My interest in medicine started with my general fascination in the natural and social sciences. The breadth of knowledge and skills that a career in medicine demanded had strongly appealed to me from the beginning; only the medical field can pull so many varying academic disciplines together under one humanitarian goal: the prevention, treatment and cure of the sick and disabled. Of the natural sciences, chemistry struck me as the most capable of providing me with a strong foundational understanding of modern medical advances, from the pharmaceutical to the diagnostic. Through my work experiences, I became fascinated with the economics of the American healthcare system and closely followed the heated discussions of the various arguments, including the academic reasoning each side used. By the end of my junior year, my continued interest in economics let me to decide in pursuing a double degree in both chemistry and economics. My work experiences would further serve to confirm my academic interests and personal passions, and help me in developing the necessary maturity and confidence in pursuing a career as a physician.
I realized early on during my working experiences in college that I wanted a profession where I could frequently incorporate human interaction with my academic interests as well. In my second year of college, confident of my ability to succeed in the classroom, I proceeded to volunteer at the University of Chicago Hospitals emergency rooms. There, I acquired an understanding of the emotional demands and time commitment required of physicians by watching them schedule their personal lives around the needs of their patients. I also soon observed that the rewards of medicine stem from serving the needs of these same patients. I too found it personally gratifying to provide individuals with emotional support by holding an elderly woman's hand