The purpose of this assignment was to write a personal statement.

Making that final decision on what to major in when entering college is quite stressful, especially if you do not know what you want to do after graduation. I have always had an interest in science and English/writing, but when deciding on my major I decided on the option I felt would yield me better job offerings post college. This decision resulting in me deciding on science as my major and at the time I did not realize how far that decision would take me and how much I would gain from that decision. My experience as an undergraduate student trying to obtain an associate’s degree was somewhat of a struggle sometimes, but nonetheless I pushed forward. Through the doubts and self struggles of being a first-generation college student, I maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA multiple semesters in a row resulting in me achieving presidents honor roll each of those semesters. After graduating magna cum laude with my associate’s degree in science, I then transferred to ODU to pursue my bachelor’s in biomedical sciences with a concentration in pre-health and just recently, a minor in psychology. Although my time at ODU has been short, it has been filled with vast amounts of knowledge. Now that I am aware of what I would like to pursue after college, I am continuously working harder to achieve those goals. I hope to be able to pursue a career in pediatric psychiatry sometime in the future. My reasoning for wanting to pursue pediatric psychiatry is because I feel there is a stigma around mental health, especially for children, leading to people struggling and not getting the proper care they need. Children need mental health assistance just as much as an adult, and sometimes not getting the help that is needed as a child can make things more difficult as they grow older. I believe that I have the abilities and work ethic to make that goal come true. From my attention to detail to my compassion for others, I believe that goal is not unattainable for me. I do not doubt that the path to get there will be difficult sometimes, but that is why the classes I am taking, specifically electives, will help carve my path towards my career goals. I am currently a nanny and have been for the past two years for four children ages five years, three years (twins), and three months. My
experience with children helps give me experience on my path to pediatrics. Along with my experience directly in childcare, I have taken courses in child psychology, lifespan and human development, as well as psychology in general. I also plan on taking courses in neuroanatomy, neurobiology and other health related courses to broaden my knowledge for the future. I know my strengths, I know my weaknesses, and I also know how to use my strengths to improve my weaknesses. I know that I will flourish and grow in medical school and that I will be a great attribute to the school in many ways. Before deciding on continuing my school career within the field of science, I had no idea that I would even want to go to medical school. I felt that goal was way too unattainable and sometimes I still feel that way, but that does not keep me from working hard and doing what I can to reach my goals. From receiving my associate’s in science to working to obtain my bachelors in biomedical sciences with a concentration in pre-health, I have come a long way in just a short period of time. As I continue my schooling, I am constantly reminded why I chose this path and why it is important for me to do my best to achieve my goals. I am fully confident that all my efforts and hard work will pay off and be shown when I am in medical school, and even after medical school when I am hopefully working in the field of pediatric psychiatry.