My Motivation to Develop in The Sphere of Gynecology

I believe that my interest in medicine was like a budding flower as it grew with time. The realization was almost immediate as I knew that I cannot see myself doing anything else. The healthcare setting appeals to me as I understand the importance of autonomy within a respecting environment ensuring the patients’ health is above all. Understandably, I realize that this profession requires time, commitment and dedication in order to strive but I believe that my fondness for biology and medicine pushes me to keep going. Having come from an agriculture family, I was never sure on what I would like to pursue after my A-levels but witnessing how the work done by doctors can save and improve a person’s life appealed to my compassionate nature.

Being able to gain a variety of useful experiences enabled me to enhance and acquire key skills. Being able to shadow the head doctor at the Gynecology ward at a hospital abroad allowed me to observe and understand key fundamentals of what being a doctor entails. Seeing the doctor’s act with the utmost integrity and humility allowed me to develop my character and grow. Be it going on daily rounds within the ward, seeing patients in the OPD or having to operate I realized that communication is fundamental in doctor patient interactions.

I specifically chose to do work experience in a gynecology ward because it relates to my EPQ topic regarding cervical cancer and treatments available. I strategically chose this in order to gain as much information from this as possible as one of my main objectives going into EPQ was incorporating primary sources from work experience. This enhanced my problem solving skills as I had to critically think and plan ahead to be able to produce a good final project. Choosing cervical cancer was highly due to my motivation on becoming a doctor: The topic was highly linked to NHS which is the center of healthcare as well as I was very curious about cervical cancer and what it is.

Similarly, taking part in NCS allowed me to interact with new people and gain skills that would help make me a very good doctor. Throughout NCS I was faced with many obstacles while taking part in a variety of activities that ranged from rock climbing, hiking, developing a new skill and presenting a community project. I was able to evolve my team work skills which required me to communicate and understand my team in order to work effectively. Being in a team allowed me to experience the different roles that make a team work. This was a very pleasing experience as I was able to improve my leadership skills during the activities stage where I was able to lead and motivate my team to set a new score in the crate stacks. A key value that I learnt from school which enabled me to improve my leadership skills was resilience because having a lack of experience in being a leader did not put me off because I acknowledge the fact that to overcome the challenges given you need to face them.

To gain experience in a range of healthcare settings I also volunteer at a care home where I am able to interact with the elderly improving communication and listening skills. My time there also made me realize the importance of patience and empathy because everyone is different and don’t communicate in the same way. A key contrast to this was when I did work experience at a primary school because I believe in order to be a good doctor I need to know how to communicate and understand different patients and this was seen through interactions I had with the elderly compared to the children. This is very necessary as I believe being an approachable person and having people be comfortable enough to talk to me will help me build a good rapport with the patients.

I was also able to enhance my character and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry through my experience at a pharmacy. By observing the pharmacists approach and attitude when dealing with customers I was able to establish an understanding of the responsibility needed to care for patients. During my time at Ricards I was also part of the school council and form rep which allowed me to work with people around me to help tackle and solve problems effectively. Alongside this, outside of school I take part in my brothers annual summer fair where I run a henna stall. This is my creative release because I enjoy art and doing henna allows me to focus and have time off from school related topics.