddies in Aspen - take the silver spoon out of your ass and know that if you were a practicing physician - your life is already in the top 1% of people who have ever existed.

People who dont appreciate life but always look at the bad side of everything.

I am not saying you are wrong (as I don’t think medicine is not this mythical profession - thus I am not in it) - and of course you are entitled to your opinion - but always try to remember - there are people much much much worse off than you - when something is shitty just think, “Worse things have happened to better people.”

But think about it...most people compare themselves to people who have things they don't, not to the people who don't have what we have. It's one of my biggest pet peeves with American culture.

I had another original thought, but it escapes me at the moment. It's not like there's a dearth of stuff to read in this post though ;)