Self Reflection Essay: Why I Chose Medicine

At some point in our lives, we go through self-reflection, a period to take stock of the decisions that we have made and how they are influencing our lives. This self-reflection essay takes an in-depth look at an experience I had while in high school and how it altered the course of my life in an unimaginable way. Some incidences occur unexpectedly, and they end up being the most defining moments. I walk the path of medicine today because I met someone who showed me a different side of life. Of course, after that event, I have come across other different people who have motivated me to stay on that path. My decision to change career goals inspired the self-reflection essay sample in front of you.

What is a self reflection? The dictionary defines it to be doing some serious thinking about your actions or behavior. The self-reflection essay about yourself primarily focuses on the following:

• Events that previously occurred and caused you to change an aspect of your life
• Decisions in the past
• Our character or actions

These are circumstances that trigger changes in our lives. Although sometimes self-reflection makes us happy and proud to be who we are, there are times that it makes us feel regret and sadness. This self-reflection essay is more towards the positive side because I am glad about the decision I made.

In high school, our spirit of adventure and optimism towards life is still quite high. That basically defines me in high school. I was Miss Sunshine, always glad and looking for the good in every person and circumstance. Nothing could dampen my mood. I have always believed that this attitude was responsible for my career dreams then. Well, I had this ambition of giving back to the society; therefore, my idea was to be a full-time volunteer. There’s nothing wrong with being one, but I needed to be specific about how I was going to be one. All I knew was, I wanted to help and to be among those making a difference in society. It was not a bad dream but more of unrealistic. Without a definite plan, it was going to be unrealized.

Clubs and societies are parts of high school and college. They are a crucial part of the learning experience that students go through. They also make school fun and a chance to express creativity, teamwork and communication skills. So, naturally, being me, I was a member of a couple of these clubs. One was the orphanage club, where we would regularly do some charity work. During every semester, we made sure to take clothes and food to two or three orphanages at least. I really do not regret this era, but instead, I’m grateful, although I held notions that our world could be the utopia that I fantasized about.

It was during one of the visits to a homeless shelter that my life changed for the better. You know you get to meet and talk to the people, and you get to hear about their experiences. Visits to the orphanage were always my darkest. All those young children, abandoned with no one to care for them when they can barely talk. Anyway, that didn’t make any difference as even when I listened to adults narrate the story of how they ended up in the homeless shelter; there was really very little that I could do to help them. I was, however, assisting in my own way. They needed the food and clothes that we got them.

There was a middle-aged lady; she was either in her late thirties or early forties. I had never seen her during our previous visits, so I knew that she was new to the place. Her face had so much sadness, and when she spoke, you could sense the despair in her voice. You could tell that she was a bit weak and most likely from a sickness. I decided to get to know her story, and luckily she was willing to share. For her, life took a turn for the worst during one morning when she was taken ill after collapsing on her way to work.

She was among those people who are work oriented. Never really did much for fun or even bothered to start a family. So, she basically didn’t have anyone. The few friends that she had she lost them when she lost her job. She became so ill, and because of how expensive medical care has become in society, she used up all her savings to treat herself. She lost everything including her house taking care of the medical expenses. I still recall the moment that she told me her story, the way tears swelled up her eyes and rolled down her pretty cheeks as she narrated her story.

That conversation changed my day and the rest of my life. I could not understand why her life had to go to ruins over a service that society understands is intricate to our survival. Why did she have to suffer?

Well, that is the problem that we face today. People cannot access the basic services needed for their survival. I wanted to be a volunteer, and as I have mentioned before give back to the society. But what does it truly mean to give back or volunteer? Is it going to some remote village in the jungle and providing them with basics in life? Yes, that works too, but at times charity is merely helping others around you access necessities, simply being kind to others and helping them whichever way you can.

That incident is what inspired me to take up medicine. It was the one profession that I never saw myself taking. This self-reflection essay takes me down memory lane but also reminds me of how evil society can be. How much suffering can we inflict upon each other? I am in college now studying medicine because I believe that it is one way that I can give back to society. I hope to help many with my services and, especially, those who have challenges to access it. That moment, talking to the lady, her name was Jenny, altered the course of my life. I did have an idea of what I wanted to do, but this was without a defined profession that would help me attain it. Since then, I have aligned my extracurricular with my ambitions, and in the process, I have met a lot more inspiring people who have encouraged my decision.

Conclusion

A self-reflection essay about yourself gives you the opportunity to take a step back and analyze your life and the choices that have led you to that single moment in life. My defining moment came when I was at the shelter. Talking to Jenny inspired me to take on a career in medicine because I believe it to be a way I can help the less fortunate in the community. I am not perfect, as we are all struggling in one way or another, but I chose to use my gifts and the little I have to better the lives of others. If it were not for that moment, I would still be harboring grandeur plans of my volunteer dream that lack a realistic aspect. I am walking the path of medicine because I was inspired and motivated to take it.